Wild Sage
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
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like a prisoner breaking out of jail.
and I steal down to business 15-501
like I had a bounty hunter on my tail.
and somebody stops to pick me up,
but he drops me off just down the block.
and along the highway where the empty sprits breathed,
wild sage growing in the weeds.
walked down the soft shoulder and I count my steps.
heading vaguely eastward, sun in my eyes.
and I lose my footing and I skin my hands, breaking my fall.
and I laugh to myself and look up at the skies
and then I think I hear angels in my ears
like marbles being thrown against a mirror.
and along the highway, where unlucky stray dogs bleed,
wild sage growing in the weeds.
and some days I don't miss my family.
and some days I do.
and some days I think I'd feel better if I tried harder.
most days I know it's not true.
I lay down right where I fell, cold grass in my face.
and I hear the traffic like the rhythm of the tides.
and I stare at the scrape on the heel of my hand,
till it doesn't sting so much,
and until the blood's dried.
and when somebodyone asks if I'm ok, I don't know what to say.
and along the highway, from cast-off, innumerable seeds,
wild sage growing in the weeds.
The Mountain Goats' "Wild Sage" depicts the tale of a person who leaves their house before daybreak, as if they are breaking out of jail, and walks to Business Highway 15-501. They blindly walk down the soft shoulder counting their steps, heading aimlessly towards the east. Suddenly, the singer falls and cuts their hand. Despite the pain, they lie down to reflect upon their life. They ponder upon their relationship with their family and their inner turmoil, acknowledging that some days they miss them, and other days they don't. As they stare at their hand, they feel the breeze and hear the passing cars of the highway. The singer is reminded of their own insignificance in the world, and how they are like the wild sage growing in the weeds.
"Wild Sage" is a song of self-reflection, uncertainty and growth. Through the singer's journey, one can interpret the feeling of getting lost, a sense of constant wandering and being mindful of small things in life. The passing cars and the wild sage growing in the weeds are a reminder that life moves on and things will continue to grow despite the singer's feelings of stagnation. They're being pulled in different directions but they're just like the sage growing in the hard conditions, bouncing back and growing with persistence.
Line by Line Meaning
I leave the house as soon as it gets light outside
I depart my home once it becomes light out, much like a prisoner escaping confinement.
like a prisoner breaking out of jail.
My departure is reminiscent of a prisoner's escape from confinement.
and I steal down to business 15-501
I quietly make my way toward business Route 15-501.
like I had a bounty hunter on my tail.
My movements are cautious, like I am being pursued by a bounty hunter.
and somebody stops to pick me up,
An individual offers me a ride,
but he drops me off just down the block.
though they only take me a short distance before leaving me off.
and along the highway where the empty sprits breathed,
I travel alongside a roadway where the abandoned and desolate spirits once abided.
wild sage growing in the weeds.
Wild sage can be found growing alongside the roadway in the vegetation.
walked down the soft shoulder and I count my steps.
I walk along the road's soft shoulder and count each stride I take.
heading vaguely eastward, sun in my eyes.
I proceed with a vague notion of the direction I'm heading, the morning sun is shining in my face.
and I lose my footing and I skin my hands, breaking my fall.
As I journey, I stumble and fall, scratching my hands in the process, but managing to land safely.
and I laugh to myself and look up at the skies
Despite my fall, I chuckle to myself and gaze upon the sky.
and then I think I hear angels in my ears
I believe I hear sounds of angels in my ears.
like marbles being thrown against a mirror.
The angelic sounds I hear sound like marbles striking a mirror.
and along the highway, where unlucky stray dogs bleed,
The road where I walk is also the location where unfortunate stray dogs become injured.
wild sage growing in the weeds.
Wild sage can be found growing amidst the weeds alongside the road.
and some days I don't miss my family.
On occasion, I don't experience longing for my family.
and some days I do.
But on other days, I do miss them greatly.
and some days I think I'd feel better if I tried harder.
Sometimes, I believe that putting forth more effort may improve how I feel.
most days I know it's not true.
However, I am aware that this is not the case for the most part.
I lay down right where I fell, cold grass in my face.
I decide to lay down exactly where I tumbled, with cold grass against my face.
and I hear the traffic like the rhythm of the tides.
As I lay there, I can hear the traffic on the road, which sounds like the movement of the tides.
and I stare at the scrape on the heel of my hand,
I focus on the scrape on the heel of my hand.
till it doesn't sting so much, and until the blood's dried.
Eventually, the pain of the wound subsides and the blood dries up.
and when somebodyone asks if I'm ok, I don't know what to say.
If someone inquires about my well-being, I am unsure of how to respond.
and along the highway, from cast-off, innumerable seeds,
Alongside the road, there are countless seeds cast off by passing cars.
wild sage growing in the weeds.
A type of sage called 'wild sage' can be found growing among the roadside weeds.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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