I found an old rock
in the dry dirt outside
the door of my hotel room
it was a triangle with soft rounded edges
and a split down the middle of one corner
it was darker than english moss
green like the soft frill's of a peacock's plume
I waited for you
but I never told you where I was
it was you who taught me how
to write these kinds of equations
I waited on the steps for you
and I hid in the bushes whenever a car pulled into the parking lot
you taught me how to listen to these distant stations
distant stations

I saw the sky break
I threw a rock at a crow who was playing
in the rose bushes by the motel office
missed him by a good yard or two

I sang old songs from nowhere
Los Angeles, Albuquerque
said a small prayer for the poor and the naked and the hungry
and I prayed real hard for you
I waited for you
but I never told you where I was
it was you who taught me how
to write this kind of equation
I waited on the steps for you
and I hid in the bushes whenever a car pulled into the parking lot
you taught me how to listen to these distant stations
distant stations

Overall Meaning

In The Mountain Goats's song Distant Stations, the singer sits outside their hotel room and discovers an old rock in the dry dirt. The rock is described as a triangle with soft rounded edges, and a split down the middle of one corner. Its dark green color is compared to the frills of a peacock's plume. The singer waits for someone, likely a lover or friend, but never tells them where they are. They credit this person with teaching them how to write these types of equations and how to listen to distant stations. Throughout the song, the singer continues to wait for this person, singing old songs and praying for the world, while hiding from passing cars.

The lyrics are quite mysterious and open to interpretation. The rock itself could hold significant meaning or simply be a small detail to set the scene. The waiting and hiding suggest a sense of secrecy or danger, and the listener is left to wonder who the singer is waiting for and why. The concept of listening to distant stations could have a literal meaning, or it could symbolize the idea of searching for something that is out of reach.

Line by Line Meaning

I found an old rock
I stumbled upon a stone while walking outside my hotel room

in the dry dirt outside
the ground was dry around my hotel

the door of my hotel room
the entrance to the place I was staying

it was a triangle with soft rounded edges
the rock had a triangular shape that was smooth to the touch

and a split down the middle of one corner
there was a crack in one of the corners of the rock

it was darker than english moss
the rock had a dark color, similar to moss found in England

green like the soft frill's of a peacock's plume
the rock had a green hue, similar to the feathers of a peacock

I waited for you
I anticipated meeting someone

but I never told you where I was
I didn't disclose my location to the person I was waiting for

it was you who taught me how to write these kinds of equations
you were the one who taught me how to express myself in a certain way

I waited on the steps for you
I stood on some stairs, hoping to see the person I was waiting for

and I hid in the bushes whenever a car pulled into the parking lot
I concealed myself in greenery whenever a vehicle entered the area

you taught me how to listen to these distant stations
you showed me how to be attentive to far-off things

distant stations
faraway signals or broadcasts

I saw the sky break
I witnessed the moment when the sky changed

I threw a rock at a crow who was playing
I launched a rock towards a bird that was amusing itself

in the rose bushes by the motel office
the bushes where the bird was were located near the office of the motel I was staying at

missed him by a good yard or two
I didn't hit the bird, as my aim fell short

I sang old songs from nowhere
I hummed or sang melodies that had no specific place of origin

Los Angeles, Albuquerque
examples of cities or locations that the singer may have been thinking of

said a small prayer for the poor and the naked and the hungry
I took a moment to offer a humble supplication for those that were disadvantaged or in need

and I prayed real hard for you
I focused my devotion towards the person I was waiting for

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