Michigan’s upper peninsula is trapped under what seems like permafrost for … Read Full Bio ↴Michigan’s upper peninsula is trapped under what seems like permafrost for most of the year. This chilling effect makes the landmass more comfortable with stationary lives rather than lives spent outside its natural sprawl. Hot Mulligan may have been born in this green giant, but they escaped its clutches shortly after high school to beat pavement and their own neuroses-at the same time.

Since 2014, the five-piece has gained ground for their earnest approach to songwriting, melding together the ferocious riffs of pop punk’s latest wave with the tenacious vulnerability of indie rock. The marriage is one shared by many bands, but on Opportunities - their latest EP earning a re-release via No Sleep Records - the courtship entangles itself in new territories, mostly in those characterized by cavernous percussion, hooks so buoyant they bob up and down, and guitar and synth interplay that belong to a much older, bolder band.

The future is full of other excuses to keep moving, and for Hot Mulligan, they’re easily jumping at the chance to speed up.

Scream Mountain
Hot Mulligan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I never called you to help me out ′cause I knew that
You would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Take what you wanted 'til I was empty

′Cause I can feel your breath on my neck,
Your hand in my pocket, but I don't dare stop it
I know you'll take what you want
I′d rather my money than more of my

Family so slow as you make your advance
You smile and approach
I know that you′re hungry, so take my arms and my legs
My mind and my body
Just leave those who love me

And into the water I went before I knew exactly what I did
Control was forfeited when I let
Someone else that I trust decide for me
I'm still just as broken as when I was fourteen
Upset my heart and feel it twisting in my chest before I
Wretch out onto the floor to attempt to finally remove it
Pull it apart to feel like myself again

And I know that I′m just like you because I hate you
And I've grown to pretend you were here so that I′m not alone
And I know that I'm just like you because I hate you
And I′ve grown to pretend you were here so that I'm not alone

I never called you to help me out 'cause I knew that
You would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Take what you wanted ′til I was empty
Called you to help me out ′cause I knew that you

Would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Take what you wanted

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hot Mulligan's "Scream Mountain" depict a tumultuous and complicated relationship with someone who the singer both hates and relies on. The singer knows that calling on this person for help means they will take advantage of them until they are completely drained. The imagery in the lyrics portrays a sense of violation and loss of control, with the other person's breath on the singer's neck and hand in their pocket. The singer feels as if they have lost control over their own decisions, as they let someone else they trust make choices for them, leading to a brokenness that has persisted since they were fourteen.

Line by Line Meaning

I never called you to help me out ′cause I knew that
I didn't want your help because I knew you would take advantage of me.

You would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
I believed you'd keep taking more until there was nothing left for me to give.

Take what you wanted 'til I was empty
You'd keep taking from me until there was nothing left.

′Cause I can feel your breath on my neck,
I sense your presence behind me.

Your hand in my pocket, but I don't dare stop it
You're stealing from me, but I'm too scared to confront you.

I know you'll take what you want
I'm convinced that you'll take everything you can get.

I′d rather my money than more of my
I'd prefer to let you have my possessions than hurt my loved ones.

Family so slow as you make your advance
My family is too helpless to stop your theft as you creep closer and closer.

You smile and approach
You come closer, looking pleased with yourself.

I know that you′re hungry, so take my arms and my legs
I understand your greed, so take everything from me, including my limbs.

My mind and my body
Take control of my thoughts and my physical being.

Just leave those who love me
Please don't harm those who care about me.

And into the water I went before I knew exactly what I did
I acted impulsively and jumped into the water without fully realizing what I was doing.

Control was forfeited when I let
I lost control of the situation when I allowed someone else to make decisions for me.

Someone else that I trust decide for me
I gave someone else, whom I trusted, complete control over my life.

I'm still just as broken as when I was fourteen
I'm still as emotionally damaged as I was when I was a teenager.

Upset my heart and feel it twisting in my chest before I
I'm tormented emotionally, and I can feel physical pain in my chest before I

Wretch out onto the floor to attempt to finally remove it
I vomit onto the ground, hoping to rid myself of the agony.

Pull it apart to feel like myself again
I tear myself apart, hoping to regain my sense of self.

And I know that I′m just like you because I hate you
I realize that I share your negative traits and loathe myself because of it.

And I've grown to pretend you were here so that I′m not alone
I've been pretending that you're with me to avoid being lonely.

And I know that I'm just like you because I hate you
I admit that I despise you because we share similar qualities.

And I′ve grown to pretend you were here so that I'm not alone
I've been pretending that you're still present with me to avoid being lonely.

Called you to help me out ′cause I knew that you
I asked for your assistance because I knew that you

Would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Would remain and take whatever you desired until you were satisfied.

Take what you wanted
Take everything you desired.

Writer(s): Nathan Joseph Sanville, Christopher S Freeman, Garrett Ryan Brown, Brandon L Blakely, Ryan Michael Malicsi

Contributed by Penelope H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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@HairyGay

5y↑15

[Intro]
I never called you to help me out 'cause I knew that you would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Take what you wanted 'til I was empty

[Verse 1]
'Cause I can feel your breath on my neck
Your hand in my pocket, but I don’t dare stop it
I know you’ll take what you want
I’d rather my money than more of my family
So slow as you make your advance
You smile and approach
I know that you’re hungry, so take my arms and my legs
My mind and my body
Just leave those who love me

[Verse 2]
And into the water I went
Before I knew exactly what I did
Control was forfeited when I let someone else
That I trust decide for me
I’m still just as broken as when I was fourteen
Upset my heart and feel it twisting in my chest
Before I wretch out onto the floor
To attempt to finally remove it
Pull it apart to feel like myself again

[Bridge]
And I know that I’m just like you because I hate you
And I’ve grown to pretend you were here so that I’m not alone
And I know that I’m just like you because I hate you
And I’ve grown to pretend you were here so that I’m not alone

[Outro]
I never called you to help me out 'cause I knew that you would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Take what you wanted 'til I was empty
Called you to help me out 'cause I knew that you would stay and take what you wanted until you were full
Take what you wanted