Portugal. The Man centered on frontman John Gourley’s abstract musical approach and corresponding upbringing. He was raised in a sort of technological isolation: his log cabin home in the winter wasteland of the fringes of Wasilla, Alaska was powered by a generator and had no telephone. Both of his parents helped completely immerse him in the unique lifestyle that comes with a land of seasonal darkness and perpetual cold with their jobs as dog sled mushers. Gourley’s innate curiosity and individual spirit combined with a fascination with science fiction and experiences of homelessness create a distinctly transcendent sound that is always open to interpretation and change.
The band’s debut album, Waiter: “You Vultures!” was released by Fearless Records on January 24th, 2006.
On June 22, 2007 they released their second full length, Church Mouth. The band then set out on a full US tour with support from The Photo Atlas, Play Radio Play, Tera Melos, and The Only Children. They then toured Europe, and followed it up with another US headlining tour with support from Rocky Votolato and Great Depression during September and October. Following this tour, they joined Thursday on a short east coast tour in November alongside Circle Takes the Square.
Portugal. The Man collaborated with the band The Sound of Animals Fighting on the re-release of their first album, “Tiger and the Duke.” Portugal. The Man remixed three of the songs on that album.
On July 30, 2008, it was announced that Portugal. The Man would release Censored Colors under its independent record label, Approaching AIRballoons, with a partnership with EQUAL VISION RECORDS. The album was released September 16, 2008.
On April 9th, 2009, Portugal. The Man announced a fourth studio album, The Satanic Satanist. It was released on July 21, 2009.
As of October 2009, It was announced through Twitter that Portugal. The Man have completed another album entitled “American Ghetto” which combines their progressive rock style from their latter albums with some of the electo style from their “Its Complicated Being A Wizard” release. A listening party was held for a group of 17 fans in Los Angeles CA. The album was released on March 2, 2010.
The Got it All (This Can’t Be Living Now) Songfacts reports the band’s sixth album and first for Atlantic, In the Mountain in the Cloud, was released on July 19, 2011.
On February 8, 2013, Portugal. The Man leaked pictures on Bonnaroo's official Tumblr page which showed that celebrated producer Danger Mouse was producing the band's new record. According to a Q&A Zach did on the band's Tumblr, their new album was influenced by Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album.
On February 25, 2013, Portugal. The Man released the name of their new album, titled Evil Friends, on Instagram. On March 6, the band revealed the album art for Evil Friends using a Tweet-to-reveal mosaic. The next day, the video for the title track from Evil Friends was released on the band's YouTube channel. On June 4, 2013, the album was released in the United States. The album featured backing vocals by Este Haim and Danielle Haim. A music video of "Purple Yellow Red and Blue" followed.
On April 22, 2014, the band announced a partnership with Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to release a limited-edition run of 400 records to raise awareness for critically endangered Sumatran tigers. The track, "Sumatran Tiger" does not officially exist digitally, and the copies were sent to "400 carefully chosen influencers, among them actors, activists, musicians, conservationists, bloggers and journalists," and is, as the band claims, "the first song meant to go extinct unless it's reproduced." The band encouraged fans to "scour the Internet" using the hashtags #EndangeredSong and #SumatranTiger to find recordings of the song.
In November 2014, Portugal. The Man were in the studio recording their eighth album with Mike D from The Beastie Boys producing. The band also posted pictures of themselves in the studio on Instagram, as well as showcasing small teasers of what their new album would sound like. Mac Miller was also shown working with the band as well. In May 2015, the band released teasers on social networks of what appeared to be new music with a Latin twist with huapango guitars, dream synths and drums machines. On May 5, Portugal. The Man released a Spanish version of "Purple Yellow Red and Blue" covered by a Mexican-American band called The Chamanas on their official YouTube channel to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. On December 31, 2015, Portugal. The Man posted to their website that they had completed two records followed by separate hashtags #Gloomin + #Doomin. However, on February 3, 2016, the band tweeted from their official account that the new record would be entitled Gloomin + Doomin. In February 2016 Portugal. the Man were featured on the Yoko Ono collaboration album Yes, I'm A Witch Too performing "Soul Got Out of the Box".
On November 30, 2016, Triple J radio debuted Portugal. The Man's new song "Noise Pollution". It was released as a single on December 2, and featured Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Zoe Manville. On March 3, 2017, the band released a single titled "Feel It Still", which was followed by the release of an accompanying music video three days later. It was revealed that Gloomin + Doomin "failed to complete" and was thrown out after three years. They have since completed another album, titled Woodstock, which is promoted by "Feel It Still". The album's title was inspired by an original 1969 Woodstock music festival ticket stub owned by Gourley's father. It led Gourley to a realization that almost 50 years later, music has the same mission as then – "to comment on societal and political unease." "We worked with so many rad people on this album, but ended up with just the four of us in a basement at 4 a.m. trying to say something that mattered," said Gourley. "Trying to write music that would help people feel they're not alone, even if they're angry or feeling lost." Woodstock was released on June 16, 2017. John Gourley and Zoe Manville married on New Year's Eve 2017.
Bad Bad Levi Brown
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a speech like god so dark and foreboding
Standing up tall from the top of that hill
I'd growl up your fears from down below
They're restless, spinning around
Twisting, hungry, spitting tongues are restless
In the form of the god that's speaking out
Speaking out, speaking out
Laying bricks, growing walls, clicking stone
And the sound that's awful in our ears
Forcing sprouts and speaking out
Speaking out, speaking out (speaking out)
Like a carpenter, like these weathermen
Like my brother's (like my brother's)
Hands they never sleep
Like the foundation
Like the frames that meet
Like these builders
Hands they never sleep
Like a carpenter, like these weathermen
Like my brother's (like my brother's)
Hands they never sleep
If I were a god, I'd be the greatest of all
With a speech so soft and loud it would kill you
Standing up tall from the top of that hill
I'd shout out commands to down below
They're restless, tangled mess, protests burned
And ears that bleed in rivers through the pipes
That heat your homes and families' plates
Speaking out
Like a carpenter, like these weathermen
Like my brother's (like my brother's)
Hands they never sleep
Like the foundation
Like the frames that meet
Like these builders
Hands they never sleep
Like a carpenter, like these weathermen
Like my brother's (like my brother's)
Hands they never sleep
Like the foundation
Like the frames that meet
Like these builders
Hands they never sleep
Hands they never sleep
The lyrics in Portugal. The Man's song "Bad Bad Levi Brown" paint a picture of dominance and power. The first verse focuses on the idea of a bear being the greatest of all, with a speech like god and looming over everyone else from the top of a hill. The imagery is dark and foreboding, with growling and twisted tongues symbolizing fear and hunger.
Then the lyrics shift to the idea of construction, with references to laying bricks, growing walls, and clicking stone. The idea of growth and expansion is juxtaposed with the "awful" sound of construction, which is described as "forcing sprouts and speaking out." However, the lyrics also acknowledge the steady, hardworking nature of those involved in construction: like carpenters, weathermen, brothers, and builders, who never sleep and tirelessly work on the foundation, frames and structures.
The final verse returns to the idea of being a god, but this time with a softer voice that is louder than ever. This god shouts out commands to the restless masses below, who are described as a tangled, protesting mess with ears that bleed in rivers through the pipes. The lyrics seem to be commenting on power dynamics and how different kinds of power can manifest and impact those around them.
Overall, "Bad Bad Levi Brown" is a song that uses vivid imagery and powerful language to explore themes of dominance, construction, and power dynamics.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a bear, I'd be the greatest of all
If I had the strength of a bear, I would use it to be the best.
With a speech like god so dark and foreboding
If I had the power of a god, my voice would be intimidating and ominous.
Standing up tall from the top of that hill
From a high vantage point, I would command attention and respect.
I'd growl up your fears from down below
I would confront and intimidate your fears from a position of power.
They're restless spinning around
Tensions and anxieties are swirling uncontrollably.
Twisting hungry spitting tongues are restless
Words and outbursts are fueled by an insatiable hunger for power and control.
In the form of the god that's speaking out
These words come from someone who believes they are divine and untouchable.
Laying bricks, growing walls, clicking stone
Building up walls and structures, creating barriers and boundaries.
And the sound that's awful in our ears
This process can be jarring and unpleasant.
Forcing sprouts and speaking out
Imposing change and ideas onto others, shouting down alternative opinions.
Like a carpenter
Using tools and skill to craft something new.
Like these weathermen
Like those who predict and control the elements.
Like my brother
Like someone who is a part of my family and has similar values.
These hands they never sleep
This work is constant and never-ending.
Like the foundation
Like the base upon which everything else is built.
Like the frames that meet
Like the support system that holds everything together.
Like these builders
Like those who take pride in creating something new and enduring.
If I were a god I'd be the greatest of all
If I truly believed I was a divine being, I would be the most powerful god of them all.
With a speech so soft that loud it would kill you
My words would be so persuasive and dangerous that they would have the power to kill or harm those who disagreed with me.
Standing up tall from the top of that hill
From a position of authority, I would exert my power over those below me.
I'd shout out commands to down below
I would bark orders and expect obedience from those beneath me.
They are restless tangled mess protests burned
Those who resist my power are frustrated and disorganized, burned out from the constant struggle.
And ears that bleed in rivers through the pipes
The cacophony of conflict and propaganda is overwhelming and unbearable.
That heat your homes and families' plates
This struggle affects everyone and everything, even the most basic necessities of daily life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heiner Tortmann
this really has a mars volta feel to it, i like it
DocM
Fucking love this track!!! This speaks to my soul and my inner spirit!! Much love from Canada, blessings and love to everyone reading this!!
axelthesot
This -is- previous Portugal :P Yeah, you're right though, their newer albums (like Satanic) have a much different feel too them. Waiter was a really experimental album in comparison. Church Mouth had it's own feel as well. They might take you a little longer to get used to, but you should keep at it! Check out AKA M80 The Wolf, How The Leapord Got Its Spots, and Tommy off this album.
Ludy Guerrier
Yeah , I found out about these guys during Circa survive first album John played that whole show Bent over it’s hard to explain but they killed it me and all my friends all got this album at that show , and John was really nice to me and my little brother
Michael
I still feel lucky as fuck to have gotten to know this band, I've been listening to you guys non-stop for a year now, brilliant work.
Chaaos2
portugal the man too good.. wtf..
juansux
Awesome stuff.
HuzzahSirGiles
Censored Colors took me a while to get used to. This album made me a fan and Church Mouth made me commit to them to the point I got a tattoo of the Church Mouth cover. :)
I've had it up to here
if I were a bear. I'd be the greatest of all
Beth Smevans
I know right, I was kind of disappointed listening to their other stuff. This album is the best.