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.
Floating
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But we're still helpless in the end
Just remember you're floating
Remember the love that we were in
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh whoa oh
Oh oh oh
So inconsistently we spend
Our time with family and our friends
I know I'm not hopeless
I'm only helpless in the end
I know you love questions
But they go unanswered in the end
Did you forget you're floating?
Did you forget that we were only men?
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh whoa oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
We're getting all for our time, time, time
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
We're getting all for our time, time, time
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh whoa oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh whoa oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
The lyrics of “Floating” by Portugal. The Man suggest a sense of being lost and helpless, but also a reminder to hold onto love and the beauty of life. The opening lines illustrate a feeling of hopelessness that is balanced by the fact that we are not entirely lost. The song acknowledges that we are all simply floating through life, with an inevitable need for connection to feel fulfilled. The repetition of the line “remember you’re floating” emphasizes this message.
The second verse talks about the struggle to balance time between the demands of work, family and friends. Even though we may feel helpless, we are not entirely without hope. The next lines express a concern about unanswered questions and forgotten emotions around love and human connection.
The pre-chorus and chorus of "Floating" creates a sense of urgency with the repetition of the line that “Time isn't working my side.” This highlights the importance of cherishing our time and valuing the people we have in our lives. Ultimately, the song encourages people to stay present, appreciate life and love, and be aware that we are all floating through our existence.
Line by Line Meaning
We may not be hopeless
Although our situation may not be without hope
But we're still helpless in the end
We are ultimately powerless to control our fate
Just remember you're floating
Remember that you are just going with the flow
Remember the love that we were in
Remember the positive feelings and emotions we shared in the past
So inconsistently we spend
We use our time with family and friends sporadically
Our time with family and our friends
The limited moments we have with loved ones
I know I'm not hopeless
I am aware that there are possibilities of positive outcomes
I'm only helpless in the end
However, I acknowledge that there are external factors beyond my control
I know you love questions
I am aware that you enjoy seeking answers to things
But they go unanswered in the end
But sometimes, answers are not readily available
Did you forget you're floating?
Have you forgotten that you are just going with the flow?
Did you forget that we were only men?
Have you forgotten that we are all just human and face similar struggles?
We're getting all for our time, time, time
We devote all our time, but it always feels like it's never enough
Time isn't working my side
Time doesn't seem to be on my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Time isn't working my side
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
shades
This is probably my favorite song in the whole album! By the way I've made this comment on every song!!
Juan Flores Quispe
El mejor álbum
Bald TrollDoll
Hey! You said that on another song!
Jason DeMars
This video should have way more than 215k views. Have you heard those fantastic drums leading the entire song?
MissedExistence
Cant help but air drum at work listening to this song
oliver hart
i can imagine they'd be really great to see live
Ryan Hamann
Amazing!
Andrew Bishop
It’s true
James Blunt
That only happens to bands that seek out being famous and only make music in the first place to be famous, I'm sure that if 'Portugal, The Man' did become more popular that they would stick to what they do best.
CG Miller
I can't even listen to their new stuff.