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.
Guns. Guns…Guns
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whose lives are no longer of use to them?
But this system bites habit forming
But this single file is so contagious
But black eyes breed gossip like
These perverse and perversions alike
Just like these perverse and perversions
You are getting older, so much older
So much older than you think, still
Not far but years away
Your hands will snake out in a serpent smile
Crank the tap, itch, brimming with suspicions
The burrows are brimming with suspicions
Where have all the people gone
Whose guns are gold cold son of a bitch?
"I'll travel anywhere I like" he says
"I'll travel anywhere I please" he says
Black eyes breed gossip like
These perverts and perversions alike
Just like this perverts and perversions
Hibernate while you're still young
You are getting older, so much older
So much older than you think, still
Not far but years away
Your hands will snake out in a serpent smile
Crank the tap, itch, brimming with suspicions
The burrows are brimming with suspicions
Where have all the trumpets gone
That played us la-da da-da-da?
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The lyrics of "Guns" by Portugal. The Man touch on themes of societal decay, the consequences of a flawed system, and the destructive nature of power. The song explores the disappearance of people who are deemed no longer useful by society, referencing their lives being seen as disposable. The lyrics suggest that the system in place perpetuates harmful habits and a conformity that spreads like a contagious disease.
The mention of black eyes breeding gossip implies that negative actions and perversions are enabling a toxic cycle to continue. The idea of hibernating while young may speak to the singer's desire to shield themselves from the corrupt influences of the world as they grow older. However, even in their isolation, they still feel the weight of time passing and the suspicion that surrounds them.
The chorus reiterates the question of where these people have gone, further highlighting societal disregard and the dehumanization of individuals. The mention of "guns" suggests a metaphorical power or control that these missing individuals possessed. The line "The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way" portrays an impending sense of doom and a loss of faith in traditional institutions.
Overall, "Guns" reflects on the degradation of society, the themes of conformity, power, and the consequences of an imperfect system.
Line by Line Meaning
Where have all the people gone
What has happened to the individuals who have lost all hope in their lives?
Whose lives are no longer of use to them?
Whose existence has become meaningless and insignificant to themselves?
But this system bites habit forming
However, this societal structure becomes addictive and enslaving
But this single file is so contagious
But this conformity spreads rapidly and influences others
But black eyes breed gossip like
But bruised eyes generate rumors and scandal just as
These perverse and perversions alike
These distorted actions and immoral behaviors do as well
Just like these perverse and perversions
In the same way as these twisted and wicked actions
Hibernate while you're still young
Withdraw from the world when you are still naïve and innocent
You are getting older, so much older
The passage of time is making you age rapidly
So much older than you think, still
Much older than your perception, despite everything
Not far but years away
Not distant, but just a few years ahead
Your hands will snake out in a serpent smile
Your actions will deceitfully mask your true intentions
Crank the tap, itch, brimming with suspicions
Turn on the faucet of doubt, scratching at it, filled with uncertainty
The burrows are brimming with suspicions
The hiding places are overflowing with doubts and mistrust
Where have all the trumpets gone
What happened to the joyful and celebratory moments?
That played us la-da da-da-da?
That filled our lives with joyful melodies?
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
The priest's on the boat and hell is on its way
The clergyman is aboard the vessel, and chaos and destruction are approaching
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DocM
Impeccable piece of work!!!
bianesita13
i love this song <3 i can´t wait to see portugal in mexico =D
hoodieluvas
love!! :D
Andrew Steven
I'll travel anywhere I please!
Fleskore
I know, I kept on hearing" i mean GODAMN!
Klusis
YESYESYESSS!!!! <3
Paul Miller
are you refering to elephants lyrics "i found gold, gold got it, got it?"
Ludy Guerrier
Bud he says that in this song
Paul Miller
@Ludy Guerrier not sure what this was about... time flies
Ludy Guerrier
@Paul Miller oh sorry I just noticed thatwaz from 8 years ago