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.
Horse Warming Party
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mississippi.
On that canvas.
Dirty streets.
The people stood up to wave those white flags
The devil had died through the valley.
In the city.
Down south.
That devil had died.
Sharpened tongues fair painted divers
Forearms rest in streams of silver
Golden people pass in silence
But it won't slip away
That giant was a mountain of a man
Walking trembles through the earth
Like a riot in the streets tearin' Florence to the ground.
The people stood up to wave those white flags
The devil had died.
Born and raised in 65.
In the streets.
Televised.
The people stood up and a cheer went through the air
That devil had died.
That giant was a fighter.
Mississippi.
On that canvas.
Dirty streets.
The people stood up to wave those white flags
The devil had died.
In those gloves.
In them women.
In the mind.
The people stood up and a cheer went through the air
That devil had died.
The song "Horse Warming Party" by Portugal. The Man is a vibrant lyrical story that makes use of daring imagery and vivid metaphors in its attempt to relay a certain message to listeners. The song begins by introducing a giant who was a fighter, born and raised in Mississippi, and who lived his life on that canvas and the dirty streets. The song lyrically depicts a scenario where the people of a particular place stand up to celebrate the demise of the devil, something the giant fought against.
As the song progresses towards the chorus, the imagery used to describe the giant becomes even more nuanced and metaphorical. The giant is presented, almost as a natural phenomenon, as a mountain of a man walking on the earth, with each step tearing the streets of Florence to the ground like a riot. While the second verse is somewhat cryptic, it still carries some powerful metaphors. The sharp tongues painted with deception, the restful forearms in streams of silver, the golden people who pass in silence, all indicate some form of deceit or hidden evil that is being fought against.
In the end, the song reaches its climax as the people stand up, waving the white flag to mark the demise of the devil, finally chanting and cheering, displaying hope for a new beginning. In summary, "Horse Warming Party" is a deeply metaphorical and symbolic story of a fighter who represents the triumph of good over evil.
Line by Line Meaning
Born and raised that giant was a fighter.
The subject of the song was a person who was born and raised as a strong and resilient fighter.
Mississippi.
The person was from or had some connection to the state of Mississippi.
On that canvas.
The person was likely involved in some type of physical competition, such as boxing, in which they fought on a canvas ring.
Dirty streets.
The environment in which the person grew up or competed was not one of luxury, and the streets were likely rough and gritty.
The people stood up to wave those white flags
The people who witnessed the person's fight or struggle stood up to cheer them on and show their support.
The devil had died through the valley.
It is possible that the person had faced some sort of significant obstacle, apparent through the imagery of the devil dying in a valley.
In the city.
At some point in the person's life, they likely lived or spent time in a city environment.
Down south.
The person had a connection to the southern region of the United States of America.
The people stood up and a cheer went through the air
Once again, the people around the person expressed their support and enthusiasm for their achievement.
Sharpened tongues fair painted divers
This line is more abstract and does not have an immediately clear meaning. However, it may be interpreted as describing contrast and diversity among people.
Forearms rest in streams of silver
This line evokes images of strength and endurance, and suggests that people are resting and recovering after a period of physical exertion.
Golden people pass in silence
This line also has some ambiguity, but it may describe people moving past each other without speaking or interacting in a significant way.
But it won't slip away
Despite the passing of time or changes in life circumstances, something important and meaningful will not be lost or forgotten.
That giant was a mountain of a man
The person described earlier in the song was strong, powerful, and impressive in a way that compares them to a mountain.
Walking trembles through the earth
This line suggests that the person had a significant impact on their environment, and their movements caused the ground to shake or tremble.
Like a riot in the streets tearin' Florence to the ground.
The imagery here is quite strong, and suggests that the person's power was comparable to a riot that tears apart a city like Florence.
Born and raised in 65.
The person was born and raised in the year 1965.
In the streets.
The person lived or spent time on the streets.
Televised.
The person's achievements or struggles were captured on television, and broadcast to a wider audience.
In them women.
It is unclear what this line refers to, but it may suggest that the person had some notable relationships with women in their life.
In the mind.
This line is also unclear in its meaning, but may suggest that the person's strength and accomplishments were not just physical, but also present in their mental fortitude or resilience.
The people stood up and a cheer went through the air
Once again, the people who had supported and witnessed the person's life or achievements expressed their enthusiasm and approval with a cheer.
That devil had died.
This line serves as a refrain and recurring theme throughout the song, perhaps signaling the overcoming of obstacles or the defeat of one's enemies.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BALDWIN GOURLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
zaphodOFtime22
This is the song that got me into PTM.....The chorus is magical
Skyler Crovve
WHATS PMT?
DocM
Words can't express how much I love this track!! such an original vibe and hits you from a higher level!!
nathanballentyne
I heard this song for the first time when I was quite young and it was the first time I had an emotional reaction to music. <3 you guys
†ђE мคg¡c
Bring back my bleeding heart portugal u need more of the beat the world needs to know this kinda beat is and never left
Luis Bohorquez
me gusta mucho el bajo de esta cancion.
AllAmericanNative
Alot is happening in this song ...I love it
_xXJanaroselleXx_
Unique sound
Hk Ybr
Going back
Ayy Rawls
Decent into Darkness WWII movie 🎥