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.
It's Complicated Being a Wizard
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where sheep share friendly information
While slowly south bound sifting through patient air their legs are bending
Back to find the roots where
We offered only explanations
Because we will only take what hands and backs and legs can carry
Out of here
Where we'll pass time where we'll bring change, where we'll be change
(i found the way out, but if I told you you'd be down)
Lips likely loose and pouring out film lines
A roaring flow abounds a warmth and joy that holds you
Open and apart in steps that never move
So children come in find a seat we made your room/you're sure to use
Ohhhhhhhh
You missed the sparrow's mark
A breath of rockets shone like torches.
Boss we got a problem the people will not listen
Their ears are full of cranks, bells, pulley's, wheels, and bolts
Automated fiction with film on the eyes and the doctors claim
They'll never form, you'll never see again
Lengths of snakes match each silent syllable
Hello. You missed the sparrow's mark...A breath of rockets shone like torches.
(I found the way out)
So children come in find a seat we made your room/you're sure to use
Ohhhhhhhh
A roaring flow abounds a warmth and joy that holds you
Open and apart in steps that never move
Back to the world, the acrobats spinning around
With his head in the bay, stepping in close to that door
Shivers in pain, his mind slipping back in to
Behind his view a place he made through that door
Back filling gold and colors that poured from his
Mouth dripping shame found as the flowed through that door
Comforts in time that pull and push against the moon climbing games
That reach us to get through that door
Now back to the world, the acrobats spinning around
Their heads in the bay all the way back to that door
It's in the door
Where its always, always for the lord/law
Just what percent is left? Money or mind?
You see I found out where the money is it's all in lies
I found the way out. But. If I told you you'd be down.
And I hate to get you down when you're up so high so high.
Children come in, find a seat you're sure to do.
Lengths of snakes, they match each silent syllable
Hello. You missed the sparrow's mark
A breath of rockets shone like torches.
So children come in find a seat we made your room/you're sure to use
Ohhhhhhhh
A roaring flow abounds a warmth and joy that holds you
Open and apart in steps that never move
"It's Complicated Being a Wizard" by Portugal. The Man features lyrics that are open to interpretation. It seems to be about a group of people who are trying to find a new home and a sense of belonging. The song mentions giants who always find them, sheep sharing information, and the group slowly traveling south. The lyrics also touch on the idea of the group taking only what they can carry out of their current home, and the hope of finding a new one someday.
The lyrics take a surreal turn with the mention of "automated fiction with film on the eyes" and doctors claiming that "they'll never form, you'll never see again." The song seems to come full circle with the repetition of "children come in find a seat we made your room/you're sure to use" and the idea of stepping through a door.
Overall, the lyrics of "It's Complicated Being a Wizard" seem to be about the search for a place to belong and the difficulties that come with it. The surreal language and imagery in the lyrics leave room for individual interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Giants always find you
Obstacles always come your way
Where sheep share friendly information
Where people share common knowledge
While slowly south bound sifting through patient air their legs are bending
Walking with patience through the South
Back to find the roots where
Returning to the origins of something
We offered only explanations
We only gave reasons for something
Because we will only take what hands and backs and legs can carry
We only take what we can physically carry
Out of here
Leaving this place
Someday we'll find a home, someday we'll find a lonely lonely home
One day we'll find a place where we belong
Where we'll pass time where we'll bring change, where we'll be change
A place where we can make a difference
(i found the way out, but if I told you you'd be down)
I found a way out, but it may bring you down
Lips likely loose and pouring out film lines
Speaking freely and naturally like in a movie
A roaring flow abounds a warmth and joy that holds you
An ecstatic feeling of warmth and happiness engulfing you
Open and apart in steps that never move
Free and separate, yet never static
So children come in find a seat we made your room/you're sure to use
Come inside and enjoy the space we created for you
Ohhhhhhhh
In an exclamatory expression
You missed the sparrow's mark
You missed the target
A breath of rockets shone like torches
The rockets gave off a bright and fiery light
Boss we got a problem the people will not listen
We have a problem, people refuse to listen
Their ears are full of cranks, bells, pulley's, wheels, and bolts
They are distracted by all sorts of machinery and technology
Automated fiction with film on the eyes and the doctors claim
Technology seems to have taken over reality and the authority figures are blinded by it
They'll never form, you'll never see again
They will never come together, and you will never comprehend
Lengths of snakes match each silent syllable
The movements of snakes follow the sounds of silence
Back to the world, the acrobats spinning around
Back to reality, where life goes on 'like magic'
With his head in the bay, stepping in close to that door
Close to surrendering, on the brink of hopelessness
Shivers in pain, his mind slipping back into
A painful sensation, remembering the past
Behind his view a place he made through that door
A place created by imagination or memories
Back filling gold and colors that poured from his
Filling in a memory with vivid and colorful details
Mouth dripping shame found as they flowed through that door
Feeling embarrassed as memories flow in
Comforts in time that pull and push against the moon climbing games
Finding solace in the passing of time
That reach us to get through that door
That help us to cope and overcome
It's in the door
The outcome is within reach
Where it's always, always for the lord/law
A place where everything is governed by the law
Just what percent is left? Money or mind?
How much mental capacity or financial resources are left?
You see I found out where the money is it's all in lies
I discovered that the source of wealth is deception
Children come in, find a seat you're sure to use
Come inside and make yourself comfortable
Lengths of snakes, they match each silent syllable
The movement of snakes corresponds to the sound of silence
Hello. You missed the sparrow's mark
Hey, you didn't hit your target
A breath of rockets shone like torches
The rockets shone brightly like fiery torches
Open and apart in steps that never move
Free and separate, yet never stationary
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
climbpissis
I hope my neighbours like this song as much as I do
stonerguy420PSN
this album is friggin amazing can't stop listening to it
Bored Overthinker
Beauty. That's the only way to describe this. Pure BEAUTY
Super Spooks
always has and always will be my favorite artists, perfect together hope they never break up or do anything sketchy. amazing minds
Alexander Prestrelski
Dude I'm here to tell you that 11 years later they've made an impact
Still, this album is my fave after all this time. Sometimes you just feel like some wizard shit!
Walor
is they still your favorite artist?
mommommonja
These people should never stop doing this, what they do best.
Megan Christine
This band is so fucking amazing in every way.
iAM jim
man i thought i heard every one of their songs but i must have missed this one
Jackson Cooper
This is great