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.
Kill Me. The King
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Overeating indulgence of insides
But I fear he's lower than before
Though he's stronger than he looks
He's made of feathers mixed with
Oil and small servings of hands and feet
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn
How do they flutter so damn
Now begin the search that hails you home
I think I lost my means
He said with his face in the cup
Desperate times make for desperate people
Desperate times make for desperate people
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn
How do they flutter so damn
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn
How do they flutter so damn
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
The lyrics of Portugal. The Man's "Kill Me. The King" are quite complex and abstract, but they seem to hint at darker themes of self-destruction and desperation. The beginning of the song paints a vivid picture of the subject "basking briefly in this overeating indulgence of insides". It suggests someone who is indulging in self-destructive behavior, possibly overeating, and enjoying it momentarily. However, the lyrics also imply that the person is aware of their own downward spiral, as they "fear he's lower than before".
The second part of the song continues this theme of self-awareness and darkness, using vivid imagery to describe the subject's fragility and strength. The line "He's made of feathers mixed with oil" suggests someone who is both fragile and resilient, as feathers are easily broken but can also withstand a lot of stress. The subject is also described as having "desperate times", which points to a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Overall, "Kill Me. The King" seems to be exploring deep themes of self-destruction, desperation, and fragility. The lyrics suggest someone who is aware of their own destructive behavior, but unable to escape it.
Line by Line Meaning
Basking briefly in this overeating indulgence of insides
Momentarily enjoying the excessive indulgence of food within me
But I fear he's lower than before
But I'm afraid my current state is worse than before
Though he's stronger than he looks
Despite appearing weak, he possesses inner strength
He's made of feathers mixed with oil and small servings / Of hands and feet
He is composed of light and dark elements, as well as small, essential parts that make him whole
Up so high / How do they flutter so damn high?
Observing birds fly high and wondering how they remain so carefree up there
Now begin the search that hails you home
Embarking on a journey to find one's true place, purpose, or identity
I think I lost my means
I believe I have lost my direction or ability to achieve my goals
He said with his face in the cup / Desperate times make for desperate people
He spoke with desperation, recognizing that difficult circumstances can lead people to act out of character
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
space shakespeare
Basking briefly in this overeating indulgence of insides
But I fear he's lower than before
Though he's stronger than he looks
He's made of feathers mixed with oil and small servings
Of hands and feet
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
Now begin the search that hails you home
I think I lost my means
He said with his face in the cup
Desperate times make for desperate people
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
space shakespeare
Basking briefly in this overeating indulgence of insides
But I fear he's lower than before
Though he's stronger than he looks
He's made of feathers mixed with oil and small servings
Of hands and feet
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
Now begin the search that hails you home
I think I lost my means
He said with his face in the cup
Desperate times make for desperate people
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
Up so high
How do they flutter so damn high?
DocM
1 of the greatest tracks ever!!! PTM are one of the best, most important band of the 000's and of all time! Everything they do for Indigenous rights is truly something that needs to be spoke on a lot more!! Shout out to John and the crew for standing up for what's right and dedicating their life to that! Peace and Love!!
B00MBEAR
this song is so great. ptm's sound has changed so much over the years
Juan Pablo Torres
you guys should bring this sound back. I know theres nothing wrong with changing but this was just awsome/
Flashmaster88
this is the first song i ever heard of ptm! got me HOOKED
YoutanPoluo
This was my favorite album of PTM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carlin A
favorite song of all time
Beeg Yoshi
Their best song!
TheCryptGyp
awesome.
Shut up
I'm addicted to this. Who needs drugs when there's PTM!?