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.
New Orleans
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A meter milling maze
And the rest that we find sound
Will it find us on the bottom?
Will we find our way?
Will we fall apart useless machining the maze?
Find that sleep that we've lost
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Fair and tired living
Lives like little lifted leans
Shaking heads under the shade
Of them bright bright bright sweet pear trees
Mine is gone with the day
Never miss a beat never find a home
Mine is gone with all time. All time
Mother father brother sister son daughters
We are the rabbits that let the fox lead us
Out in the sun with the cold war fever
Beg for your money just please don't eat us
Deaf like the big guns foaming
At the mouth they're gnashing
Quiet like our words that roam and roll about
Let's march a train of thought to crack the boards that keep us out
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
The lyrics of Portugal. The Man's "New Orleans" are open to interpretation and may have several meanings. On the surface, the song seems to allude to the city of New Orleans, giving tribute to its rich culture, history, and music. However, it delves deeper into the themes of loss, confusion, and the search for meaning.
The song begins with the singer slipping back down where "we found a meter milling maze," which suggests revisiting a place that once seemed familiar but now seems like a daunting and confusing maze. The singer questions if they'll find their way, fall apart useless machining the maze, or find the sleep that they've lost. These lines seemingly refer to the feeling of being lost in life, uncertain of how to move forward, and yearning for something to fill the void.
The lyrics then turn to the image of bright sweet pear trees where the singer's life is gone with the day. It then jumps to the lines, "Mother father brother sister son daughters we are the rabbits that let the fox lead us. Out in the sun with the cold war fever beg for your money just please don't eat us." These lines may refer to the helpless position the singer feels they are in, at the mercy of the powerful, and the fear or paranoia of the aftermath of the Cold War.
Overall, "New Orleans" seems to be a commentary on feeling lost and longing for a sense of security and purpose in life. The use of metaphor, imagery, and paradoxical lyrics adds to the depth of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I slip back down where we found
Returning to where we started
A meter milling maze
A confusing and complicated journey
And the rest that we find sound
The discoveries we make along the way
Will it find us on the bottom?
Will we find success in the end?
Will we find our way?
Will we figure out our path?
Will we fall apart useless machining the maze?
Will we lose ourselves in the process?
Find that sleep that we've lost
Regain a sense of peace and rest
Fair and tired living
Trying to live a just and balanced life
Lives like little lifted leans
Living on a precarious edge
Shaking heads under the shade
Confused and uncertain
Of them bright bright bright sweet pear trees
Distracted by pleasing and attractive distractions
Mine is gone with the day
Lost opportunities
Never miss a beat never find a home
Always on the move, never settling down
Mine is gone with all time. All time
Lost opportunities in the past
Mother father brother sister son daughters
All members of a family unit
We are the rabbits that let the fox lead us
Allowing others to control us
Out in the sun with the cold war fever
Experiencing the tension and stress of conflict
Beg for your money just please don't eat us
Feeling vulnerable and in need
Deaf like the big guns foaming
Being overrun by overpowering forces
At the mouth they're gnashing
Acting aggressively and threateningly
Quiet like our words that roam and roll about
Silent and powerless
Let's march a train of thought to crack the boards that keep us out
Using our minds to break down barriers and limitations
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Then we'll find that sleep we lost, we lost
Achieving peace and rest once again
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JustinThomas-qt9hv
This album is their masterpiece. I hope the bandwagoners take the time to explore their stuff before they were recognized through radio and car commercials.
@brettdovahkiin7646
I love that they created a song the pertains within the experience of new orleans and actually bring in influences of new orleans music such as jazz.
@ridespirals
this song is probably the reason this entire album feels like New Orleans to me
@Paperbagman555
23,000 views?!? Travesty - this is one of PTM's best songs. That groove and hook are real - sexy bassline too.
@hiimmooky
The licks on this song make my toes curl up. So great
@dnddmdb642
Their best album, in my opinion.
@Scoty313
I love how jazzy it is ...... they should try something like this again
@_Mulberrystreetgirl01_
Wow
@mary-gx5cl
holy fckng shit this is cool
@lolvovolvo
<3