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.
Oh Lord
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But we were all the daughters that fell from her to ground
Because she needed us, she needed love
But we're all gone to strip that ground
Shivered pores were caves, teeth were all decayed
Jutting, jagged, rising up like welts on backs in strain
Because she needed us, needed love
No man sleeps in the fields in the rain
I said, "oh lord", I said
We climbed up those banks from our place in the shade
Built us a fire but never knew what we made
It's not your mind, self, not your thoughts, not your soul
It's not your mind, self, not your thoughts, not your soul
We are that fire
We are that fire
We are that fire, we
Shepherds they came, stripped of their names
We were all the daughters that fell from her to ground
Because she needed us, she needed love
But we're all gone to strip that ground
Were you safe down in my hands?
The higher we climb
These shapes, shapes show
This place is more holy when nobody knows
Were you safe down in my hands? (Were you safe down in my hands?)
The higher we climb (the higher we climb)
These shapes, shapes show
This place is more holy when nobody knows
You're safe down in line? (Show me what you want)
The higher we climb (what you feel, really real)
These shapes, shapes show (I tell you, oh)
This place is more holy when nobody knows
We climbed up those banks from our place in the shade
Built us a fire but never knew what we made
It's not your mind, self, not your thoughts, not your soul
It's not your mind, self, not your thoughts, not your soul
We are that fire
We are that fire
We are that fire, we
Show me what you (everything is still free)
And I will tell you
It's not your mind, your self, not your thoughts, not your soul
The lyrics of “Oh Lord” by Portugal. The Man are complex and layered, inviting the listener to draw their own conclusions from the vivid imagery and symbolism. At its core, the song seems to be a commentary on the cyclical nature of humanity’s relationship with the environment and how our constant need for resources has led to a state of imbalance and decay.
The first verse paints a picture of shepherds coming to strip the land, but the focus soon shifts to “daughters that fell from her to ground”. This could be interpreted as the Earth, which is personified as a female figure needing the love of its inhabitants. However, the “daughters” may also represent humanity, who were born from the Earth and have a responsibility to care for it. The line “But we’re all gone to strip that ground” suggests that we have lost touch with our connection to the natural world and are now actively destroying it for our own gain.
The chorus of “Oh Lord” is a simple but powerful statement, with the repetition of “Because we are that fire” emphasizing how humanity’s actions have led us down a destructive path. The second verse continues the imagery of decay, with descriptions of “shivered pores” and “teeth all decayed”. The line “Jutting, jagged, rising up like welts on backs in strain” evokes the image of scars caused by backbreaking labor, further highlighting the toll that our exploitation of the environment has taken on both the land and its inhabitants.
The final verse brings the focus back to the present moment, with the repeated question of “Were you safe down in my hands?” suggesting a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety. The lines “This place is more holy when nobody knows” and “Show me what is still free and I will tell you” seem to imply that a return to simplicity and a deeper connection to the natural world is necessary in order for us to find a sense of peace and balance.
Overall, “Oh Lord” is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages the listener to reflect on their own relationship with the environment and consider what actions they can take to help heal the damage that has been done.
Line by Line Meaning
Shepherds they came, stripped of their names
A group of people came, but they had lost their identities
And we were all the daughters that fell from her to ground
People were like daughters who fell to the ground
Because she needed us, she needed love
There was a need for love and companionship
But we're all gone to strip that ground
Unfortunately, we stripped the ground and destroyed what was once there
Shivered pores were caves, teeth were all decayed
The people were weak and suffering, with decayed teeth and sullen skin
Jutting, jagged, rising up like welts on backs in strain
Their conditions were painful with rough textures and tiredness
I said, "Oh Lord!"
An expression of hopelessness and asking for help
We climbed up those banks from our place in the shade
People climbed up from their comfortable positions to face the truth
Built us a fire but never knew what we made
We made something, but we don't know what it is
It's not your mind, self, not your thoughts, not your soul
It's not about what we think, what we feel, or who we are as individuals
Because we are that fire
We are the source of power and change
Were you safe down in my hands?
Were you protected by me?
The higher we climb
The more we search and learn
These shapes, shapes show
We start to see different perspectives and realities
And this place is more holy when nobody knows
The truth is sometimes hidden and unknown, making it all the more sacred
Show me what is still free and I will tell you
Freedom is hard to find but it's still there
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Martel4
This album has to be played in it's entirety. <3
@RubensBarrichello.
everything satanic satanist and prior must be played in their entirety
@docm4544
This track rocks!! Love how you guys changed up the pace on this album compared to the first!! You guys have such a diverse, unique sound!!
@milkfsernajimenez8664
Me encanta la musica y amo todos sus albumes aun sigo esperando que hagan un concierto en Perú :"(
@claireprimeau9570
This song rips
@claireprimeau9570
This whole album rips
@annoyingmanann8360
5th comment let's goooo
i just had to wait 11 years
@VivaLaRevolution6925
I love Jason Sechrist or however you spell it