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.
Once Was One
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He'd never climb, he'd never love like the love I know
When I was two and he was ten they carried me
Through holograms they twisted into cosmic seas
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
If gathering is all we need to change the wind
For anything to die it needs first to begin
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
In time, saw your future is not burning so bright
But if we live too long you'll live less like mine
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing
We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
In time, if humans breed hate, love and lies would be traits of mine
But I was of the future, past and present time
Once was born of light like you
Once was one but now I'm two
When I was born of love like you
When you were ten and I was two
The lyrics to Portugal. The Man's Once Was One speak of a youth who could never attain the same heights as the singer, with the latter stating that he will never grow, love or climb like the former. The second verse introduces the imagery of monkeys and spacemen, hinting at the singer considering himself to be a part of something bigger, something cosmic. In the final verse, the narrative structure returns to something more personally related, with the singer contemplating his own future, before ending on the idea that they were "of the future, past and present time."
The song seems to be a reflection of personal growth, maturation, and perhaps the idea that not everyone is destined for greatness. The line "If gathering is all we need to change the wind / For anything to die it needs first to begin" is somewhat philosophical, suggesting that one needs to start something (perhaps a gathering or movement) in order for change to occur, but that change may require endings.
Line by Line Meaning
Of all us he had to know he'd never grow
One of us, he knew he would never go on to flourish
He'd never climb, he'd never love like the love I know
He'd never succeed or love as much as I do
When I was two and he was ten they carried me
When I was young, he helped me get around
Through holograms they twisted into cosmic seas
They navigated the wilderness through an alternate reality
Once was born of light like you
I too was created by divine light
Once was one but now I'm two
I was once a single entity, but now I have been divided
When I was born of love like you
I was made with the same ardency as you
When you were ten and I was two
You were older than me, but we still share a common origin
There were two monkeys talking sounding like little dogs
Two monkeys were conversing, making noises like canines
They were barking and bitching about what was wrong
They were complaining about everything that was not right
In the world we were just spacemen taking a ride
We live in a world where we are all travelers
The gorilla's in his human suit reciting his lines, singing We all, we all, we all turn on, we all, we all, we all turn off
The gorilla is pretending to be human and is quoting a previously sung line
If gathering is all we need to change the wind
Sometimes all we need is a unification to make a significant impact
For anything to die it needs first to begin
For anything to end, it must first start
In time, saw your future is not burning so bright
Over time, I have come to realize that things may not go well for you
But if we live too long you'll live less like mine
If we live beyond our capacity, our fate will not be similar
In time, if human's breed hate, love and lies would be traits of mine
With the passage of time, if hatred is spread, my attributes will include love and lies
But I was of the future, past and present time
But I was created with traits of past, present, and future
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MiNdLeSs1234567890
Yesterday I said the last goodbye to a very friend of mine almost a brother, who died because the violence who is striking my beloved Mexico. He introduced me to this beautiful band Portugal the man and he was a man that changed my life forever in many ways. It's hard to lose a close friend and even harder to say goodbye. But every time when I listen to this he'll be remembered and never forgotten.
Game Scrapz
🙏❤️
SithSpit Danikan
I hope things are better now :)
Jacob Bodnar
Sorry for your loss .
ruijorge1922
I can't believe I've missed this band for so long.
Nico Grischau
You guys are a wonderful band. I am German and I bought your first album at that time. Through a German radio station I became aware of you again.
You write so fine beautiful melodies.
Best wishes.
Drew
You guys are amazing, the powerful music you've created thus far.
david pirela
Is it just me or this song takes me to some other happy place :P its so awesome and relaxing , don't know if its an apropiated music for teens but who cares this song and others from this album are just amazing , so i just relax and enjoy it ...........Pd: I love this band !!
Beatles Bootlegs
you are so right!
nofxdude89
seriously buy it! its SUCH a good album....could be my favorite of theirs so far. i don't know how these guys bust out a new album almost each year and create such magic each time...and something so unique. buy the album. watch them live. get blown away.