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.
Salt
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My lips move out all of my words, the way
But this can't be all that we have to wait
But this can't be all that we have to wait
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Pressing and pulling these pains, the way
They listen and listen for all the way
This can't be all that we have to wait
This can't be all that we have to wait
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Do you hear the wind, child?
Calling out to salt plains
Listen to the wind, child
It's calling out, it's calling out your name
I was born of sunbeams
Warming up our limbs
Born up from the earth, child
Ooh-ooh-ooh
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
No, I'll never come back down
down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
This can't be all that we have to wait (no, I'll never come back down)
Never come down from here
this can't be all that we have to wait (no, I'll never come back down)
Never come down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Never come down from here
(No, I'll never come back down
Down from here
No, I'll never come back down
Down from here)
The lyrics to Portugal. The Man's song Salt are deeply metaphorical and somewhat cryptic in their message. The idea of being "buried in salt" can be interpreted as feeling stuck or trapped in life, unable to move forward or progress as one may want to. The repetition of "this can't be all that we have to wait" suggests a feeling of impatience or restlessness, a desire to break free from the constraints of one's current state.
The mention of listening to the wind calling out to salt plains and being born of sun beams adds to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the lyrics. It can be interpreted metaphorically as a call to a higher power or a divine force, urging the singer to break free from their current state and ascend to a new level of existence. The repeated refrain of "No, I'll never come back down" reinforces this idea of transcendence and escape.
Overall, the lyrics of Salt can be seen as an exploration of the human desire for change and growth, and the frustration that can come with feeling stuck or trapped in life. The surrealist imagery and poetic language employed in the song create a dreamlike atmosphere that adds to its enigmatic power.
Line by Line Meaning
My legs are all buried in salt the way
I am weighed down by a heavy burden or pain, much like being submerged in salt
As my lips move out all of my words the way
I am trying to communicate my emotions and thoughts, but struggling to articulate them
But this can't be all that we have to wait
I believe that there must be more to life than just pain and waiting
Pressing and pulling these pains the way
I feel trapped and pained, with my suffering controlling my every move
They listen and listen for all the way
Others may acknowledge my pain, but cannot truly understand or relieve it
Do you hear the wind child?
There is a call to something greater or mystical
Calling out to salt plains
This call is directed towards the salt, which represents a place of spiritual significance or purification
Listen to the wind child
The call should be heeded and paid attention to
It's calling out, it's calling out your name
The call is personal and directed towards me
I was born of sun beams
I come from a place of warmth and vitality
Warming up our limbs
This vital energy is what gives us movement and life
Born up from the earth child
I come from a place of nature and groundedness
No I'll never come back down
I reject the idea of returning to a place of pain and hopelessness
Never come down from here
Instead, I choose to remain in a place of spiritual connection or transcendence
This can't be all that we have to wait
I hold onto the belief that there is more to life than just suffering
No I'll never come back down
I reiterate my decision to remain in a place of spiritual growth and transcendence
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Baldwin Gourley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
megan C
Every night my 3 year old son falls asleep to Censored Colors and this is one of my favorite songs. Such a healing, soothing song. Thanks for posting with the awesome footage!
Portugal. The Man
love this so much. We should put it in the calm app
Cinema Guerrílla
@Portugal. The Man the Calm app requires new original music so yes please
Julián De Stéfano
Jajaja que bueno, ese niño va a crecer escuchando una excelente banda.
megan C
@Julián De Stéfano Gracias 😊
Julián De Stéfano
@megan Cyour welcome 😉
Nathalie Grammer
This song catches me in a way hardly any song can. One of my favourites of one of my favourite bands for over 10 years now. Love from Austria. Maybe you can come back to play live again here one day.
Jonathan Bachmann
I cant get enough sound from Portugal. The man. Always good feeling vibes when I hear their sound. I absolutely love these guys! One band that Knows How to do music and what its all about.
Phillip Mueller
Been listening since 2008 always will back anything these guys do sonically. Cannot wait for a new album.
PS. I took acid the day Evil Friends came out and it changed my life. In good ways.
Jason Youn
It's been really long before I heard such a unique sounding band like portugal the man. Purely perfect in all ways.