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.
Sun Brother
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
flow about and sink in little bitty bits
where I know I know myself where floors were found
shores were shaping doors
stretch for miles and mile and miles
I know I know myself
and everyone hidden from the sun
pepper churns and salts about my little nose
and if you love everybody
then I wonder, shall you be saved
and I'm thinking, when will we be found
I need you sunshine this rains a poured
please please please please please me...
The lyrics to Portugal. The Man's song Sun Brother are full of imagery and metaphor that depict self-discovery and the search for meaning in life. The opening lines, "heavy were the words dripping from my brain," suggest an overwhelming weight on the singer's mind, perhaps a feeling of confusion or uncertainty. The repetition of "where I know I know myself" implies a search for self-awareness and understanding of one's place in the world.
The reference to "floors" and "shores" being found and shaped further reinforces the idea of shaping one's own identity and environment. The line "and everyone hidden from the sun" could be interpreted as those who are hiding from the truth or avoiding self-reflection. The mention of "pepper churns and salts" adds a sensory element to the lyrics, conveying a feeling of discomfort or unease.
The repetition of "please" in the final line, "please please please please please me..." could be interpreted as a plea for help or guidance. Overall, the lyrics suggest a journey towards self-discovery and finding one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
heavy were the words dripping from my brain
I am burdened with heavy thoughts that constantly occupy my mind.
flow about and sink in little bitty bits
These heavy thoughts keep swirling around in my head, breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces but never really leaving my mind.
where I know I know myself where floors were found
I find comfort and stability in familiar surroundings and in the knowledge of my own identity.
shores were shaping doors
The environment and people around me are shaping and influencing my path in life.
stretch for miles and mile and miles
The distance I have traveled and the experiences I have gained are vast and seemingly endless.
I know I know myself
I have a clear understanding of my own identity and my place in the world.
and everyone hidden from the sun
Despite this sense of self-awareness, I know there are still those around me who are struggling to find their own way, hidden in shadows.
pepper churns and salts about my little nose
I am hyper-aware of and impacted by my surroundings and my senses.
and if you love everybody
If we all act with love and compassion towards one another...
then I wonder, shall you be saved
...perhaps we can find salvation and redemption as individuals and as a society.
and I'm thinking, when will we be found
I am left wondering when we as individuals and as a society will be able to find true meaning and fulfillment in our lives.
I need you sunshine this rains a poured
I am feeling overwhelmed and weighed down by difficult circumstances in my life, and I am in dire need of something positive and uplifting - represented here by the metaphor of sunshine.
please please please please please me...
I am pleading with the universe or a higher power to provide me with some relief and hope in my struggles.
Contributed by Lily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
OleTrollinJonesy
This song is exemplary of what makes Portugal. The Man the greatest band of our time. Aside from the fact that they release albums in rapid fire succession, one year after another, each just a little different enough to keep the fans interested while still maintaining that distinct PTM sound, while touring the world, and having one hell of an exciting journey along the way, Sun Brother's lyrics are among the most thought inspiring, the drums and bass well composed, the keyboard's nuance...
edu pinheiro
PTM é a melhor coisa que já me aconteceu! Simplesmente incríveis
DocM
Impeccable track!!! The full version of this goes in even more!!! Hard ass, smooth, fly chords and vocals! PTM are the truth!!
Gustav Albericchi Du Rocher
+Christofisgood SO TRUE THANK YOU!
Not even radiohead got me so surprised cd after cd. Not even pink floyd. The changes they've made... ran between so many rock styles without ever dropping this trophy: best band of our time.
Cypeq
best 70's band.
Cypeq
pretty much ;-)
greyson wolfe
u sure?
Miguelidaking
Yes! I have been wanting the full version since the birth of this cd. I always thought it would be in their next album but negative!!! Oh well. Now I have it and I will leave it on repeat till my ears bleed!!!!
monkooo
Heavy were the words dripping from my brain flow about and sink in little bitty bits where I know I know myself where floors were found shores were shaping doors stretch for miles and miles I know I know myself and everyone hidden from the sun pepper churns and salts about my little noose where I know I know myself and if you love everybody then I wonder shall you be saved and I'm thinking when will we be found
Charles Turner
It's a crime that this version didn't appear on the released album