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.
You Carried Us
Portugal. The Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You forget sometime it's ours
Can't you see, you're not the only one?
The doors all lead outside
Feel it soak into your mind
Can't you see, you're not the only one?
As you slipped on down the length of my tongue
You carried us all
Down from the stars
And up from the sea, where everybody knew
All you see, and all you hear is all you need
And all you be is what you create
And it's in your mind
Share with me the sun
We'll forget all that is ours
You forget me and all the things that you see
The times already came with the news
It was the word that took your brain
You carried us all
Down from the stars
And up from the sea, where everybody knew
All you see, and all you hear is all you need
And all you be is what you create
And it's in your mind
There's nothing I can say or do
There is nothing I can say or do
And there's no light for me to see
And there is no light for me to see
So there was nothing left of you
You, you carried us all
Down from the stars
And up from the sea, and we all knew you
You carried us all
Down from the stars
And up from the sea, where everybody knew
All you see, and all you hear is all you need
And all you be is what you create
And it's in your mind, and we all knew you
All you see, and all you hear is all you need
And all you be is what you create
And it's in your mind
There's nothing I can say or do
There is nothing I can say or do
And there's no light for me to see
And there is no light for me to see
So there was nothing left of you
There was nothing left of you
The song "You Carried Us" by Portugal. The Man is a highly poetic and introspective piece that touches on themes of self-discovery, the power of creation, and the interconnectedness of all things. In the beginning of the song, the lyrics encourage listeners to bask in the warmth and beauty of life, and to recognize that everyone shares in this experience. The lines "Share with me the sun/You forget sometime it's ours/Can't you see, you're not the only one?" evoke a sense of unity and a desire to connect with others.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more introspective, with the singer reflecting on their own experiences and emotions. The line "As you slipped on down the length of my tongue/Did you taste the salt that I become?" suggests a deep sense of sadness or regret, as if the singer feels they have lost a part of themselves. However, the chorus of the song serves as a reminder of the power of creation and the potential for growth and renewal: "You carried us all/Down from the stars/And up from the sea, where everybody knew/All you see, and all you hear is all you need/And all you be is what you create/And it's in your mind."
The song ends on a melancholy note, with the singer acknowledging their own limitations and the inevitability of loss: "There's nothing I can say or do/And there's no light for me to see/So there was nothing left of you." However, the final repetition of the chorus suggests that even in the face of darkness and uncertainty, the power of creation and the interconnectedness of all things endures.
Overall, "You Carried Us" is a beautiful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences and the connections they share with others and the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Share with me the sun
Let's share the light, warmth and comfort of the sun together
You forget sometime it's ours
People forget that the sun belongs to everyone, not just themselves
Can't you see, you're not the only one?
Reminding people that they are not the only ones on this planet and to acknowledge others and share resources
The doors all lead outside
The doors represent opportunities to experience the world outside of one's comfort zone
Feel it soak into your mind
Encouraging people to allow new and different experiences to expand and enrich their minds
As you slipped on down the length of my tongue
Metaphorically describing tasting something bitter or unpleasant
Did you taste the salt that I become?
Asking if someone can understand or relate to the pain that has caused the bitterness
You carried us all, down from the stars, and up from the sea, where everybody knew
Acknowledging a higher power or force that has brought us all here and that everyone is connected in some way
All you see, and all you hear is all you need
Encouraging people to appreciate the simple things in life
And all you be is what you create
Empowering individuals to take control of their own lives and create their own destiny
And it's in your mind
Reminding people that their thoughts and beliefs shape their reality
You forget me and all the things that you see
Reminding people not to take anything or anyone for granted because they could be easily forgotten or lost
The times already came with the news
Referring to a significant event that has brought about a change in the world
It was the word that took your brain
The impact of the event was so great that it affected people's ability to think clearly and rationally
There's nothing I can say or do
Feeling powerless in the face of events outside of one's control
And there's no light for me to see
Feeling lost and uncertain about the future
So there was nothing left of you
Feeling like all hope is lost and there is nothing left to hold on to
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BALDWIN GOURLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joshua Guerra
This whole album is just to good
Mauricio
Thank you, Portugal. The Man for introducing me to Hondas
Morgan Brumfield
This is absolutely one of my favorite songs. I remember when I heard this on the Honda commercial I got really exited and my family got mad at me for yelling. Every song i hear by this band amazes me.
Milica Krunić
"All you see and all you hear is all you need and all you'll be" reminds me of the Pink Floyd lyrics
Bobbie Bowens BB1323
I'm so in love with this song! Brilliant .....
wowbenwtf
This album is perfect. Love every song...
paradise channel
Listened to Portugal The Man way before this Honda commercial
DanK MeMeSteR
Fucken hipster
Brandon Benson
+Bobby McSteve Round of applause for you, sir! Well done!
Shut up
Beautiful. Just... beautiful.