The Heligoats are an indie/rock band out of Bellingham Washington.

… Read Full Bio ↴The Heligoats are an indie/rock band out of Bellingham Washington.

Webpage: www.theheligoats.bandcamp.com
Label: Greyday Records www.greydayproductions.com

From NPR:
The Heligoats — a strange name for a guy strumming a guitar, but oddly befitting someone who stuffs his songs with so many sideways ideas and observations. Given the yarns he spins here, it's easy to imagine Otepka envisioning a herd of goats with propellers and setting the concept to music.

From Daytrotter:
Chris Otepka, the lead singer for the Bellingham-based indie rock band The Heligoats, a project that he's been working on for over 10 years now, has a very quirky and a very imaginative head on his shoulders and he tends to think about and write about the workings of these bodies - more specifically, it seems, his own, the one that he knows most intimately - in very, well, intimate ways. He thinks of them differently than most people do. He seems to hear these bodies talking to themselves, not hearing voices in his head per se - though that might happen frequently as well - but more so hearing these bodies communicate as if they were municipalities, with neighborhoods and precincts and factions in conflict with one another at all times. For any peace, they may look to the outside.

From Greyday:
We all know that "long-awaited" is overused in band bios, but ask any hardcore Heligoats or Troubled Hubble fans and they will tell you that they've worn out the edges of their seats waiting for the newest release from Chris Otepka, the man behind The Heligoats.

The Heligoats was Otepka's first songwriting outlet. He wrote his first pieces in 1998 before eventually forming Chicago-based Troubled Hubble, a successful touring band that took up much of his musical energy from 1999-2005. During lulls in Troubled Hubble's career, Otepka would still write songs for The Heligoats, some of which ended up as TH songs, but most of which can be found on his various Heligoats recordings: Heated Arguments, Mountains, Sapling Sessions, etc. After Troubled Hubble played their last show, Otepka began working on The End of All-Purpose.

Goodness Gracious
The Heligoats Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got a driver's side arm
I've got distribution
I've got people in a rut
They know I love them but they don't know how much

It was an interesting angle
You'll be late when you say we're on the same page
When you say I should be singing your praises

Anxiously waiting for the next note you play me
It's crazy

And out of all that I've received
You gave me something that I never knew I needed
I never knew I was frozen
Until you turned on the heat
To reveal oceans of honesty

Though not a drop of confidence
So busy treadin' just to keep my head above a sinking conscience
It was like I stopped having dreams, starting having manifestations
No longer in a state where I can't wait because I made it
I went from having hopes so low to having a surplus
I went from burning my days by to burning daylight with a purpose
Turning virtues into habits into conscuiousness

And then I said "goodnight" for real for once, and it sounded just like this:
Goodnight
Goodness Gracious, Goodnight.
Goodnight

Goodnight
Goodness Gracious, Goodnight.

Overall Meaning

The Heligoats's song Goodness Gracious expresses gratitude to someone who has provided unexpected support and care to the singer. The opening lines reference the physical manifestation of the singer's success, including the ability to drive and distribute something (whether it's physical goods or something more abstract), but also acknowledges that success can be isolating. The singer has "people in a rut" who they care about but can't fully express their affection for.

In the second verse, the singer focuses on the impact of the person they're grateful for, who has given them "something that I never knew I needed." This person has helped the singer break out of a state of stagnation and lack of confidence, allowing them to chart a new course that involves purposeful action, forming habits that foster consciousness. The line "turning virtues into habits into consciousness" is a powerful encapsulation of this process, suggesting that the formation of virtuous habits can lead to a higher state of awareness.

The song's conclusion is simple and direct: the singer says "goodnight" twice, punctuated with the song's title. It's a way of expressing gratitude and farewell simultaneously, with the words "goodness gracious" underscoring the sense of wonder and gratitude the singer feels towards the person they're addressing.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got a driver's side arm
I have control over my life

I've got distribution
I have the ability to share my experiences with others

I've got people in a rut
I have loved ones who are struggling

They know I love them but they don't know how much
I care deeply for my loved ones, but struggle to show it

It was an interesting angle
The situation was unique and unexpected

You'll be late when you say we're on the same page
We are not on the same page, despite what you may think

When you say I should be singing your praises
You expect me to praise you excessively

Anxiously waiting for the next note you play me
I am eagerly anticipating your next move

It's crazy
The situation is overwhelming and bewildering

And out of all that I've received
Despite everything I've been given

You gave me something that I never knew I needed
You provided me with something I didn't realize I was missing

I never knew I was frozen
I didn't realize I was stuck and unable to move forward

Until you turned on the heat
Until you helped me see my potential

To reveal oceans of honesty
To help me feel like I can be open and honest

Though not a drop of confidence
Despite my lack of self-esteem

So busy treadin' just to keep my head above a sinking conscience
I am so preoccupied with trying to be a good person that I am struggling to keep my head above water

It was like I stopped having dreams, starting having manifestations
I stopped imagining a better future for myself and began taking action

No longer in a state where I can't wait because I made it
I am no longer struggling to make ends meet

I went from having hopes so low to having a surplus
I now have more than I ever thought possible

I went from burning my days by to burning daylight with a purpose
I now have direction and a reason to get up each morning

Turning virtues into habits into conscuiousness
I am cultivating positive traits and becoming more self-aware

And then I said "goodnight" for real for once, and it sounded just like this:
I finally said goodnight and meant it

Goodnight
I am done for the day

Goodness Gracious, Goodnight.
I am expressing my relief and gratitude

Goodnight
I am done for the day

Goodness Gracious, Goodnight.
I am expressing my relief and gratitude

Contributed by Blake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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