Darnielle began the new millennium with The Coroner's Gambit for Absolutely Kosher before signing to 4AD for the release of the surprisingly polished Tallahassee in 2002. We Shall All Be Healed followed in 2004, and one year later, Darnielle was back with The Sunset Tree. Remaining as prolific as ever, Darnielle turned away from the intensity of The Sunset Tree for a calmer, more reflective set of songs on 2006's Get Lonely. The accessible and assured Heretic Pride appeared in 2008. Next up was the Bible verse-inspired The Life of the World to Come, the group's sixth album for 4AD, in 2010. Switching to Merge Records in 2011, Darnielle released All Eternals Deck, which was recorded in four different studios in Brooklyn, Boston, North Carolina, and Florida with four different producers -- John Congleton, Scott Solter, Brandon Eggleston, and Morbid Angel guitarist and Hate Eternal frontman Erik Rutan -- helming various tracks. That year the band was also handpicked by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that he was curating in Minehead, England, but they were ultimately unable to appear due to scheduling issues.
15-1
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd show you what my car could do
I head east down highway fifteen and see the starlight
shower over you
gas fumes rising from the blacktop
cheap hotels with flashing signs
just an old sweet song made new
and oozing through the pines
if I had thirty dollars and I could make time stop
and the moon was high up above
and moon beams fell like sweet cream
and the night air would carry our dark dreams
gas fumes off the highway
neon flashing everwhere
just an old sweet song made new by your body
and desert flowers blooming in the thick night air
The lyrics to The Mountain Goats' song "15-1" are poetic and evocative, painting a picture of a road trip through the American Southwest. The singer imagines what it would be like to take a ride with a loved one, driving down Highway 15 and watching the starlight shower over them. He describes the sights and smells of the road, including gas fumes rising from the blacktop and cheap hotels with flashing signs. But despite the grittiness of the surroundings, there is a sense of romance and nostalgia in the air, as an "old sweet song" is "oozing through the pines."
Later in the song, the singer imagines stopping time and experiencing a moment of pure magic with his companion. The moon is high above, and moonbeams fall like sweet cream. The night air is heavy with the scent of desert flowers, and neon signs flash in the distance. The same old sweet song appears again, but this time it is made new by his companion's body. The lyrics are dreamy and almost surreal, capturing a sense of longing for a perfect moment that can never be.
Overall, "15-1" is a beautiful and wistful song that captures the essence of a road trip through the Southwest. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and convey a strong sense of nostalgia and romance.
Line by Line Meaning
if I had a car and you were riding in it
If I possessed a car with you as my companion
I'd show you what my car could do
I would exhibit the car's capabilities to you
I head east down highway fifteen and see the starlight
I travel towards the east via highway fifteen and witness starlight
shower over you
Sporadically covering you in its light
gas fumes rising from the blacktop
The odor of gasoline emanating from the road's surface
cheap hotels with flashing signs
Inexpensive motels having neon signs
just an old sweet song made new
Simply an old, melodious tune renewed afresh
and oozing through the pines
And slowly spreading through the pine trees
if I had thirty dollars and I could make time stop
In case of my possession of thirty dollars and time-stopping power
and the moon was high up above
Additionally, if the moon would be high in the sky
and moon beams fell like sweet cream
If moon beams would fall akin to sweet cream
and the night air would carry our dark dreams
If our dark dreams could be conveyed by the night's atmosphere
gas fumes off the highway
Gasoline vapor present beside the road
neon flashing everwhere
Flashing neon lights all around
just an old sweet song made new by your body
Merely an aged yet lovely song enriched by your presence
and desert flowers blooming in the thick night air
And flowers of the desert blossoming amidst the dense night air
Contributed by Jordyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Magic Mirror
If i had thirty dollars and i could make time stop and the moon was high up above, and moonbeams fell like sweet cream, then the night air would carry our dark dreams. Gas fumes rising off the highway, neon flashing everywhere, just an old, sweet song made new by your body and desert flowers blooming in the thick night air.