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.
Alabama Nova
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
your house is dirty
why don't you come outside a little while
why don't you step out into the sun
let me take you down
let me ease you around montgomery
and out there on the front porch
and i can see the sun gathering on your eyes
what the hell are you looking at
let me take you down
let me ease you around montgomery
The lyrics to "Alabama Nova" by The Mountain Goats portrays a person expressing their concern over the state of their friend's house. They describe it as depressing and dirty, and they seek to convince their friend to step outside for a while and enjoy the sun. The person seems to be trying to help their friend feel better and enjoy life a bit more. They suggest going down and easing around Montgomery, which could refer to the city in Alabama, as Montgomery is the capital of the state.
When the friend does come outside, the person singing the song observes the beauty of their friend's hair shining in the sun. However, their friend seems to be distracted or troubled by something they are looking at, prompting the person to ask, "what the hell are you looking at?" The song is both uplifting in the sense that the person is trying to help their friend feel better, but also has a somewhat melancholic tone as their friend appears to be preoccupied with something that the singer doesn't understand.
Line by Line Meaning
your house is depressing
The singer finds the environment of the house gloomy and disheartening.
your house is dirty
The singer observes that the house is unkempt and unclean, adding to the melancholy atmosphere.
why don't you come outside a little while
The singer suggests that the person step out of the house for a bit, perhaps to get some fresh air or a change of scenery.
why don't you step out into the sun
The artist urges the person to go outside and bask in the sunlight, which can be rejuvenating.
let me take you down
The artist wants to help the person relax and enjoy their surroundings by taking them on a leisurely journey.
let me ease you around montgomery
The singer offers to guide the person around the city of Montgomery in a soothing and gentle manner.
and out there on the front porch
The singer notices the person sitting outside on the porch.
your hair shines in the sun
The artist describes the beauty of the person's hair when it catches the sunlight.
and i can see the sun gathering on your eyes
The artist notes the way in which the light reflects in the person's eyes, creating a warm glow.
what the hell are you looking at
The artist playfully teases the person about what they are staring at or admiring outside.
Contributed by Claire R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.