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.
All Up The Seething Coast
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
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I take my coffee light and sweet
Show up for dinner when you tell me to
I heap the sugar high and white on everything I eat
Carry an apple in my pocket
I write reminders on my skin
Clip meaningless pictures from old magazines
And nothing you can say or do will stop me
And a thousand dead friends can't stop me
I go back to places I remember
See what's been going on without me
Stare down the strangers at the bus stop
Pretend they've been gossiping about me
White sugar by the spoonful
Cantaloupes and grapes and watermelons
I force it down like it was medicine
Anybody asks, you tell 'em what you want to tell 'em
But the best you've got is powerless against me
All your little schemes break when they come crashing up against me
The lyrics to The Mountain Goats’s song All Up The Seething Coast describe a character who is struggling with addiction and mental illness. The first verse describes some of the character's unhealthy habits, such as eating sweets for breakfast and heaping sugar on everything they eat. The character also writes reminders on their skin and tapes meaningless pictures to their walls, indicating a lack of structure and order in their life. Despite this, the character seems determined to continue down this path, regardless of the consequences. The chorus repeats the idea that nothing can stop the character from continuing on this destructive path.
The second verse presents the character's struggle with isolation and loneliness. They visit places from their past to see what's been going on without them, and they stare down strangers at the bus stop, imagining them gossiping about them. The character tries to fill the void inside of them with food, consuming large amounts of fruit and sugar. They are determined to keep their struggles hidden from others, telling people what they want to hear but not revealing their true feelings. The chorus is reinforced once again, with the character claiming that nothing can hold them back.
Overall, the song is a visceral and honest portrayal of addiction and mental illness, capturing the feelings of isolation and powerlessness that often accompany these struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I eat a couple Milky Ways for breakfast
I indulge in unhealthy habits first thing in the morning.
I take my coffee light and sweet
I prefer my coffee with lots of sugar and cream.
Show up for dinner when you tell me to
I am obedient and follow instructions.
I heap the sugar high and white on everything I eat
I have an obsession with sugar and add it to all my food.
Carry an apple in my pocket
I try to make healthy choices despite my unhealthy habits.
I write reminders on my skin
I have poor memory and use unconventional methods to remember things.
Clip meaningless pictures from old magazines
I engage in strange activities as a coping mechanism.
I tape them to the walls, it's a bad place I'm in
I am struggling with my mental health and use these activities to distract myself.
And nothing you can say or do will stop me
I am determined to continue with my habits despite any criticism or intervention from others.
And a thousand dead friends can't stop me
Even if I am aware of the consequences of my actions, I am unable to stop.
I go back to places I remember
I am nostalgic and seek comfort in familiar places.
See what's been going on without me
I feel left out and disconnected from the world.
Stare down the strangers at the bus stop
I am paranoid and feel like everyone is watching me.
Pretend they've been gossiping about me
I have a distorted perception of reality and imagine people are talking about me.
White sugar by the spoonful
I consume an unhealthy amount of sugar.
Cantaloupes and grapes and watermelons
I try to balance my unhealthy habits with healthier options.
I force it down like it was medicine
I do not enjoy eating healthy and have to force myself to do so.
Anybody asks, you tell 'em what you want to tell 'em
I am secretive about my personal struggles and do not like to share details with others.
But the best you've got is powerless against me
Even the most effective interventions or support are not enough to change me.
All your little schemes break when they come crashing up against me
Any attempts at intervention or support are futile and do not work against me.
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.