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.
Cao Dai Blowout
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was frightening off the livestock, I could feel him coming on
I let the citronella dissolve in my hand and I began to feel real bad
When the ghost of your father comes to town, what the hell else can you do?
I flung open all the windows, put the water on for tea and let him pass right on through
And he took to knocking over furniture, getting into the reception on the wireless
He tore up all the dry goods in the pantry, he was strong and he was tireless
I got a tremor in my hands and my feet are made of clay
When the ghost of your father starts pushing you around, how are you going to make him stop?
I took down all the crosses, I let him set up shop
The Mountain Goats's song Cao Dai Blowout tells the story of a man haunted by the ghost of his father. The father comes back to the house and starts wreaking havoc. He tears up the grass on the lawn and frightens off the livestock. The singer of the story tries to fight back by letting citronella dissolve in his hand, but it's ineffective. He knows he can't stop the ghost from coming, so he flings open all the windows and puts the water on for tea, letting him pass right on through.
However, the father doesn't stop there. He starts knocking over furniture and tearing up all the dry goods in the pantry. The singer tries to stop the father by sending the priest away and taking down all the crosses, hoping this will appease him. When that doesn't work, he realizes he can't fight back against the ghost of his father, so he lets him set up shop in the house.
The song speaks to the powerlessness one can feel when dealing with the past, especially when it comes back to haunt us. No matter what we do or how much we try to fight back against the weight of the past, there are some things we can't change.
Line by Line Meaning
He came knocking down the streetlights, tearing up the new grass on the lawn
He was being rowdy, causing havoc in the surroundings
He was frightening off the livestock, I could feel him coming on
He scared the animals and the singer could sense his presence
I let the citronella dissolve in my hand and I began to feel real bad
The singer resorted to citronella, but it didn't help and they felt worse
When the ghost of your father comes to town, what the hell else can you do?
The singer was helpless when their father's spirit appeared
I flung open all the windows, put the water on for tea and let him pass right on through
The singer tried to ignore the spirit's presence and let it pass through
And he took to knocking over furniture, getting into the reception on the wireless
The spirit started causing more chaos, knocking over furniture and interfering with electronics
He tore up all the dry goods in the pantry, he was strong and he was tireless
The spirit destroyed food supplies and couldn't be stopped
When the priest came to call, I sent him on his way
The singer didn't seek help from the priest, and sent him away
I got a tremor in my hands and my feet are made of clay
The singer felt weak and powerless against the spirit
When the ghost of your father starts pushing you around, how are you going to make him stop?
The singer couldn't figure out a way to stop their father's spirit from causing havoc
I took down all the crosses, I let him set up shop
The singer gave up and let the spirit take over, removing religious symbols
Contributed by Eliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
arctictis
He came knocking down the streetlights
Tearing up the new grass on the lawn
He was frightening all the livestock
I could feel him coming on
I lit the Citronella, it was all that I had
And I began to feel real bad
When the ghost of your father comes to town
What the hell else can you do
I flung open all the windows
Put the water on for tea
And let him pass right on through
And he took to knocking over furniture
Getting into the reception on the wireless
He tore up all the dry goods in the pantry
He was strong and he was tireless
And when the priest came to call, I sent him on his way
I got a tremor in my hand and my feet are made of clay
When the ghost of your father starts pushing you around
How are you gonna make him stop
I took down all the crosses
I let him set up shop
Collin Morse
Seven years ago during one summer there was a 2 week stretch where every night I would smoke weed and listen to New Asian Cinema while resolving/making sense of the sexual abuse I endured as a young child.
Ah to be 19 again!
SBx James
Iām 30 been a goats fan since for ten years now and Iām just discovering this EP and am smoking a bowl after work and listening and I just want you to know that I hope your ok. In the words of John
āI hope you love your life now, like I love mine, I hope the painful memories only flex their power over you a little of the time.ā
James Human
I'm so sorry for you. My father was a sydistic physically and mentally abusive person before he got sober but it's nothing compared to what you endured. You're braver than you know just acknowleging it publicly. Take the good you can from your growth and sheltered heart in knowing you will never be that monster. At 19 I was a mess of an addict getting into fights just out of habbit but 6 years clean I only hope those demons are gone. Don't feel alone in being haunted by a bad past but never let it ruin how great the future can be.
Andrew
The more I listen to this one, the more profound and underrated I think it is.
Owen Chalmers
One of the best.
arctictis
He came knocking down the streetlights
Tearing up the new grass on the lawn
He was frightening all the livestock
I could feel him coming on
I lit the Citronella, it was all that I had
And I began to feel real bad
When the ghost of your father comes to town
What the hell else can you do
I flung open all the windows
Put the water on for tea
And let him pass right on through
And he took to knocking over furniture
Getting into the reception on the wireless
He tore up all the dry goods in the pantry
He was strong and he was tireless
And when the priest came to call, I sent him on his way
I got a tremor in my hand and my feet are made of clay
When the ghost of your father starts pushing you around
How are you gonna make him stop
I took down all the crosses
I let him set up shop
Charlie Morris
for me to say this sounds so corny and played out but sometimes it really does feel like John is the only one who understands
i miss you dad, no matter how cantankerous and reckless you often were. and I will make you posthumously proud by not being that way myself.
James Human
I'm sorry for your loss its hard grappling with the emotions that brings but I only hope you are making yoyrself oroud everyday by not falling into the same pitfalls. Even if on occasion you do theres never any shame in getting back up. Your dad is proud of you for being his son, no matter how he acted or masked it always know for him thats all he ever needed.
Josh Minton
fuck dude I was about to write basically this post. I guess thanks for doing it for me.
James Human
I lost my father years ago 1st to booze then the dementia... this was our tuesday.