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.
Chanson Du Bon Chose
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw the sycamore underneath the moon
Am C D
I was waiting for something & you were sleeping in the living room
E F
And it was five-sixteen a.m. - the air was sharp and cool
Am C D
And i wondered where you buried our dark little jewel
G D
And the heat rising, in the room
C D
I am digging graves. i am digging graves
G D
And the water boiling, on the stove
C D
I am digging graves. i am digging graves
So i held you close to me
I saw the shadows start to gather outside beneath the sycamore tree
And something was changing
This was something here entirely new
Bursting into blossom inside of us both with the sun coming up and
Me holding onto you
And your body breathing on mine
I am digging graves. i am digging graves
And your hands running through my hair
I am digging graves. i am digging graves
The Mountain Goats' song, Chanson Du Bon Chose, is a melancholic track that revolves around the themes of love, loss, and mourning. The opening lines, "Saw the sycamore underneath the moon, I was waiting for something & you were sleeping in the living room," sets the scene for the melancholic mood of the song. The singer seems to be going through a difficult time, waiting for something that never comes, while his partner sleeps in the living room. The image of the sycamore tree under the moon sets the tone for the rest of the song, creating a visual landscape of sadness and emptiness.
As the song progresses, the singer's thoughts turn to the past: "And I wondered where you buried our dark little jewel." The use of the word "buried" suggests something lost or gone, and the phrase "dark little jewel" is ambiguous but evocative of something precious that has been lost. The imagery of digging graves, which repeats throughout the song, adds to the sense of loss and mourning.
However, the song isn't entirely bleak or hopeless. In the second half of the song, the singer holds his partner close, and something new and beautiful seems to be blossoming between them. The sun rising and the imagery of bodies intertwining create a sense of hope for the future. The final repetition of "I am digging graves" is a reminder that loss is a part of life, but it doesn't have to define it.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw the sycamore underneath the moon
I noticed a sycamore tree illuminated by the moonlight.
I was waiting for something & you were sleeping in the living room
I was waiting for an event to occur while you were asleep in the other room.
And it was five-sixteen a.m. - the air was sharp and cool
The time was very early in the morning, and the air was chilly and crisp.
And i wondered where you buried our dark little jewel
I pondered where our meaningful and valuable possession was hidden.
And the heat rising, in the room
The temperature in the room was increasing.
I am digging graves. i am digging graves
Metaphorically, I am preparing for something tragic or undesirable to happen.
And the water boiling, on the stove
The water on the stove was heating up and boiling.
So i held you close to me
I embraced you tightly.
I saw the shadows start to gather outside beneath the sycamore tree
I noticed the darkness beginning to accumulate and form underneath the sycamore tree.
And something was changing
A transformation was taking place.
This was something here entirely new
The situation was completely novel.
Bursting into blossom inside of us both with the sun coming up and
A blossoming feeling was awakening within us as the sun rose.
Me holding onto you
I was clutching onto you.
And your body breathing on mine
Your physical form was exhaling onto mine.
And your hands running through my hair
You were stroking my hair with your hands.
Contributed by Harper P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.