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.
Clemency for the Wizard King
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We who sleep in the accursed glade
We've come before you now
We've come before you now
We who in his favor would stand
Who lovingly await his most fearsome command
We've come before you now
Cut loose the handcuffs
Let him go free
We who travel by starlight
We who slipped past your guards in the night
We've come before you now
We've come before you now
We who boldly lay claim to our own
We who have seen the chamber of the one true son
We who have seen the kindness of the cracks of his face
We who will die if we must in this place
We've come before you
Outnumbered and unafraid
Well-trained in the way of the blade
Cut loose the handcuffs
Let him go free (Let him go free, let him go free)
The lyrics of The Mountains’ song “Kings” describe a moment in time between two people, possibly lovers, who seem to be hiding their relationship from others. The first few lines suggest they may be in a castle or fortress of some kind. The singer wonders why they need to hide and holds the other person close, feeling blessed and special that they didn’t push away. The imagery of gold light indicates a radiant, powerful sentiment, perhaps a symbol of nobility or royalty.
As the song continues, the second verse describes the two leaning against concrete walls in the shadows, as if waiting for something. The singer again feels the connection with the other person as if their name is burned into their skin like a tattoo. They sit as it rains outside, holding each other. The chorus repeats with the image of the gold light shining on many things in the “age of kings.”
The third verse takes a turn as it describes the setting as a “lost age,” where jewels hide and swords stick in waiting stones, which are still warm. This could suggest a time of war, uncertainty or great change. The singer feels small chambers shrinking in and wolves gaining ground in the hallways. The final lines, “Shadows and their sources now stealing away with you,” leave a sense of ambiguity and the realization that the moment between the two, whatever it was, is now gone or threatened.
Overall, the lyrics of “Kings” are poetic and vivid, painting a picture of two people navigating a hidden connection in a tumultuous time. The use of medieval imagery and language alludes to the theme of royalty or nobility, evoking a sense of grandeur and elegance in the midst of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Halls of the stone tower in the foothills
We are in the stone tower situated in the foothills.
Why should we hide from anyone?
We should not conceal ourselves from anybody.
Held you in my arms for the first time that day
I embraced you for the first time on that day.
Felt like God's anointed when you didn't push me away
I felt as if I was chosen by God when you did not resist my affection.
Gold light shining on so many things
The golden light is illuminating many objects around us.
In the age of kings
This is the period of the monarchy.
Lean on the concrete walls in shadow
I lean on the concrete walls while in the shadow.
Why should we wait to throw the switch?
There's no need to delay in triggering an event.
Felt your name burn in like a tattoo into my skin
Your name became deeply ingrained in my memory as though it was a tattoo on my skin.
Rain on the clay tiles all night
It rained continuously throughout the night on the clay tiles.
Your head nestled beneath my chin
You rest your head under my chin.
In the lost age
This is the age of the distant past that is forgotten.
Where the jewels hide
This is where the precious stones are concealed and protected.
And sword sticks in the waiting stone
A sword is trapped in the stone waiting to be released by someone worthy.
Still warm
The sword is just recently withdrawn and still has its warmth.
Small chambers shrinking til they vanish
The small rooms are becoming smaller until disappearing completely.
Wolves in the hallway gaining ground
The wolves are advancing through the hallway towards us.
Reach down to the moment when I should've said something true
Let me revisit the instant where I should have articulated the truth.
Shadows and their sources now stealing away with you
The shadows are taking you away along with their origins.
Gold light shining on so many things
The golden light is illuminating many objects around us.
In the age of kings
This is the period of the monarchy.
Lyrics © PACIFIC ELECTRIC MUSIC
Written by: John Darnielle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind