Deuteronomy 2:10
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


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The sun above me and a concrete floor below
Scratch at the chain links, maybe bare my teeth for show
Fed twice a day, I don't go hungry anymore
Feel in my bones just what the future has in store

I pace in circles
So the camera will see
Look hard at my stripes
There'll be no more after me

Laze by the shoreline while the sailors disembark
Scratch out a place to sit and rest down in the dark
Smell something burning downwind just a little ways
They set up camp and sing and sweat and work for days

I have no fear of anyone
I'm dumb and wild and free
I am a flightless bird
And there'll be no more after me

In Costa Rica, in a burrow underground
Climb to the surface, blink my eyes and look around
I'm all alone here as I try my tiny song
Claim my place beneath the sky, but I won't be here for long

I sang all night
The moon shone on me through the trees




No brothers left
And there'll be no more after me

Overall Meaning

The song "Deuteronomy 2:10" by The Mountain Goats is a melancholic and contemplative piece that touches on themes of captivity, isolation, and the inevitability of death. The first two stanzas of the song speak of the life of an animal in captivity, perhaps a tiger or a lion, pacing back and forth in its small enclosure. The animal is resigned to its fate, understanding that it has no control over its future, and that there will be many others like it to come after it.


The third stanza talks about sailors disembarking on a shoreline, set against the backdrop of something burning in the distance. This potentially hints at some sort of conflict or destruction, but the sailors continue to work and sing, seemingly oblivious to the world burning around them. The fourth stanza takes the listener to Costa Rica, where the singer describes the life of a small animal living in a burrow underground. The animal sings its "tiny song", trying to find its place in the world, but knowing that it will not be for long.


The song's overall message is clear - everything has an expiration date, and life goes on without us. The animal in captivity will be replaced by another, the sailors will continue to work, and the small animal in Costa Rica will be gone before long. The lyrics convey a certain sadness, but also a sense of acceptance and understanding. The world will keep on turning, and there's nothing we can do about it.


Line by Line Meaning

The sun above me and a concrete floor below
I'm trapped in a place with no escape


Scratch at the chain links, maybe bare my teeth for show
I act tough, but I'm really powerless


Fed twice a day, I don't go hungry anymore
I'm kept alive, but I'm not really living


Feel in my bones just what the future has in store
I know what's coming, and it's not good


I pace in circles
I'm restless and anxious


So the camera will see
I'm being watched and judged


Look hard at my stripes
I'm different and exotic


There'll be no more after me
I'm the last of my kind


Laze by the shoreline while the sailors disembark
I watch others enjoy life, but can't participate


Scratch out a place to sit and rest down in the dark
I make the best of a bad situation


Smell something burning downwind just a little ways
I sense danger, but can't avoid it


They set up camp and sing and sweat and work for days
Others have a purpose and a community, but I don't


I have no fear of anyone
I'm so beaten down, nothing can hurt me anymore


I'm dumb and wild and free
I'm not intelligent, but at least I'm still myself


I am a flightless bird
I can't escape this situation


In Costa Rica, in a burrow underground
Even in a beautiful place, I'm hidden away


Climb to the surface, blink my eyes and look around
I'm curious about the world, but too scared to explore


I'm all alone here as I try my tiny song
I try to make meaning in a meaningless life


Claim my place beneath the sky, but I won't be here for long
I only exist briefly before disappearing forever


I sang all night
I express myself, even though no one hears


The moon shone on me through the trees
I find beauty in small moments


No brothers left
I have no family or community


And there'll be no more after me
I'm the end of my line




Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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