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.
Dilaudid
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the delicate balance has shifted.
put on your gloves and your black pumps.
let's pretend the fog has lifted.
now you see me.
now you don't.
now you say you love me.
if we get our full threescore and ten,
we won't pass this way again.
so kiss me with your mouth open.
turn the tires toward the street
and stay sweet.
all the chickens come on home to roost.
plump bodies blotting out the sky.
you know it breaks my heart in half, in half
when I see them trying to fly.
'cause you just can't do
things your body wasn't meant to.
hike up your fishnets.
I know you.
if we live to see the other side of this,
I will remember your kiss.
so do it with your mouth open.
and take your foot off of the brake
for christ's sake.
The Mountain Goats’s song Dilaudid is a poignant and somber reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of love. The first stanza sets the stage for the rest of the song, with a metaphorical representation of the fading away of a relationship. The reception’s gotten fuzzy, the delicate balance has shifted, the fog has lifted, and now you see me, now you don't. The singer is acutely aware of the impermanence of love and how quickly affections can fade away.
The second stanza delves deeper into this theme of mortality, with a reference to the biblical Psalm 90:10, “if we get our full threescore and ten, we won't pass this way again.” The singer implores the listener to cherish the time they have left, to kiss with their mouth open, to turn the tires towards the street, and to stay sweet.
In the third stanza, the imagery changes to a flock of chickens coming home to roost, plump bodies blotting out the sky. The singer recognizes the limitations of the human body, and how sometimes it can’t do the things we want it to. But despite this, he knows the woman he’s singing to: hike up your fishnets, I know you.
Line by Line Meaning
the reception's gotten fuzzy.
The communication between us has become unclear and distorted.
the delicate balance has shifted.
The stability of our relationship has been disturbed and disrupted.
put on your gloves and your black pumps.
Prepare yourself for a formal and serious occasion.
let's pretend the fog has lifted.
Let's try to see things clearly and without confusion or uncertainty.
now you see me.
I am visible and present in your life.
now you don't.
I have disappeared and become invisible.
now you say you love me.
You declare your love for me at this moment.
pretty soon you won't.
You will soon stop loving me.
if we get our full threescore and ten,
If we live to be 70 years old,
we won't pass this way again.
We will never have this exact experience or opportunity again.
so kiss me with your mouth open.
Kiss me passionately and deeply.
turn the tires toward the street
Start heading in the right direction.
and stay sweet.
Keep being kind and pleasant.
all the chickens come on home to roost.
The consequences of our actions will eventually catch up to us.
plump bodies blotting out the sky.
The negative effects of our actions are overwhelming and inescapable.
you know it breaks my heart in half, in half
It deeply hurts me and causes me emotional pain.
when I see them trying to fly.
When I see others struggling and failing to succeed.
'cause you just can't do
Because it's impossible for you to
things your body wasn't meant to.
Do things that are outside of your physical or mental capacity.
hike up your fishnets.
Get ready and be prepared for anything.
I know you.
I understand you and your habits.
if we live to see the other side of this,
If we survive this difficult experience,
I will remember your kiss.
I will cherish the memories and positive moments we shared together.
so do it with your mouth open.
Approach life and experiences with vulnerability and passion.
and take your foot off of the brake
Stop being hesitant and cautious, and take action.
for christ's sake.
For goodness' sake.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@salviamoon9283
[Verse 1]
The reception's gotten fuzzy
The delicate balance has shifted
Put on your gloves and your black pumps
Let's pretend the fog has lifted
[Verse 2]
Now you see me
Now you don't
Now you say you love me
Pretty soon you won't
[Verse 3]
If we get our full three-score and ten
We won't pass this way again
So kiss me with your mouth open
Turn the tires toward the street
And stay sweet
[Verse 4]
All the chickens comein' home to roost
Plump bodies blotting out the sky
You know it breaks my heart in half, in half
When I see them trying to fly
'Cause you just can't do
Things your body wasn't meant to
Hike up your fishnets
I know you
[Verse 5]
If we live to see the other side of this
I will remember your kiss
So do it with your mouth open
And take your foot off of the brake
For Christ's sake!
@salviamoon9283
[Verse 1]
The reception's gotten fuzzy
The delicate balance has shifted
Put on your gloves and your black pumps
Let's pretend the fog has lifted
[Verse 2]
Now you see me
Now you don't
Now you say you love me
Pretty soon you won't
[Verse 3]
If we get our full three-score and ten
We won't pass this way again
So kiss me with your mouth open
Turn the tires toward the street
And stay sweet
[Verse 4]
All the chickens comein' home to roost
Plump bodies blotting out the sky
You know it breaks my heart in half, in half
When I see them trying to fly
'Cause you just can't do
Things your body wasn't meant to
Hike up your fishnets
I know you
[Verse 5]
If we live to see the other side of this
I will remember your kiss
So do it with your mouth open
And take your foot off of the brake
For Christ's sake!
@Trollberzerk
Wow as a heroin addict myself (same thing as a dilaudid addict really) this song really hit home for me to continue focusing on my sobriety. There isn't alot of lyrics, but somehow it feels like he's saying much more and its powerful. Maybe its the choice of words and maybe its the voice/music, but I really like it and it is very helpful for me.
@FillOchs45
This is the best version of this song available. John Darnielle's voice and the string accompaniment work great together.
@cellopants
More bands need to play orchestra-rock. I wish this song was longer, I absolutely adore it.
@pifan31415
there are truly no words for how much i love this song
@ryankazlauskas9460
I got Dilaudid when I was under anesthesia a few years ago for knee surgery and when I woke up and felt like I was literally floating on air in the best mood I could possibly be in. And then earlier this year and late last year I had to go to the hospital for severe stomach problems, and I guess they administered a small intravenous dose of that drug also and it literally felt amazing. I can see why people get addicted to that shit.
@trentrossdale638
Yep! It's a helluva drug!
@TheDeviIDogg
I frequent the hospital for a chronic condition and they give me dilaudid and every time it makes me think of this song and I always remember to be addicted to the song not the drug
@Interesterified
You should always put cellos in any song named after a heavy duty opiate.
@Ms.gnomer
Polly Helman Lou Reed could learn a thing or two