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.
Downtown Seoul
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw you coming across the square
And a white bird broke the dark Korean sky
As the rest of my life went by
Had your warm hand on my face
I took your index finger in between my teeth and I held it gently in place
It was resting lightly on my tongue in there
There but for the grace of the lord of song
I would be this very second and I'm coming right along
You had your cardigan on
I looked toward the sky, the white bird was gone
I remember your eyelids
I remember your body now
The song “Downtown Seoul” by The Mountain Goats is a melancholic reflection on a past romantic relationship. The singer describes how they once saw their former lover walking towards them in the middle of the night, while a new song was playing on the radio. The scene is set in Seoul, South Korea, adding a sense of distance and exoticism to the emotions the singer is experiencing. The lyrics are full of evocative imagery, like a white bird breaking the dark Korean sky, creating a contrast between the beauty of the natural world and the harshness of human emotions.
As the two former lovers meet, the singer remembers the intimacy they shared in the past, like the moment when they held their partner’s index finger in their mouth. The physical presence of the partner is described in detail, with the singer remembering the warmth of their hand and the way they shook in the cold. The lyrics give a sense of regret and longing, as if the singer is trying to recreate a moment in time that is forever lost. The song ends with the singer acknowledging the role that fate and chance have played in their lives, and how easily they could have ended up in a different place and time.
Overall, “Downtown Seoul” is a haunting and poetic reflection on love, regret, and memory, with a strong sense of place imbued in the lyrics. The evocative imagery and emotional depth of the song make it a standout track in The Mountain Goats’ discography.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a new song on the air
A new song was being played on the radio.
I saw you coming across the square
The singer noticed someone approaching through an open space.
And a white bird broke the dark Korean sky
A white bird flew into the sky above the singer.
As the rest of my life went by
The singer's life continued as normal.
Had your warm hand on my face
The singer felt the warmth of someone's hand on their face.
I took your index finger in between my teeth and I held it gently in place
The singer held someone's finger between their teeth and kept it still.
It was resting lightly on my tongue in there
The singer could feel the finger lightly touching their tongue.
I saw you shaking in the cold Korean air
The singer observed someone shaking in the cold air of Korea.
There but for the grace of the lord of song
The singer recognized that their situation could have been different without the help of music.
I would be this very second and I'm coming right along
The singer would be in a different situation right now, but they accept where they are.
You had your cardigan on
The person being referred to was wearing a cardigan.
I looked toward the sky, the white bird was gone
The singer looked up to the sky but the bird they saw earlier was no longer there.
I remember your eyelids
The singer recalls the appearance of someone's eyelids.
I remember your body now
The singer remembers someone's body distinctly.
Contributed by Allison E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alejandro Valencia
That's the first song I've ever covered it's so raw on emotions and so amazing to sing it's such a wonderful song.
Grady Thompson
This version of the song is so fucking on point. I love the intensity of the 'cardigan' line.
Dangshnizzle
I need a tab for this version
Caitlyn Amanda
How wonderful
Sophie Weiner
I was there, I was 18, in the front row :)
Drew Habel
splooge