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.
Fall Of The Star High School Running Back
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You rushed for an average of eight and a third yards per carry
All eyes were on you
Junior year
Blew your knee out at an out town game
Nowhere to go but down, down, down
Nothing but the ground left for you to fall to
You'd made a whole bunch of brand new friends
People you used to look down on
And you'd figured out a way to make real money
Giving ends to your friends and it felt stupendous
Chrome spokes on your Japanese bike
But selling acid was a bad idea
And selling it to a cop was a worse one
And a new law said that seventeen year old's could do federal time
You were the first one
So I sing this song for you, William Stanaforth Donahue
Your grandfather rode the boat over from Ireland
But you made a bad decision or two, yeah
The opening verses of The Mountain Goats' Fall of the Star High School Running Back are straightforward but set the bleak tone for the song. It tells the story of a high school football player who had a promising start in sophomore year when he rushed for an average of 8.3 yards per carry. All attention was on him, and he was likely destined for greatness in the future. Unfortunately, his knee was seriously injured during an out-of-town game during his junior year. From that point on, the only direction for him was down. As the chorus states, there was "nowhere to go but down, down, down" for him.
By July, the singer has been introduced to a new life, away from football and the people he used to know. He has made new friends and has figured out a way to make a lot of fast money by selling drugs to his friends. From his perspective, it felt amazing. He has money, a cool Japanese bike with chrome spokes, and a sense of power. However, it didn't take long for things to come crashing down, as he made the terrible mistake of selling drugs to a cop. Thanks to the new law that had just been passed, he was the first 17-year-old to be tried and sentenced to federal time. The song is a tribute to a life gone wrong and the eventual downfall of the singer, William Stanaforth Donahue.
Line by Line Meaning
Sophomore year
This is the beginning of the story.
You rushed for an average of eight and third yards per carry
You were a successful high school football player.
All eyes were on you
You were popular and admired by your peers.
Junior year
This is the continuation of the story.
You blew your knee out at an out town game
You suffered a sports injury that affected your performance and future prospects.
Nowhere to go but down, down, down
Your life took a negative turn and things got worse over time.
Nothing but the ground left for you to fall to
You hit rock bottom and had no other options or opportunities.
By July
This is a new point in time.
You'd made a whole bunch of brand new friends
You gained new social connections and support.
People you used to look down on
You had previously judged or underestimated these people.
And you'd figured out a way to make real money
You found a new source of income that provided financial stability and independence.
Giving ends to your friends and it felt stupendous
You enjoyed sharing your wealth and generosity with others.
Chrome spokes on your Japanese bike
You invested in material possessions to enhance your image or status.
But selling acid was a bad idea
You made a risky or illegal decision that put you in danger.
And selling it to a cop was a worse one
You made a careless mistake that led to your arrest and prosecution.
And the new law said that seventeen year olds could do federal time
You faced severe legal consequences due to the harsh rules and regulations of the government.
You were the first one
You were the first person in your community to face this kind of punishment and scrutiny.
So I sing this song for you
This song is a tribute to your struggles and hardships.
William Stanaforth Donahue
This is your full name.
Your grandfather rode the boat over from Ireland
Your family has a history of immigration and hardship.
But you made a bad decision or two
You made mistakes and took risks that had negative consequences.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Darnielle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind