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.
Fault Lines
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll drink to your health and you'll drink to mine
As we try to make the money we scored out in Vegas hold out for a while
We drink vodka from Russia, get our chocolates from Belgium
We have our strawberries flown in from England
BUt none of the money we spend
seems to do us much good in the end
Got a house, the jewels, the Italian race car
They don't make us feel better about who we are
I got termites in the framework, so do you
Down here where the watermelon grows so sweet
Where I worship the ground underneath of your feet
We are experts in the art of frivolous spending
It's gone on like this, for three years I guess
And we're drunk all the time and our lives are a mess
And the deathless love we swore to protect with our bodies is stumbling across it's bleak ending
But none of the rage in our eyes seems to finish it off where it lies
I got sugar in the fuel lines, both of us do
And the fights, and the lies that we both love to tell
fail to send our love to its reward down in hell
I got pudding for a backbone, but so do you
La la la
Hey hey
The song "Fault Lines" by The Mountain Goats depicts a dysfunctional and troubled relationship that has been ongoing for three years. The couple seems to be trying to escape their problems by indulging in excessive spending and alcohol consumption, evidenced by their drinking of vodka from Russia and chocolates flown in from Belgium. Despite their lavish lifestyle, the money they spend doesn't seem to improve their situation, as they each have engine trouble with their respective Italian race cars and termites in their homes' woodwork.
The chorus of the song reveals the underlying issues in their relationship, particularly their lack of genuine love and affection for each other. They only have "sugar in the fuel lines" and "pudding for a backbone," which implies that their love and commitment are weak and unstable. Despite the obvious problems and the fights they have, they both seem to enjoy the tumultuous relationship, indicating that they are comfortable with this toxic dynamic. The song ends on a bleak note, suggesting that their relationship is coming to an end, and their "deathless love" is stumbling towards its inevitable destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Down here where the heat's so fine
In this place of warmth and comfort
I'll drink to your health and you'll drink to mine
We share a bond and wish each other well
As we try to make the money we scored out in Vegas hold out for a while
We attempt to save the gains of our gambling spree
We drink vodka from Russia, get our chocolates from Belgium
We indulge in luxurious, foreign goods
We have our strawberries flown in from England
We demand high-quality produce from distant places
But none of the money we spend
Despite our lavish purchases
seems to do us much good in the end
We are not satisfied with our lives
I got a cracked engine block, both of us do
Our possessions are not immune to damage and decay
Got a house, the jewels, the Italian race car
Our possessions are opulent and impressive
They don't make us feel better about who we are
Our possessions do not improve our self-worth
I got termites in the framework, so do you
Even our grandest possessions are not above ruin
Down here where the watermelon grows so sweet
In this place of abundance and pleasure
Where I worship the ground underneath of your feet
I hold you in high regard and admiration
We are experts in the art of frivolous spending
We have refined our ability to waste money
It's gone on like this, for three years I guess
Our unhealthy lifestyle has persisted for some time
And we're drunk all the time and our lives are a mess
We are inebriated and directionless
And the deathless love we swore to protect with our bodies is stumbling across its bleak ending
Our once-strong love is now faltering and uncertain
But none of the rage in our eyes seems to finish it off where it lies
Our anger does not resolve our issues
I got sugar in the fuel lines, both of us do
Our possessions have been damaged further
And the fights, and the lies that we both love to tell
Our communication is fraught with conflict and deceit
Fail to send our love to its reward down in hell
Our toxic relationship will not yield positive results
I got pudding for a backbone, but so do you
Our emotional strength is lacking and weak
La la la
Just filler
Hey hey
Just filler
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind