Fault Lines
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


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Down here where the heat's so fine
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
I got a cracked engine block, both of us do

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

Overall Meaning

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

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