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.
For Charles Bronson
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rig a blanket curtain up between
the present and the past
Play my lucky numbers
for most of what they're worth
Lie about my age right down to my last day on this earth
Concentrate
Pull back the hammer
Try to hold the gun straight
Hit the gym each night,
stay cool and seldom speak
Keep the heart of a champion
Never let them see you're weak
And whatever they say
on your page three mention
Focus on the parts that make you feel good
Be grateful for the attention
Set your sights on good fortune
Concentrate
Pull back the hammer
Try to hold the gun straight
Try to hold the gun straight
And true
And steady
Let the frame find you when the cameraman's ready
Work until I drop
Drift from place to place
Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania
scratched into my face
Set your sights on good fortune
Concentrate
Pull back the hammer
Try to hold the gun straight
Try to hold the gun straight
The lyrics of The Mountain Goats' “For Charles Bronson” present a rather bleak outlook on life, one that is grounded in the pursuit of good fortune and luck. The singer's intentions are to catch a lucky break, to play their lucky numbers, and build a barrier between the present and the past. The song continues with the singer's advice on how to achieve this, such as lying about their age and staying cool and seldom speaking while hitting the gym each night. The singer acknowledges that attention is crucial, and it's essential to focus on the parts that make one feel good while keeping an eye on one's goal, setting sights on good fortune, and concentrating.
The last verse of “For Charles Bronson” is a somewhat jarring conclusion where the singer describes working until they drop and drifting from place to place, with Pennsylvania scratched into their face. The line touches upon the idea of movement and the sense of being static in one's life, of being stuck in a rut, doing whatever it takes to achieve that sought-after good fortune, with the repeated line of 'try to hold the gun straight' echoing the idea of aiming at one's objective relentlessly and with precision.
The song unfolds in a manner that makes one feel like the singer has been attempting to achieve success through certain means but has been unsuccessful to some extent. However, what is apparent is the unwavering determination to strive for what has been lost or missed upon, and to hold on to something. The lyrics may speak to the futility of attaining material success, but it also suggests an embedded acknowledgment that one must still try, must still hold the gun steady.
Line by Line Meaning
Catch a lucky break, try to make it last
Take advantage of any fortunate opportunities that come your way and try to maintain that success for as long as possible
Rig a blanket curtain up between the present and the past
Create a separation between current circumstances and past events, perhaps as a means of coping or moving on
Play my lucky numbers for most of what they're worth
Invest a lot of time or resources into what one believes will bring them luck, despite any skepticism or opposition
Lie about my age right down to my last day on this earth
Falsify personal information, perhaps to avoid judgment or to appear more desirable, until one's dying day
Set your sights on good fortune Concentrate Pull back the hammer Try to hold the gun straight
Focus intently on achieving success and be prepared to take action to achieve it, even if it requires precision and control
Hit the gym each night, stay cool and seldom speak Keep the heart of a champion Never let them see you're weak
Maintain a disciplined, confident attitude, with a mentality that reflects perseverance, even in tough situations
And whatever they say on your page three mention Focus on the parts that make you feel good Be grateful for the attention
Filter out any negative attention or criticism and instead focus on the positive aspects that make oneself feel better and appreciate any recognition received
Try to hold the gun straight And true And steady Let the frame find you when the cameraman's ready
A continuation of the gun metaphor, emphasizing the importance of being prepared and composed, with trust that success will come at the right time
Work until I drop Drift from place to place Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania scratched into my face
Toil endlessly even if it means traveling often or not having a permanent place to call home, as evidenced by the physical marks of a specific location
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
philophos
"Set your sights on good fortune. Concentrate." -- that should be a mantra we all whisper to ourselves occasionally.
oreokoiboy
philophos i’m gonna write this on my shoe
Daniell
Catch a lucky break, try to make it last
Rig a blanket curtain up between
the present and the past
Play my lucky numbers
for most of what they're worth
Lie about my age right down to my last day on this earth
Set your sights on good fortune
Concentrate
Pull back the hammer
Try to hold the gun straight
Hit the gym each night,
stay cool and seldom speak
Keep the heart of a champion
Never let them see you're weak
And whatever they say
on your page three mention
Focus on the parts that make you feel good
Be grateful for the attention
Set your sights on good fortune
Concentrate
Pull back the hammer
Try to hold the gun straight
Try to hold the gun straight
And true
And steady
Let the frame find you when the cameraman's ready
Work until I drop
Drift from place to place
Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania
scratched into my face
Set your sights on good fortune
Concentrate
Pull back the hammer
Try to hold the gun straight
Try to hold the gun straight
Daisy Wanderlust
focus on the parts that make you feel good. set your sights on good fortune… this song cracked me man. floodgates opened like a bitch.
antmanbee100
My mom grew up 3 miles from Ehrenfeld.
Mirandasiwillja
Drexl Spivey: Marty. Y'know what we got here? Motherfuckin' Charlie Bronson. Mr. Majestyk. - True Romance
Kyle
Justvwatched that again think of this song every time lmao