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.
Genesis 30:3
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We saw them turned down and we watched them disappear
Talked about the days they'd said were sure to come
Had a hard time believing
I remember seeing you, my tongue struck dumb
When you first came here from wherever it was you came from
The power in your voice, your rough touch
Open up the doors to the tent
Wonder where the good times went
I will do what you ask me to do
Because of how I feel about you
I saw his little face contract as his eyes met light
Tried to imagine anything so bright
You only see it once and then it steals into the dawn
And then it's gone forever
For several hours we lay there, last ones of our kind
Harder days coming, maybe I don't mind
Sounds kind of dumb when I say it, but it's true
I would do anything for you
Open up the promise of the day
Drive the dark things away
I will do what you ask me to do
Because of how I feel about you
The opening lyrics of "Genesis 30:3" by The Mountain Goats speak of visitors coming and going. The singer ponders over the days they spent together and the conversations they had about the future. It appears they are skeptic about the promises of the visitors and had a hard time believing what they said. Then, the song transitions into a more personal dialogue between the singer and their partner. The singer recollects their first meeting and describes how the person mesmerized them. They were struck dumb by their presence, and the power in their voice was strong. The person cared for them, and the singer gave themselves over to their partner, doing whatever they asked. The following stanza speaks of a little face contracting as the light hit the person's eyes. The moment was fleeting, and the singer acknowledges that they only see things once, and then it's gone. The last verse speaks of the singer wanting to keep the promise of the day and drive away the dark things. They give their all to the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
For several days the visitors were here
The singer had visitors around for a few days
We saw them turned down and we watched them disappear
The singer observed as the visitors left after being declined
Talked about the days they'd said were sure to come
The singer discussed the future days mentioned by the visitors
Had a hard time believing
The artist had difficulty accepting the idea of future days being promised
I remember seeing you, my tongue struck dumb
The artist recalls feeling speechless when they first saw the other person
When you first came here from wherever it was you came from
The singer isn't aware of where the other person came from
The power in your voice, your rough touch
The singer is drawn to the other person's commanding voice and rough touch
You keeping care of me, keeping watch
The other person takes care of the artist and watches over them
Open up the doors to the tent
The artist wants to open the tent's doors
Wonder where the good times went
The artist wonders where the happy moments went
I will do what you ask me to do
The singer will obey the other person's requests
Because of how I feel about you
The artist's feelings for the other person motivate them to comply
I saw his little face contract as his eyes met light
The singer saw someone's face react to the light entering their eyes
Tried to imagine anything so bright
The singer attempts to envision something as radiant as the light
You only see it once and then it steals into the dawn
The singer understands that such brightness only appears briefly before fading away
And then it's gone forever
The brightness never returns, leaving a lasting absence
For several hours we lay there, last ones of our kind
The artist spent hours with someone who might be the last of their kind
Harder days coming, maybe I don't mind
The singer isn't bothered by the prospect of difficult times
Sounds kind of dumb when I say it, but it's true
The singer thinks their statement may come across as unintelligent, but they mean it genuinely
I would do anything for you
The artist is willing to do anything to help or please the other person
Open up the promise of the day
The artist wants to embrace the potential of the new day
Drive the dark things away
The artist aims to eliminate negative thoughts or situations
I will do what you ask me to do
The singer reiterates their willingness to follow the other person's orders
Because of how I feel about you
The artist's positive feelings towards the other person remain the motivation behind their loyalty
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.