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.
Going to Alaska
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and the heat is a great paint brush, lending color to our lives,
and to the air, and to out faces; but I'm going to Alaska
where there's snow to suck the sound out from the air.
Up, yes, in the branches,
the purple blossoms, go pale at the edges;
there is meanining in the shifting of the sap, and I see in them traces
and their limbs were more like wires. Now they are cables.
thick and alive with alien electricity, and I am going to Alaska,
where you can go blind just by looking at the ground,
where fat is eaten by itself
just to keep the body warm.
Because from where we are now, it seems, really,
that everything is growing in a thousand different ways;
that the soil is soaked through with old blood and with relatives
who were buried here, or close to here, and they are giving rise
to what is happening. Or can you tell me otherwise?
I am going to Alaska, where the animals can kill you,
but they do so in silence, as though if no-one hears them,
then it really won't matter. I am going to Alaska.
They tell me that it's perfect for my purposes.
In the song "Going to Alaska" by The Mountain Goats, the singer is expressing a desire to escape the overwhelming sensory experience of living in an urban environment where everything is "wet with color" and the "heat is a great paint brush." The singer craves the quiet and stillness of Alaska, where the "snow sucks the sound out from the air." The juxtaposition of the vibrant and busy cityscape with the serene and isolated landscape of Alaska creates a tension that underscores the singer's yearning for escape.
The lyrics also contain a sense of nostalgia and reflection as the singer observes the jacaranda trees and their changing state over time. The blossoms, which were once like "wires," are now "cables," representing a growth and strength that has developed over time. The shifting of the sap also holds meaning for the singer, suggesting an interconnectedness between all things and the passing of time. This sense of contemplation and reflection reinforces the singer's desire for escape and solitude, where they can fully process and make sense of life's complexities.
The final verse offers a dark counterpoint to the idyllic Alaska the singer has been describing. While the animals can indeed kill you, they do so in silence, as though their actions have no consequence. This reinforces the singer's desire for a place where one can be alone with their thoughts and feelings without any external stimulation or distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
The jacaranda are wet with color,
The beautiful purple trees are covered in dew drops, representing life's colorful moments.
and the heat is a great paint brush, lending color to our lives,
The warmth of the sun helps bring color to our lives and everything around us.
and to the air, and to our faces; but I'm going to Alaska
Even though the sun provides vibrancy to everything, the singer is leaving for a place of stillness and quietness.
where there's snow to suck the sound out from the air.
In Alaska, the snow absorbs sound, creating a peaceful and quiet environment.
Up, yes, in the branches,
The artist's attention is drawn to the trees and their purple flowers.
the purple blossoms, go pale at the edges;
The flowers are pale on the edges, representing how even beauty can fade.
there is meaning in the shifting of the sap, and I see in them traces
The movement of the sap represents the intricate nature of life and the past histories within it.
of last year, but then they hadn't grown so strong, and their limbs were more like wires. Now they are cables.
The trees have grown stronger over the year, like cables instead of thin wires, representing growth and strength over time.
thick and alive with alien electricity, and I am going to Alaska,
The tree's electricity represents a different form of life the artist is leaving behind and searching for a contrasting environment in Alaska.
where you can go blind just by looking at the ground,
Alaska's snow reflects so brightly that looking at it can cause temporary blindness.
where fat is eaten by itself just to keep the body warm.
In Alaska, the harsh environment means that the body has to use its own fat to keep itself warm, representing survival and adaptation.
Because from where we are now, it seems, really,
The artist reflects on their current situation and perspective.
that everything is growing in a thousand different ways;
Life is multifaceted and constantly changing, represented through the growth of everything around the singer.
that the soil is soaked through with old blood and with relatives who were buried here, or close to here,
The soil is rich with history and connection from those who have passed on and were laid to rest in the area.
and they are giving rise to what is happening. Or can you tell me otherwise?
The past and those who came before us have a direct impact on what's happening in the present, and the singer asks for anyone to offer a different perspective.
I am going to Alaska, where the animals can kill you,
Even though Alaska has a harsh environment, it's exciting and represents a new beginning for the artist.
but they do so in silence, as though if no-one hears them, then it really won't matter. I am going to Alaska.
In Alaska, the animals are dangerous but quiet, which may represent how the artist feels the world is against them but they can still continue on their journey.
They tell me that it's perfect for my purposes.
The singer has a specific reason for traveling to Alaska and someone else has suggested that it's perfect for their goals.
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SlimeQueenSupreme
I think loving the Mountain Goats is a life-long commitment. You know what I mean if you lost count of how many times you repeated this song.
Catie C
this past friday at a show in new haven someone in the audience near me requested this song by screaming, clear as a bell, “you got ‘going to alaska’ up there?” and john was so tickled by the phrasing that he laughed for a good 30 seconds before saying “yeah, i think i do have it” and playing it as the second song.
Beazles
Hey I was there that was great
Damnatio Memoriae
a bear attack is not silent, and neither is a moose attack... I'm from Alaska and I love this song.
Edit: Still waiting for the Mountain Goats to come to Alaska.
Wilfried Kuugauraq Zibell
really wish this was on spotify, i’m from AK and i love it
lzepp220
There's just something awesome about Darnielle's Lo-Fi.
bananas1and2
I don't know why this is so beautiful, but I'm happy just wallowing in it.
Scandal in Bohemia
Mountain Goats videos are the most civil places on youtube.
land1sea1lions
"I am going to Alaska, where the animals can kill you,
but they do so in silence, as though if no-one hears them,
then it really won't matter. I am going to Alaska."
MIke Swirled™️
+land1sea1lions They tell me that it's perfect for my purposes.