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 Kirby Sigston
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and we sealed the door shut.
and we let the special chicken build a nest right by the window.
your face was glowing.
the heat was strong.
we ate cold black eggs all day long
in the winter when the wind kicked up.
you were dancing by yourself there.
your sweater hugged your shoulders and it was alright.
we plucked sugar crystals from the cold english air.
i had a present for ya hidden down there
in the winter when the wind kicked up.
The Mountain Goats' song Going to Kirby Sigston seems to be a melancholic story of two people who have secluded themselves from the world. The lyrics paint a picture of a desolate place, where the characters have boarded up the windows and sealed the doors, giving the impression that they are hiding from something. However, this image is disrupted by the introduction of the 'special chicken' building a nest by the window, which suggests that life still exists, albeit in a bizarre and isolated state. The theme of isolation is repeated in the description of eating 'cold black eggs all day long,' painting a picture of a bleak, monotonous existence.
The focus of the song seems to be on a fleeting moment of happiness, represented by the singer's memory of seeing their partner 'dancing by yourself there,' and the tenderness of 'your sweater hugged your shoulders.' The contrast between the darkness of the rest of the song and this one moment highlights how rare moments of happiness can feel in a situation of isolation. The last line of the song, 'I had a present for ya hidden down there,' suggests that despite the bleak surroundings, the singer is still capable of creating happiness in their limited circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
we boarded up the windows.
We covered the windows with wooden planks to protect ourselves from potential danger or intruders.
and we sealed the door shut.
We closed the door tightly to prevent anyone or anything from entering our space without our knowledge or permission.
and we let the special chicken build a nest right by the window.
We allowed a particular chicken to make a home beside the window, possibly for company or because it had shown some special quality or characteristic.
your face was glowing.
You had a radiant expression on your face, which may have been caused by happiness, love, or other positive emotions.
the heat was strong.
The temperature inside the space was high, possibly due to the heat source or lack of ventilation.
we ate cold black eggs all day long
We consumed eggs that were not cooked and had a black appearance, probably due to being cold or spoiled, throughout the entire day.
in the winter when the wind kicked up.
This all happened during the winter season when the weather was harsh and the wind was strong, causing potential discomfort and trouble.
i saw your body moving through the incandescent light.
I noticed your physical form swaying or dancing illuminated by bright and warm artificial light.
you were dancing by yourself there.
You were moving rhythmically and expressing yourself through dance without anyone else around you.
your sweater hugged your shoulders and it was alright.
Your clothing, particularly your sweater, was fitting your body comfortably, which made you feel at ease.
we plucked sugar crystals from the cold english air.
We picked delicate and small pieces of sugar from the air, which may have had condensation or cold temperatures because we were located in England.
i had a present for ya hidden down there
I had a gift for you located below or beneath where we were presently situated or standing.
in the winter when the wind kicked up.
This moment of giving was also in the winter, during which the wind was particularly strong and could have added intensity to the exchange.
Contributed by Charlotte Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.