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 Tennessee
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but we have no baseball team here.
i've got a house right on the river.
i can see arkansas from where i am.
the dogs are gathered.
and the birds are chattering
and the sun is setting on memphis.
medicine bottle collection on the window sill
shakes when the cars go past on interstate fifty-five
you are standing above me.
you've washed your face with that apricot scrub again.
i'm glad i'm alive
and your skin is warming up.
and my skin is warming up.
and the sun is setting on memphis.
and the sun is setting on memphis.
The lyrics of "Going to Tennessee" by The Mountain Goats depict the poet's keen sense of observation and appreciation for the beauty of nature. The opening lines talk about the impending start of baseball season, which signifies the coming of spring and warmer weather. However, the poet laments the fact that there is no baseball team in his town, which sets the tone for the rest of the song - one of longing and of feeling like something is missing.
The following lines describe the poet's house that is situated near a river, from where he can see Arkansas. The mention of location is not accidental, as the poet seems to be expressing that he is somewhat disconnected from the world around him, as if he is standing on the periphery looking in. The description of the animals and the sun setting on Memphis adds to the sense of stillness coupled with admirable beauty that the poet feels in his surroundings.
The mention of medicine bottle collections on the windowsill shaking when cars pass by on interstate fifty-five is a metaphor for the poet's sense of isolation in the midst of all the activity around him. The final lines refer to the poet's lover standing above him, washing their face with apricot scrub. This act of intimacy is a salve for the sense of isolation and loneliness that the poet feels. In the end, the setting sun on Memphis serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the transient nature of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
baseball season will be starting soon.
Spring is almost here and baseball will start soon.
but we have no baseball team here.
Unfortunately, there is no baseball team in our area.
i've got a house right on the river.
I'm fortunate enough to live in a house located beside a river.
i can see arkansas from where i am.
I have a clear view of the state of Arkansas from my location.
the dogs are gathered.
The dogs are meeting and possibly communicating with each other.
and the birds are chattering
The birds are communicating with each other in their own language.
and the sun is setting on memphis.
The sun is setting on the city of Memphis, signaling the end of another day.
and the sun is setting on memphis.
The sun is setting on the city of Memphis once again.
medicine bottle collection on the window sill
There is a collection of medicine bottles on the windowsill.
shakes when the cars go past on interstate fifty-five
The medicine bottles shake when cars pass by on the nearby interstate fifty-five.
you are standing above me.
You are physically standing over me.
you've washed your face with that apricot scrub again.
You have used apricot scrub to wash your face.
i'm glad i'm alive
I'm happy to be alive.
and your skin is warming up.
Your skin is starting to warm up, possibly due to the sun or just natural body heat.
and my skin is warming up.
My skin is also warming up, either due to the same reasons as yours or just the temperature of the environment.
and the sun is setting on memphis.
The sun is once again setting on Memphis, bringing another day to a close.
and the sun is setting on memphis.
The sun has set on Memphis, indicating the arrival of nighttime.
Contributed by Michael J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.