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.
Hatha Hill
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you were sending out signals.
you had sugar on you stomach
you had sugar on your hair.
you had sugar underneath you eyes.
you had sugar on your mouth.
i know that trick too.
i know what i means, coming from you.
The opening line of "Hatha Hill" sets a somber and reflective tone for the rest of the song. The darkness brought on by the setting sun seems to mirror the sadness or heartbreak that the singer is feeling. The following lines describe the physical appearance of the subject of the song, who has sugar in various places on their body. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the sweetness or allure that this person holds - perhaps the reason for the singer's heartbreak. However, the final two lines suggest that the singer is not fooled by this person's charm, as they have seen through this person's "trick" before. It seems that the singer has matured and learned not to fall for this person's facade.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on their own past experiences with this person, their own personal struggles, and the loss of innocence that comes with growing up. The final lines of the song are especially poignant, as the singer admits to feeling "less idealistic every year" and realizing that their perception of the world is changing. The song as a whole is a sobering reflection on the harsh realities of life, and the difficult process of growing and changing over time.
Line by Line Meaning
as the sun went away,
As darkness crept in, things started to change and become unclear.
you were sending out signals.
You were trying to convey a message or communicate your feelings.
you had sugar on your stomach
You were anxious or restless, feeling a knot in your stomach.
you had sugar on your hair.
You had a sense of excitement or anticipation that made your hair stand on end.
you had sugar underneath you eyes.
You were exhausted, with tired eyes that had seen too much.
you had sugar on your mouth.
You were quick to speak, perhaps saying things without really thinking them through.
i know that trick too.
I recognize those actions or behaviors, as I have also experienced them before.
i know what i means, coming from you.
I understand the underlying emotions behind your actions, especially when they come from you.
Contributed by Skyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.