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.
Heel Turn 2
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lie down in the dirt
Cling to my convictions
Even when I get hurt
Be an upstanding well-loved man about town
In your child's mind that's how it goes down
But I tried
I don't want to die in here
I don't want to die in here
Drift down into the new dark light
Without any reservations
You found my breaking point
Congratulations
Spent too much of my life now trying to play fair
Throw my better self overboard, shoot at him when he comes up for air
Come unhinged
Get revenge
I don't want to die in here
I don't want to die in here
Stay good under pressure
For years and years and years
President of the fan club up there
Choking on his tears
Let all the trash rain down
From way up in the rafters
I'm walking out of here in one piece
Don't care what comes after
Drive the wedge
Torch the bridge
I don't want to die in here
Heel Turn 2 by The Mountain Goats is a song that speaks of a man who has tried his best to be an upstanding and well-loved figure in his community, but has been pushed to his breaking point. The first verse describes how he clings to his convictions even when he gets hurt and tries to be the kind of person that his child would look up to. However, despite his efforts, he ends up on the losing side, feeling trapped and hopeless.
In the second verse, the singer gives in to the darkness and decides to abandon his better self. He wants to get revenge and come unhinged, no longer caring whether he lives or dies. He's exhausted from trying to play fair and decides to throw his better self overboard to avoid being caught in the crossfire. He is willing to drive the wedge and torch the bridge to get what he wants.
The final verse talks about how the singer has spent years trying to stay good under pressure and be a leader in his community, but now he's choking on his tears. He wants to be free from the constraints that have held him back for so long and is willing to let all the trash rain down to make it happen. In the end, he walks out of there in one piece, not caring what comes after.
Overall, Heel Turn 2 is a compelling commentary on the pressure to maintain a certain image and the toll it can take on a person's mental health. The singer ultimately decides to abandon his better self and embrace the darkness, illustrating how even the most upstanding individuals can be pushed to their breaking point.
Line by Line Meaning
Get stomped like a snake
To be defeated or crushed
Lie down in the dirt
To accept defeat and humiliation
Cling to my convictions
To hold on to one's beliefs or values
Even when I get hurt
Even in the face of pain or adversity
Be an upstanding well-loved man about town
To be respected and admired within the community
In your child's mind that's how it goes down
To be seen as a hero or role model in the eyes of a child
But I tried
An admission of failure despite effort
The losing side
To have failed in a situation or conflict
I don't want to die in here
An expression of a desire for escape or freedom
Drift down into the new dark light
To succumb to despair or negativity
Without any reservations
Without hesitation or doubt
You found my breaking point
To have discovered a weakness or vulnerability
Congratulations
Sarcastic response to someone who has caused harm or damage
Spent too much of my life now trying to play fair
To have devoted too much time to being just or ethical
Throw my better self overboard, shoot at him when he comes up for air
To abandon one's moral code and destroy any remnant of goodness
Come unhinged
To lose control or become unhinged
Get revenge
To seek retribution or payback
Stay good under pressure
To remain honorable even in stressful or difficult circumstances
For years and years and years
For a prolonged period of time
President of the fan club up there
An ironic reference to a person in power or authority
Choking on his tears
To be overwhelmed with emotion, typically sadness or regret
Let all the trash rain down
To accept criticism or negative feedback
From way up in the rafters
From a high place or perspective
I'm walking out of here in one piece
To escape or survive physically unharmed
Don't care what comes after
To be unconcerned with the consequences or aftermath
Drive the wedge
To create division or conflict
Torch the bridge
To destroy a connection or relationship beyond repair
I don't want to die in here
Repeated expression of a desire for escape or freedom
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack M.J.
I hate to be one of those guys, but this song saved my life. I genuinely don't know if I would have made it through a rough patch I had without it.
Oren Becker
Love thy self, brother. I know it’s hard but just keep being you and find the love within. My 2 cents. Love you man. Hope you are thriving, now. Hugs, -Oren
callmecatalyst
As someone who often has been THAT GUY I refuse to accept your apology; I embrace you being “that guy” and the world is a better place because you are in it, here, sharing this moment with the rest of us. Cheers
Sealab Tucker
Hey pal. It saved mine too. I even got HEEL TURN tattooed on my knuckles.
Ricky Reed
It didn’t save your life, you saved your own life. This was just the soundtrack.
Matthew Hart
I see a whole other metaphor in this song, about someone who tried to make everyone happy by being a people pleaser and being someone who they aren't, and they decided to burn the bridge of who they used to be and finally make themselves happy no matter who it bothers.
kingcrimson413
I think this interpretation, as well as the literal interpretation of a wrestler's heel turn, are meant to be taken together. I'm not a fan of pro wrestling, but the emotional image this song paints of what such an event means to both the wrestler and his fans is enough to bring me to tears.
Anonymous
Spot on. It's similar for me, although another way I look at it is just cos recent years I have felt too weak and unseen to fight back against the strong and seen world, so for me it expresses the frustration and redemption of that. "I don't want to die in here" [I.e. I don't want to die as my current self, I want my life to change before it's too late]
Fair winds and following seas to you :)
polkaputo
@kingcrimson413 i’m a huge wrestling fan, and you’re right. when it’s done right, heel turns can be legit traumatic. pro wrestling is a beautiful art form that speaks to the most fundamental aspects of being human. not only that, its whole business is toying with the audience’s emotions. heels especially have a responsibility to find your nerve and strike it as hard as humanly possible. back in the 80s-prior when wrestling was very different than it is today, it wasn’t uncommon for heels to be assaulted by fans - punched, stabbed, doused in battery acid, you name it. the lyrics in this song are not at all exaggerating. they’re meant to be taken literally and figuratively at the same time cus that’s what happens in wrestling. we’re taken on the entire journey of the good guy who grows tired of being the good guy getting him nowhere. it’s why we react so strongly when we finally see him snap.
Christian Hurry
all brilliant musicians, but these sessions really highlight Jon's drumming! Tastefully done and such a nice feel!