High Doses #2
The Mountain Goats Lyrics

we all woke up that morning,
The singer and those around them all experienced the same event simultaneously

claw marks on our little faces.
They were physically marked by whatever happened that morning

the dull thud from the treetops
There was a loud and possibly ominous sound coming from above

the echo in the hollow places
The sound reverberated around the empty spaces, emphasizing its presence

rose up high and lonely
The artist or their thoughts ascended to a position of isolation

wringing my hands, grinding my teeth
The singer was nervous, anxious, or upset, expressed through physical tension

all the triumph overhead
There was a sense of victory or success in the air

all the disaster underneath
But that victory might be masking underlying problems or danger

spat out my morning prayers
The artist attempted to offer up prayers or pleas for help

desperate pleas and viscious lies.
These entreaties might have been born out of despair or desperation

felt the sunlight thugh the grating,
The singer was in a confined or unpleasant space in which light still managed to enter

coverered up my eyes.
The artist could not or did not want to face what was happening

woke up feeling awful
The singer awoke after a restless or troubling night with a sense of distress

shook my head to drive the ghosts way
They physically or mentally tried to dispel negative or haunting thoughts

this is just a flesh wound
The singer attempted to downplay their own physical or emotional pain

and it will clear up any day.
They believed that it was only temporary and would improve on its own

but the present i got planned for you pricks,
However, someone else was in for a more severe or intentional harm

is gonna be a little harder to fix.
The singer was certain that their intended action would have lasting repercussions

thank god
The singer expressed gratitude in a possibly ironic way

for small favors
They were even appreciative of small moments of relief or positive events

in high doses.
But they recognized that this relief was not always sustainable and could be fleeting

heard the voices through the air vents
The artist heard sounds or voices from an unexpected place

listen to them squeal
Whatever they heard was unpleasant or upsetting

the great big world is out there
The outside world was vast or overpoweringly immense

the hidden one beneath my heel
But the singer still felt a sense of control or dominance over their immediate surroundings

called up my sister in reseda,
The singer reached out to someone they knew, potentially for support or assistance

left a message at the tone.
They might not have actually spoken with their sister yet

all the points where contact fails us
There were numerous reasons why communication or connections could not be made

all of the dead spots in the zone
These reasons included a sense of detachment or emptiness

and the acid in my throat
The singer felt a physical discomfort or stress in their body

every time i try to talk
This discomfort or stress seemed to be exacerbated when attempting to communicate

the songs that keep me up at night
There were songs or thoughts that caused the artist distress or insomnia

standing on that solid rock
The artist attempted to remain steadfast and resilient despite their problems

rose up high and dry and lonely
But they still felt isolated and disconnected from others

stumbled coming out the gate
Despite their efforts, the situation was still difficult or unexpected

this is just a paper cut
Once again, the artist attempted to downplay their own pain or problems

and it will scab over just you wait.
They were convinced that this problem would eventually heal on its own

but the cuts that i'll shortly being dealing out,
However, the harm they intended to inflict on someone else would be much more severe

are gonna give you something to cry about.
They were confident that the recipient of their actions would be deeply affected by them