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.
Historiography
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was spring coming in
There was a feeling of approaching doom
I was happy to see you
It was cold in your room and you were warm
And that's all I remember
And your arms were warm
Later on, near morning
We were talking about nothing
A little rain, a little wind
Quiet cold, cold air coming in
And you were warm
And that's all I remember
And your arms were warm
And that's all I remember
And your eyes were pretty
And that's all I remember
And your hands were soft
And that's all I remember
And the hall was well-lit as I walked down it
And that's all I remember
And the rain was light and it felt soft on my face
And that's all I remember
And the car was quiet inside
And that's all I remember
And it was dark but the sunlight was coming
And that's all I remember
The lyrics of "Historiography" by The Mountain Goats describe a moment between two people. The first verse sets the scene, it is spring and there is rain, wind and an ominous feeling that something bad is approaching. Despite this, the singer is happy to see the person he is with. The second verse finds them in a cold room, but the warmth of the other person is enough to bring comfort. They are quiet, just enjoying each other's company, while bad weather is raging outside. The last verses describe the aftermath of the moment, walking through a well-lit hallway, feeling the soft rain, experiencing the quiet in a car, and seeing the approaching sunlight. What makes the moment memorable is the tenderness of the person's embrace, the warmth, and the connection between the two.
The lyrics of "Historiography" are very precise in describing a moment, but it could represent something more. The rain and wind could represent an unpredictable and volatile situation that they are in or might be approaching. The feeling of approaching doom can mean that the situation is uncertain, but despite that, the singer is happy to have this moment, this person. In contrast, the after-effects seem calm, the hall well-lit, the rain soft, and the car quiet. There is no urgency or fear. The moment is like an anchor in the middle of a stormy situation, providing a sense of security and warmth.
Line by Line Meaning
There was rain, there was wind
It was a stormy day with heavy rain and strong wind
There was spring coming in
Despite the storm, the season of spring was evident with blooming flowers and fresh air
There was a feeling of approaching doom
Despite the pleasant weather, there was a sense of impending danger or sadness approaching
I was happy to see you
The only positive emotion in the context was seeing the person the artist was with
It was cold in your room and you were warm
The contrast between the cold room and the warmth of the person was notable
And that's all I remember
The singer's recollection is limited to a few sensory details and nothing else
Later on, near morning
The incident being recalled took place near morning time
We were talking about nothing
The conversation felt trivial and unimportant
A little rain, a little wind
The weather remained unchanged since earlier, with only a slight drizzle and breeze
Quiet cold, cold air coming in
The air felt chilly and the silence added to a somber mood
And your eyes were pretty
The singer was struck by the beauty of the other person's eyes
And your hands were soft
The touch of the other person's hands was gentle and delicate
And the hall was well-lit as I walked down it
The hallway was bright, casting a clear light on the singer's path
And the rain was light and it felt soft on my face
The rainwater felt gentle and velvety as it touched the singer's skin
And the car was quiet inside
The inside of the car was silent, with only the sound of the engine and the occasional passing vehicle
And it was dark but the sunlight was coming
Despite the darkness outside, the dawn was approaching, which was a microcosm for the cycle of light and dark and the passing of time
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.