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.
I've Got the Sex
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
watching the juice drip down
two and a half months ahead of schedule
the leaves on the trees are turning brown
we got ready for winter, as the sun rose up in the sky
there was something almost soothing in the hard to define
note of terror in your eye
as the wind blew through the elm tree
the wind was far too cold for the middle of april
and you reached out your hand to me
it was good to feel your hand in mine
it was good to know you felt the pull too
I scooped up a palmful of strawberry pulp
and smeared it all over you
the wild strawberries drove me on, as I lapped them up off of your skin
and I could feel your basal body temperature rise as the cold came in
hey hey
The Mountain Goats' song "I've Got the Sex" is a poignant yet cryptic exploration of the human experience. The opening lyrics describe the act of crushing strawberries one by one and watching the juice drip down. This seemingly mundane task is infused with significance, as it occurs two and a half months ahead of schedule and coincides with the leaves on the trees turning brown. This imagery evokes the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life, suggesting that something significant is happening, though it may not be immediately apparent.
As the song progresses, the tension builds, with the singer describing the feeling of getting ready for winter as the sun rose up in the sky. This juxtaposition of darkness and light, of preparation and uncertainty, highlights the inherent contradictions and complexities of human existence. The addition of "something almost soothing in the hard to define note of terror in your eye" adds an element of unease to the situation, hinting that there may be some underlying tension or apprehension.
The second verse of the song continues to use vivid imagery to explore the relationship between the singer and their partner. The cold wind blowing through the elm tree suggests a sense of isolation and unease, but the simple act of holding hands offers comfort and solace. The sensual image of smearing strawberry pulp all over one another further emphasizes the physical and emotional intimacy between the two individuals.
Overall, "I've Got the Sex" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that offers a glimpse into the human experience in all its complexity and contradiction.
Line by Line Meaning
crushing strawberries one by one
Engaging in repetitive, mundane activities while trying to make sense of things
watching the juice drip down
Observing the consequences of your actions
two and a half months ahead of schedule
Feeling out of sync with the natural order of things
the leaves on the trees are turning brown
Noticing the passing of time and the approach of winter
we got ready for winter, as the sun rose up in the sky
Preparing for difficult times while trying to remain optimistic
there was something almost soothing in the hard to define
Finding comfort in the unknown and unfamiliar
note of terror in your eye
Recognizing fear in another person but not understanding its source
watching the strawberries lose their shape
Observing the changes in a situation or relationship
as the wind blew through the elm tree
Feeling the effects of external forces beyond your control
the wind was far too cold for the middle of april
Feeling disoriented and out of place
and you reached out your hand to me
Seeking connection and comfort in a time of uncertainty
it was good to feel your hand in mine
Finding solace in physical touch
it was good to know you felt the pull too
Feeling understood and validated by another person
I scooped up a palmful of strawberry pulp
Taking pleasure in simple, sensory experiences
and smeared it all over you
Expressing affection and intimacy through unconventional means
the wild strawberries drove me on, as I lapped them up off of your skin
Finding joy and motivation in unexpected places
and I could feel your basal body temperature rise as the cold came in
Recognizing the physical effects of stress and anxiety
hey hey
An expression of excitement or encouragement
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lewatoaofair
You just know he was about to say "as long as they're not "Going to Georgia", lol
@feraloracle8239
i love you john darnielle
@dcedrick6912
you and me both. gosh darn lyrical genius.
@jsc1729
having clicked on just about every mountain goats video to come across my youtube feed, I have to say this is one of the best out there. jd is so expressive here (see 1:40, 2:05), the "I'll play that shit, fuck yea" is hilarious, and with no further preamble he proceeds to just absolutely lay it down. also seems like he's just intoxicated enough to fully let go and still be on top of things. fantastic performance and i'm so grateful we have this video. every time i watch it, i immediately have to watch it again. and again. and again
@zeppelin695
A classic indeed. JD is such a character 😅
@Foster_B
Crushing strawberries one by one
Watching the juice drip down
Two and a half months ahead of schedule
The leaves on the trees are turning brown
We got ready for winter, as the sun rose up in the sky
There was something almost soothing in the hard-to-define
Note of terror in your eye
Watching the strawberries lose their shapes
As the wind blew through the elm tree
The wind was far too cold for the middle of April
And you reached out your hand to me
It was good to feel your hand in mine
It was good to know you felt the chill too
I scooped up a palm full of strawberry pulp
And smeared it all over you
The wild strawberries drove me on, as I lapped them up off of your skin
And I could feel your basal body temperature rise as the cold came in
Hey hey