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.
In League With Dragons
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The human element drags you down
Lead a solitary life if you can
Try not to show your face in town
Let the rulers find such bridges as they may
Reckon up the variables
Find a way to make it real
Make a deal
It's so hard to be yourself
When you've already seen the inside
Try to navigate the turns as best you can
Headed on down the slide
Strong friends are where you find them
People talk all kinds of trash
Never you mind them
Make it real
Make a deal
Until my protector comes
Huge wings blotting out the sun
Remembering everyone
Be so hard to look away
You gotta be strong in the face of suffering
Cut a good figure just in case somebody's watching
Even if it ends up meaning nothing
Let the breezes spread such scandal as they may
Maybe Boris Vallejo paints
The back of your head someday
Make it real
You make a deal
Until my protector comes
The lyrics to "In League With Dragons" by The Mountain Goats touch on themes of revenge, isolation, self-acceptance, and resilience in the face of suffering. The song explores the struggle to seek revenge and the toll it takes on the individual. The line "It's so hard to get revenge, the human element drags you down" suggests that seeking revenge can be challenging and can often lead to negative consequences.
The lyrics also highlight the importance of maintaining a solitary life and not showing one's face in town. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for isolating oneself from the judgment and opinions of others. The lines "Try to navigate the turns as best you can, headed on down the slide" reflect the challenges of staying true to oneself while facing the pressures and expectations of society.
The song emphasizes the significance of finding strong friends who support and believe in you, disregarding the negativity and criticism from others. The line "People talk all kinds of trash, never you mind them" encourages the listener to ignore the gossip and stay focused on their journey.
The mentioning of the "protector" in the lyrics suggests the presence of someone who offers support and guidance during difficult times. This could be interpreted as an inner strength or a metaphorical figure that provides comfort and reassurance.
In conclusion, "In League With Dragons" by The Mountain Goats explores the challenges of seeking revenge, the importance of self-acceptance, and the need to find strength in supportive relationships while navigating life's obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so hard to get revenge
Seeking revenge is a difficult and challenging task
The human element drags you down
Interactions with others can be burdensome and demoralizing
Lead a solitary life if you can
If possible, choose to live alone and avoid social contact
Try not to show your face in town
Avoid being recognized or noticed in public
Let the rulers find such bridges as they may
Allow those in positions of power to handle their own problems and challenges
Reckon up the variables
Consider and calculate all the factors involved
Find a way to make it real
Discover a method to turn your goals or desires into tangible results
Make a deal
Negotiate or bargain with others to achieve your objectives
Until my protector comes
Continue working towards your goals until you receive assistance or support
It's so hard to be yourself
Maintaining an authentic identity can be challenging
When you've already seen the inside
Having experienced internal struggles or difficulties
Try to navigate the turns as best you can
Attempt to handle unexpected challenges and changes as skillfully as possible
Headed on down the slide
Continuing on a downward path or progressing towards a negative situation
Strong friends are where you find them
Valuable and supportive friendships can be discovered unexpectedly
People talk all kinds of trash
Others often speak negatively or gossip about various subjects
Never you mind them
Pay no attention to their words or opinions
Make it real
Bring your goals or aspirations into fruition
Make a deal
Engage in negotiations or agreements to accomplish your objectives
Until my protector comes
Persist in your efforts until you receive support or aid
Huge wings blotting out the sun
A metaphor for a powerful force or entity overshadowing everything else
Remembering everyone
Retaining memories or thoughts about all individuals encountered
Be so hard to look away
Difficult to divert your attention or focus elsewhere
You gotta be strong in the face of suffering
It's essential to remain resilient and resilient in times of hardship
Cut a good figure just in case somebody's watching
Present yourself in a favorable manner as a precaution, in case someone is observing
Even if it ends up meaning nothing
Despite the possibility of the actions having no significant impact or consequence
Let the breezes spread such scandal as they may
Allow rumors or gossip to circulate freely without concern
Maybe Boris Vallejo paints
Perhaps a well-known artist captures
The back of your head someday
A hypothetical future artwork depicting a less prominent aspect of oneself
Make it real
Transform your aspirations or desires into tangible reality
You make a deal
Negotiate and enter into agreements to achieve your goals
Until my protector comes
Continue striving until you receive assistance or support
Lyrics © PACIFIC ELECTRIC MUSIC
Written by: John Darnielle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind