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.
It Froze Me
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when the lotus caught fire
in the middle of the night
it froze me
it froze me
i saw you coming closer real slow
you grabbed hold
yeah i saw you in the blazing light
i saw you
i saw you alright
it froze me
it froze me
it froze me
it froze me
The lyrics to The Mountain Goats' song It Froze Me are open to numerous interpretations. Nevertheless, the song seems to describe a situation where the singer is drawn to a person but is unable to act on their attraction. The burning lotus might represent the intensity of the singer's feelings, which they find overwhelming and paralyzing. The lotus imagery can also symbolize spiritual enlightenment and detachment from worldly anxieties.
The line "you grabbed hold, I let go" suggests that the singer is hesitant because of their fear of potential rejection or because they are unwilling to let go of their fears and inhibitions. The chorus repeats the line "it froze me," underscoring the paralyzing effect that the singer's attraction has. The ambiguity of the song's message can make it relatable to anyone who has experienced unrequited love or felt immobilized by their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
i saw you in the blazing light
I saw you in a moment of intense heat and brightness
when the lotus caught fire
during an event that symbolized transformation and rebirth
in the middle of the night
at a time of darkness and vulnerability
it froze me
I was completely overwhelmed and immobile
i saw you coming closer real slow
I observed your approach, which seemed deliberate and cautious
you grabbed hold
you took a firm grasp of something important
i let go
I released my grip, possibly surrendering control or accepting fate
yeah i saw you in the blazing light
I witnessed your presence during another moment of transformation and intensity
i saw you
I perceived you clearly and distinctly
i saw you alright
I acknowledged the significance of the moment and the impact of the encounter
it froze me
I was once again overwhelmed and paralyzed by the experience
it froze me
I remained motionless, unable to fully process or respond to what was happening
it froze me
I was repeatedly struck by the intensity of the events, leaving me stunned and speechless
it froze me
I was deeply impacted by the powerful symbolism and transformative moments I witnessed
Contributed by Christopher T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.