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.
Jenny
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jenny hit the corner clinic begging for relief
Never thought we'd see the day when she wiggled free
But she did, long before we did
Nights in crackling emerald
Signal hot and live
Fastest in production as of 1985
But she did, long before we did
Nobody will ever know for certain
The names of all the secrets she held back behind the curtain
Jenny came to get me, she'd been gone for several years
Aging motorcycles purr like cats when they grow near
And I was crying, I could barely make the frame out through my tears
She did, long before we did
She did, long before we did
Jenny, you did
Long before I did
The song "Jenny" by The Mountain Goats paints a vivid picture of a moment in time that is both exhilarating and fleeting. The singer, who is unnamed, describes how he watches Jenny roar into the driveway of their southwestern-style ranch house on a brand new Kawasaki motorcycle, all yellow and black. The house faces west, and as the big orange sun positions itself behind Jenny, her silhouette is nothing short of magnificent. The singer reflects on how much better his life can get before he hops on the back of the bike, wraps his arms around Jenny, inhales her sweet scent, and points her headlamp towards the horizon, disappearing into the galaxy where God didn't have his eyes on them.
On the surface, "Jenny" appears to be a simple love song, but there is more to the lyrics than meets the eye. The song explores the idea that moments of true happiness and freedom are fleeting and can be easily lost. The image of Jenny riding her motorcycle with the singer riding behind her is a metaphor for the fleeting nature of happiness. The fact that they are disappearing into the galaxy where God doesn't have his eyes on them suggests that they are living without fear of repercussions or judgement. The line "the pirate's life for me" further emphasizes this idea, as pirates were notorious for living free and without fear.
Line by Line Meaning
You roared into the driveway
The subject arrives at the singer's house loudly and energetically.
Of our southwestern ranch-style house
The type of house where the singer resides is a ranch-style house common in the southwestern part of the United States.
On a new Kawasaki
The subject arrived on a brand new Kawasaki motorcycle, indicating his wealth and status.
All yellow and black
The Kawasaki was black and yellow in color, which is an attention-grabbing combination.
Fresh out of the showroom
The Kawasaki was brand new and had just come out of the showroom.
Our house faced west
The singer's house was situated in a manner where its front faced west.
So the big orange sun
The setting sun was large and orange, providing a bright and colorful backdrop.
Positioned at your back
The sun was positioned behind the subject, casting his figure in a brilliant silhouette.
Lit up your magnificent silhouette
The sunlit outline of the subject was striking and attractive.
How much better, how much better can my life get?
The artist is elated to see the subject and believes his life could not possibly get better than this moment.
900 cubic centimeters of raw, whining power, no outstanding warrants for my arrest
The subject's motorcycle has engine power of 900 cubic centimeters and is not wanted by the police for any unlawful activity.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, the pirate's life for me
The subject is living a free-spirited, adventurous life on his motorcycle, reminiscent of a pirate's lifestyle.
I hopped on the back of the bike, wrapped my arms around you
The singer got onto the motorcycle and embraced the subject, holding him tightly.
And I sank my face into your hair
The singer buried his face in the subject's hair, taking in his scent and enjoying the moment.
And then I inhaled as deeply as I possibly could
The singer breathed in as deeply as possible, taking in the subject's aroma and savoring the experience.
You were as sweet and delicious as the warm desert air
The subject's scent was as enjoyable to the artist as the warm air in the desert.
And you pointed your headlamp toward the horizon
The subject directed the motorcycle's headlamp towards the horizon, indicating he was ready to ride off into the sunset.
We were the one thing in the galaxy God didn't have his eyes on
The singers felt like they were the only two people in the world, lost in the moment together.
Hi diddle dee dee, goddamn, the pirate's life for me
The subject continues to revel in his free-spirited, adventurous life on the motorcycle, enjoying every moment of it.
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Written by: John Darnielle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind