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.
Omega Blaster
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You brought an aromatic cedar bookmark for me
And a brand new stuffed bear
It's summertime, you've cut your hair
And i am leaving you, and i am sorry
You come in through the back door
Why're you coming in like that, smiling for?
I can feel your smile burning through
And i am leaving you, and i am sorry
The lyrics of The Mountain Goats' Omega Blaster presents a story of a heart-wrenching breakup, tinged with memories of good times the couple once shared. The singer describes how their partner has returned from a trip to Yosemite, bringing back a bookmark and a stuffed bear as souvenirs for them. The season is summer, apparent from their partner's short hair. Yet, the singer regrets that despite the pleasant sights, they are forced to end their relationship.
In the second verse, the partner enters through the back door, smiling. But the singer knows that regardless of their partner's joyous mood, they must express the truth. The partner's smile seems to be adding fuel to the painful situation. The singer knows that they must tell their partner that they are leaving, despite how sorry they may feel about it.
The song's meaning ultimately revolves around a sense of loss, as the singer admits to breaking someone's heart. It is a heartbreaking song about the cyclical nature of relationships and the difficulty of accepting the end of one.
Line by Line Meaning
You've come back from Yosemite
You've returned from your trip to Yosemite National Park
You brought an aromatic cedar bookmark for me
You've given me a bookmark made from aromatic cedar wood as a souvenir
And a brand new stuffed bear
You've also brought a new stuffed bear as a gift
It's summertime, you've cut your hair
Since it's summer, you've cut your hair short
And i am leaving you, and i am sorry
However, I have made the decision to leave you and I regret that it will hurt you
You come in through the back door
You enter the house through the back entrance
Why're you coming in like that, smiling for?
I question why you're grinning while you come in
I've got something i need to tell you
I have something important to say to you
I can feel your smile burning through
I can sense your happy expression despite the gravity of the situation
And i am leaving you, and i am sorry
Regardless, my decision remains the same and I apologize for causing any pain
Contributed by Savannah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.