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.
Orange Ball of Pain
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew I had to have it for my own
I eased it out and I brought it home
Why don't you try some?
I already had some myself
Is that the most delicious thing
You ever tasted in your life?
Is that the most delicious thing
You ever tasted in your life?
And then the cold sorrow gripped me by the throat
And then I felt the colder sadness taking hold
I knew I had to have it for my own
Why don't you try some?
Why don't you try some?
Is that the most delicious thing
You ever tasted in your life?
Is that the most delicious thing
You ever tasted in your life?
And then I saw the snow against the window
And I saw the snow hit the window
And I saw the snow brush against the window
And I saw the snow in here
The lyrics of "Orange Ball of Pain" by The Mountain Goats tell a story of desire and regret. The singer encounters a delicious pastry on a bakery carousel and cannot resist the temptation to take it home. He invites someone else to try it, but the pleasure is short-lived, as cold sorrow and sadness soon take hold. The snow against the window further emphasizes the feeling of isolation and regret as the singer is left alone with the consequences of his impulse.
The lyrics are a reflection on the human experience of wanting something so badly, only to find that it does not bring the satisfaction that was hoped for. The bakery pastry serves as a metaphor for the fleeting pleasures in life that can lead to emptiness and regret. The repetition of the question "Is that the most delicious thing you ever tasted in your life?" underscores the disappointment that the singer feels.
Overall, "Orange Ball of Pain" is a poignant reminder to be mindful of our actions and desires, and to recognize that true happiness cannot be found in temporary pleasures.
Line by Line Meaning
When I saw it on the bakery carousel
When I first saw the delicious-looking pastry in the bakery display
I knew I had to have it for my own
I felt an intense desire to acquire the pastry and keep it for myself
I eased it out and I brought it home
I carefully took the pastry out of the display and took it home
Why don't you try some?
I offered some of the pastry to someone else
I already had some myself
I had already eaten some of the pastry before offering it to someone else
Is that the most delicious thing
You ever tasted in your life?
I asked if the pastry was the most delicious thing my companion had ever tasted
And then the cold sorrow gripped me by the throat
I suddenly felt overwhelming sadness and despair
And then I felt the colder sadness taking hold
My sadness deepened and became even more profound
I knew I had to have it for my own
Despite my sadness, I still couldn't bear to part with the pastry
And then I saw the snow against the window
I observed snowfall outside through a nearby window
And I saw the snow hit the window
I watched as snowflakes collided with the glass pane of the window
And I saw the snow brush against the window
I noticed snow particles being blown against the window by the wind
And I saw the snow in here
I became acutely aware of the cold and wintry atmosphere in the room
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.