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.
Papagallo
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
heard your throat open up like a champagne bottle
i heard the one perfect song pouring out of you,
there was a darkening sky reflected on the river.
there was no way of determining where we were
low hills, colors gone crazy,
you standing like a ghost with the water behind you.
like you need me to remind you.
you were standing near the water.
and i was looking at the water.
then you went down in the water,
and the river began to boil.
there was a minute when i thought i knew what you were about,
and then you opened up your eyes and the lord came out
low hills, colors gone crazy,
you rising from the water like a bird,
you had a pure song possessing you from shoulder to hip
and i recognized every single word.
The lyrics of "Papagallo" by The Mountain Goats tell a story of witnessing something powerful and moving. The singer describes being with someone by a body of water when suddenly the wind picks up and the person lets out a beautiful, soulful cry. The singer hears the "perfect song" pouring out of them and sees the darkening sky reflected on the river. Despite being surrounded by beauty, there is a feeling of uncertainty and being lost. The singer struggles to grasp onto moments like these and reassure the person they are with.
Suddenly, the person drops into the water and the river begins to boil. The singer sees this as a moment of transformation, where they thought they understood the person but are proven wrong when the "lord came out" in them. The person rises out of the water, possessing a "pure song" from shoulder to hip that the singer recognizes every word of. The final verse is ambiguous, leaving it open to interpretation whether the song is a literal or metaphorical one.
Overall, "Papagallo" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the power of a singular moment in time. Its lyrics evoke a strong sense of emotion and imagery that leave a lasting impression.
Line by Line Meaning
you were standing near the water, when the wind ripped through.
You were standing by the water when a sudden gust of wind came through.
heard your throat open up like a champagne bottle
Your voice rang out loud and clear like the sound of a champagne bottle popping open.
i heard the one perfect song pouring out of you,
I heard you singing the most beautiful song, with every note pitch-perfect and flawless.
there was a darkening sky reflected on the river.
The river had a reflection of the darkening sky above it.
there was no way of determining where we were
It was impossible to tell where we were at the moment.
low hills, colors gone crazy,
The hills were low and the colors surrounding us seemed to be in a state of chaos.
you standing like a ghost with the water behind you.
You stood still like a ghost with the water behind you.
it's hard to grab ahold of some things sometimes,
Sometimes, it's difficult to get a grip on certain things.
like you need me to remind you.
It's like you require me to remind you of something important.
you were standing near the water.
You were positioned near the body of water.
and i was looking at the water.
I was observing the water intently.
then you went down in the water,
Before I knew it, you had gone under the water.
and the river began to boil.
The water started bubbling, almost as if it was boiling.
there was a minute when i thought i knew what you were about,
For a brief moment, I thought I understood you and your motives.
and then you opened up your eyes and the lord came out
But as soon as you opened your eyes, it was like a higher force took over and guided your actions.
low hills, colors gone crazy,
The same chaotic surroundings were still present.
you rising from the water like a bird,
You emerged from the water like a bird taking flight.
you had a pure song possessing you from shoulder to hip
You were completely taken over by the purity and beauty of the song you were singing.
and i recognized every single word.
And I was able to comprehend and understand every single word you sang.
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.