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.
Psalms 40:2
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made for the chapel with some spray paint for all the things we'd held in secret
Lord, lift up these lifeless bones
Light cascading through the windows, all the rainbow's heavy tones
He has fixed his sign in the sky
He has raised me from the pit and set me high
Checked into a Red Roof Inn, stayed up for several hours and then slept like infants
In the burning fuselage of my days
Let my mouth be ever fresh with praise
He has fixed his sign in the sky
He has raised me from the pit and set me high
Each morning new
Each day shot through
With all the sharp, small shards of shrapnel
That seem to burst out of me and you
Head down for Kansas, we will get there when we get there, don't you worry
Feel bad about the things we do along the way, but not really that bad
We inhaled the frozen air
Lord, send me a mechanic if I'm not beyond repair
He has fixed his sign in the sky
He has raised me from the pit and he will set me high
The song Psalms 40:2 by The Mountain Goats describes a spiritual journey filled with hope and redemption. The singer tells the story of how they pulled off the highway in Missouri and made their way to a chapel with spraypaint in hand. Heavy with secrets and burdens, they ask the Lord to lift up their lifeless bones. The vivid imagery of light cascading through the windows and rainbow's heavy tones paints a picture of divine intervention and grace.
The second verse describes the aftermath of this spiritual experience. The singer leaves the chapel feeling drunk on the spirit and high on fumes, staying at a Red Roof Inn and praising the Lord. They acknowledge the shrapnel present in their everyday lives, but remain hopeful and eager for each new day. The trip continues with a sense of adventure, as the singer heads to Kansas with their companion. Although they feel remorse about their actions along the way, they are not overly burdened by their mistakes. They inhale the frozen air, asking the Lord for a mechanic to repair them if needed. The song concludes with a sense of positivity and faith, with the singer affirming that the Lord has fixed his sign in the sky and raised them from the pit, setting them high.
Line by Line Meaning
Pulled off the highway in Missouri and lo, our hearts were heavy laden
We stopped driving on the highway in Missouri and felt a weight on our hearts.
Made for the chapel with some spray paint for all the things we'd held in secret
We went to a chapel and used spray paint to confess our secrets.
Lord, lift up these lifeless bones
We ask the Lord to give us new life and energy.
Light cascading through the windows, all the rainbow's heavy tones
Sunlight shines in through the windows with vibrant colors.
He has fixed his sign in the sky
God has placed a marker in the sky.
He has raised me from the pit and set me high
God has saved and elevated me.
Left that place in ruin, drunk on the spirit and high on fumes
We left the chapel in disarray, feeling euphoric and intoxicated.
Checked into a Red Roof Inn, stayed up for several hours and then slept like infants
We stayed at a budget motel, stayed awake for a while, then slept soundly.
In the burning fuselage of my days
In the wreckage of my life.
Let my mouth be ever fresh with praise
We commit to continually praising God in our lives.
Each morning new
Every morning is a fresh start.
Each day shot through
Every day has its challenges.
With all the sharp, small shards of shrapnel
Every day has small, painful moments that affect us.
That seem to burst out of me and you
These painful moments happen to all of us.
Head down for Kansas, we will get there when we get there, don't you worry
We're heading towards Kansas without any particular timeline or stress.
Feel bad about the things we do along the way, but not really that bad
We have some regret for our actions, but it's not overwhelming.
We inhaled the frozen air
We breathed in the cold air.
Lord, send me a mechanic if I'm not beyond repair
We ask God for help if we need fixing.
He has raised me from the pit and he will set me high
God has saved us before and will continue to do so.
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.