Pure Milk
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


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the moon's full, and the sky is bright,
and so you and me are gonna get drunk tonight.
we're gonna steal some tractors and head on into town,
find the main strip and start mowing them down.

don't come to the window till you're sure it's me.
don't ignore the obvious. take a deep breath.
put your hand on the god damn radio.
put your hand on the god damn radio.

fields are full of spirits, but no one cares at all.
a light above you flickers when you hear me call.
and I'm shaking when I see you there cause I don't know what it means.
but the ground is looking dry tonight and bursting near the seams.

so don't come to the window till you're sure it's me.
don't ignore the obvious. take a deep breath.




put your hand on the god damn radio.
put your hand on the god damn radio, yeah.

Overall Meaning

The song "Pure Milk" by The Mountain Goats paints a picture of two people, possibly young and reckless, who plan to get drunk and cause chaos in their town. The opening lines set the scene: a full moon and a bright sky serve as a backdrop for their plans. They intend to steal tractors (which could be symbolic of their desire to rebel against societal norms), and drive through the main strip, destroying everything in their path. The next verse, however, takes a different turn, as the lyrics reference the idea of spirits in the fields and a flickering light above the person being addressed. The imagery shifts from the chaotic to the mysterious, suggesting that there is a deeper meaning behind these two individuals' actions. The chorus repeats the instruction to "put your hand on the god damn radio," which could signify a desire to communicate or connect with others- possibly even an attempt to alert the town or the police about their plans.


Overall, the lyrics of "Pure Milk" suggest a sense of restlessness and confusion. The characters in the song seem to be grappling with something- boredom, dissatisfaction with their lives, a desire for escape- but it's not entirely clear what their motivations are. The chorus, with its repeated commands to "take a deep breath" and put your hand on the radio, hints at a deeper longing for connection or understanding. The song leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity; we are left not entirely sure what these two people are planning or why, but we sense that something is shifting beneath the surface.


Line by Line Meaning

the moon's full, and the sky is bright,
The night is clear and bright, the perfect time for you and me to drink alcohol.


and so you and me are gonna get drunk tonight.
We have plans to get drunk together tonight.


we're gonna steal some tractors and head on into town,
We will steal tractors and take them to the town.


find the main strip and start mowing them down.
We will drive the tractors down the main road to cause chaos.


don't come to the window till you're sure it's me.
Do not approach the window until you confirm that it is me.


don't ignore the obvious. take a deep breath.
Pay attention to what is happening and take a deep breath to keep calm.


put your hand on the god damn radio.
Put your hand on the radio to stay connected with me during this chaotic event.


fields are full of spirits, but no one cares at all.
The fields may have spirits, but no one seems to care or notice.


a light above you flickers when you hear me call.
A light flickers above you in response to me calling out your name.


and I'm shaking when I see you there cause I don't know what it means.
I am nervous and confused when I see you because I do not understand the situation fully.


but the ground is looking dry tonight and bursting near the seams.
The ground seems dry tonight and is almost ready to crack open.


put your hand on the god damn radio.
Again, put your hand on the radio to stay connected with me.


put your hand on the god damn radio, yeah.
Repeat the action of placing your hand on the radio to keep connected with me.




Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Skullis Bones

Moon's full, and the sky is bright
And so you and me are gonna get drunk tonight
We're gonna steal some tractors and head on into town
Find the main strip and start mowing them down

Don't come to the window 'til you're sure it's me
Don't ignore the obvious, take a deep breath
Put your hand on the goddamn radio
Put your hand on the goddamn radio

Fields are full of spirits, but no one cares at all
A light above you flickers when you hear me call
And I'm shaking when I see you there cause I don't know what it means
But the ground is looking dry tonight and bursting near the seams

So don't come to the window 'til you're sure it's me
Don't ignore the obvious, take a deep breath
Put your hand on the goddamn radio
Put your hand on the goddamn radio, yeah

Edith Prince

I've never heard these! Thank you for posting.

103drs

He was really channeling Daniel Johnston in this one

loser siren

How do I get a song tattooed on my brain??

Rachel Spitler

Thank you

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