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.
Pure Milk
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
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.
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.
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