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 Sound
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the air was cooling down
the sky was blue
i was heading north on taylor street
when i ran into you
we stopped to talk.
right there on the sidewalk
i was inbetween times.
the mountains were clearly visible
and your timing was cruel.
you said almost everything right
and your eyes shone like little jewels.
we were talking
while the temperature dropped.
i was hoping against hope
that the wheel would stop.
you were nineteen,
i was in between times.
hey.
The lyrics to The Mountain Goats' song "Pure Sound" tell a simple story of a chance encounter between two people on a sidewalk. The singer is walking north on Taylor Street and runs into someone they know. The air is crisp and clear and the mountains are visible in the distance. The conversation between the two is pleasant, but the singer is hoping that they can somehow stop time and stay in this moment forever.
The song captures the feeling of nostalgia and longing for a bygone moment. The mountains in the distance represent the fleeting nature of time and the longing to hold on to a perfect moment forever. The singer is in between times, not quite sure where they fit in the world or what the future holds. The encounter with this person is a small moment of connection in an uncertain world.
Overall, "Pure Sound" is a thoughtful and introspective song that captures the emotional complexity of chance encounters and fleeting moments. The lyrics are simple but powerful, highlighting the beauty and sadness of life's small moments.
Line by Line Meaning
hey.
A casual greeting or acknowledgement.
the air was cooling down
The temperature was decreasing, creating a sensation of coldness in the atmosphere.
the sky was blue
The visible expanse of space above us had a color that ranges from azure to navy.
i was heading north on taylor street
I was traveling towards the direction of the north on a street named Taylor.
when i ran into you
We met each other unexpectedly.
we stopped to talk.
We paused our individual activities to chat.
right there on the sidewalk
Our conversation took place on the paved area next to the road.
the air was new and clean
The air felt refreshing and free from pollution.
i was inbetween times.
I was between two periods or phases in life.
the mountains were clearly visible
The large landform that rises above the surrounding land was easily observable.
and your timing was cruel.
The choice of the moment or duration of your arrival was unkind.
you said almost everything right
Your communication was accurate and appropriate to the situation.
and your eyes shone like little jewels.
Your eyes emitted a radiant, bright light that was reminiscent of precious gems.
we were talking
We were engaged in a conversation.
while the temperature dropped.
During this time, the temperature progressively decreased.
i was hoping against hope
I was clinging to a hope that was doubtful or unlikely.
that the wheel would stop.
That the rotation or cyclic motion of a wheel-shaped object would come to an end.
you were nineteen,
Your age was 19.
i was in between times.
I was between two periods or phases in life.
hey.
A casual greeting or acknowledgement.
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Grace McFadden
this song feels important