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.
Quetzalcoatl Is Born
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it's a cold night in sonora
and the stars are out in full force
it's a moment the world has been waiting for
when you set the world back on course
into the fire you go
into the fire you go
it's a strange gathering around you
and the lord of the snails is born
five minutes before you take on divinity
you hear the crackling, well you hear the snapping corn
into the fire you go
into the fire you go
into the fire you go
into the fire you go
The Mountain Goats's song "Quetzalcoatl Is Born" tells the story of the birth of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. The song begins with a woman's voice singing, "He touched me and suddenly…" possibly referring to the moment when Quetzalcoatl was conceived or born. The lyrics describe a cold night in Sonora, Mexico, where Quetzalcoatl is born, and how the stars are out in full force, as if the universe is aligned for his arrival. It's a moment the world has been waiting for, as Quetzalcoatl is a deity of great importance in Aztec mythology.
The song then describes the strange gathering around Quetzalcoatl as he takes on divinity, and how the lord of the snails is born, possibly a reference to other deities associated with Quetzalcoatl. The final lines of the song repeat "Into the fire you go," suggesting that Quetzalcoatl's birth was a fiery and transformative experience.
The lyrics of "Quetzalcoatl Is Born" touch on themes of religion, mythology, and transformation. The song tells the story of a divine being's birth, and how it changes the world around them. It's a powerful and evocative piece of music that reflects on the enduring power of myth and the power of transformation and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
[woman singing]: he touched me and suddenly...
The song is about the birth of the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl and how it restores balance to the world.
it's a cold night in sonora
The setting is Sonora, a desert region in Mexico, and it is a cold night.
and the stars are out in full force
The night is clear and the stars are shining brightly.
it's a moment the world has been waiting for
The birth of Quetzalcoatl is a highly anticipated event that will have a profound impact on the world.
when you set the world back on course
The birth of Quetzalcoatl will mark a turning point and restore balance to the world.
into the fire you go
The fiery birth of Quetzalcoatl is a metaphor for his transformation into a powerful deity.
it's a strange gathering around you
There is an unusual collection of beings and energy surrounding the birth of Quetzalcoatl.
and the lord of the snails is born
Quetzalcoatl is referred to as the 'lord of the snails,' a title that reflects his association with fertility and creation.
five minutes before you take on divinity
The transformation of Quetzalcoatl into a deity takes only minutes and is a pivotal moment in the song.
you hear the crackling, well you hear the snapping corn
The sound of snapping corn is a symbol of the transformation that is taking place in Quetzalcoatl.
into the fire you go
Once again, the fiery transformation of Quetzalcoatl is referenced as a key moment in his birth.
into the fire you go
The repetition of this line reinforces the importance of the fiery transformation and marks the end of the song.
into the fire you go
Another repetition of the line reinforces the significance of Quetzalcoatl's transformation and the power that he holds.
Contributed by Mateo D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.