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.
Quito
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going to raise an ice-cold glass of water
And toast the living and the dead who've gone before me
And my head will throb like an old wound reopening
When I get off the bus down there, my children
They all are going to greet me at the station
Like gypsies they will dance around me
When I get off the wheel I'm going to stop
And make amends to everyone I've wounded
And when I wave my magic wand
Those few who've slipped the surly bonds will rise like salmon at the spawning
The lyrics of "Quito" seem to revolve around a moment of personal transformation, possibly arriving at the end of a long journey or a lifetime. The singer talks about receiving a blessing that they are owed, which may represent some sort of karmic reward or spiritual redemption. The act of raising an ice-cold glass of water to toast the living and the dead suggests a willingness to embrace the full range of human experience, both joyful and painful. The image of the head throbbing like an old wound reopening implies a type of spiritual catharsis that isn't necessarily easy or painless, but is necessary for growth and healing.
The second verse introduces the idea of family and community, with the singer's children greeting them like gypsies and the sound of their voices saturating the evening. There's a sense of celebration and joy here, but also a hint of nostalgia or longing for something that has yet to be fully realized. The singer then mentions making amends to everyone they have wounded, suggesting a willingness to take responsibility for past mistakes and try to set things right. Finally, there's a sense of magic and wonder in the final line, as those who have "slipped the surly bonds" will rise up like salmon at the spawning. This seems to suggest a type of spiritual rebirth or resurrection, as those who have passed on are allowed to return and be reunited with loved ones who are still alive.
Overall, "Quito" is a song that deals with weighty themes like redemption, forgiveness, and mortality, but does so in a way that feels grounded and sincere. The lyrics paint vivid pictures of a momentous occasion, but leave enough room for interpretation to allow the listener to project their own experiences onto the song. Through it all, there's a sense of hope and longing for a better future, even if that future is uncertain and the road to get there is difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
When I receive the blessing I've got coming
When I finally receive the good things that have come to me
I'm going to raise an ice-cold glass of water
I will drink icy water to celebrate
And toast the living and the dead who've gone before me
And honor those who have lived and died before me
And my head will throb like an old wound reopening
But this celebration may also bring up painful memories of the past
When I get off the bus down there, my children
When I get off the bus in the future, my children will be there to greet me
They all are going to greet me at the station
They will be waiting for me as I arrive
Like gypsies they will dance around me
They will be joyful and lively like gypsies
And the choral droning sound their voices make will saturate the evening
The sound of their choir of voices will fill the evening with emotion
When I get off the wheel I'm going to stop
When I finally stop living such a frenzied, busy life,
And make amends to everyone I've wounded
I will apologize and try to make things right with all those I have hurt
And when I wave my magic wand
And when I use my power or influence
Those few who've slipped the surly bonds will rise like salmon at the spawning
Those who have passed away and been forgotten will be remembered and honored, as if they were reborn
Contributed by Bella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.