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.
See America Right
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the radiator burst
I was three sheets to the wind
A civilian saw me first
And then there was the cop
And then the children standing on the corner --
Your love is like a cyclone in a swamp,
And the weather's getting warmer
I was getting out of jail
Headed for the Greyhound
You said you'd hop on one yourself
And meet me on the way down
I was shaking way too hard to think
Dead on my feet
About to drop --
Went and got the case of vodka from the car
And walked the two miles to the bus stop
Got on the bus half drunk again
The driver glared at me
Met up with you in Ingles
Thumbed a ride to Cedar Key
If we never make it back to California
I want you to know I love you --
But my love is like a dark cloud full of rain
Always right there up above you.
The lyrics of "See America Right" by The Mountain Goats recount a tumultuous journey, both literal and metaphorical, in which the singer faces various obstacles on his way to finding love. The turmoil begins when his car overheats near a group of children and a police officer, leaving him stranded in a precarious situation while under the influence of alcohol. Later, after being released from jail, the singer begins a trip to California by bus to meet his beloved, but is once again left stranded after being denied a ride. Finally, he meets his lover and they continue their journey together, but the future remains uncertain.
Symbolically, the lyrics of this song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenges of romantic relationships. The singer faces numerous barriers, such as his own addiction and the lack of support from others, but still manages to persevere in his search for love. The line "your love is like a cyclone in a swamp, and the weather's getting warmer" suggests that the singer sees his lover's intensity as a force of nature, something that is at once beautiful and dangerous.
Overall, "See America Right" tells the story of a difficult journey to find love, one that is fraught with obstacles and challenges but ultimately worth the struggle. The lyrics evoke a sense of desperation and longing, as well as a determination to overcome hardship in the quest for happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving in from Tampa
I was on my way from Tampa in my car
When the radiator burst
Suddenly, the radiator in my car stopped working
I was three sheets to the wind
I was heavily intoxicated
A civilian saw me first
A regular person noticed me before anyone else
And then there was the cop
A police officer arrived at the scene
And then the children standing on the corner --
I also noticed some children standing nearby
Your love is like a cyclone in a swamp,
Your love is intense and turbulent, like a cyclone in a swamp
And the weather's getting warmer
The situation is becoming more intense and difficult to handle
I was getting out of jail
I had just been released from jail
Headed for the Greyhound
I was headed towards the Greyhound bus station
You said you'd hop on one yourself
You promised to take the same bus as me
And meet me on the way down
You said you would meet me on the way
I was shaking way too hard to think
I was too nervous and anxious to have any clear thoughts
Dead on my feet
I was extremely exhausted and fatigued
About to drop --
I was on the verge of collapsing or fainting
Went and got the case of vodka from the car
I retrieved a case of vodka from my car
And walked the two miles to the bus stop
I walked two miles to the bus stop with the vodka
Got on the bus half drunk again
I boarded the bus while still being intoxicated
The driver glared at me
The driver gave me a disapproving look
Met up with you in Ingles
We reunited at Ingles
Thumbed a ride to Cedar Key
We hitchhiked to Cedar Key
If we never make it back to California
If we don't return to California
I want you to know I love you --
I want you to know how much I love you
But my love is like a dark cloud full of rain
My love can be overwhelming and may bring sadness or pain
Always right there up above you.
My love is always there for you, hovering like a dark cloud
Contributed by Ethan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.