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.
Seed Song
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So when the man with the sunflower seeds in his hand came here
We sent him away, we sent him away
The rain didn't come for twelve months more
So when the man with the seed catalogs darkened our door
We sent him away (4x)
And i know you're waiting for the punchline
And i know you're waiting for the rain to come by
So am i (4x)
In "Seed Song" by The Mountain Goats, the lyrics describe a community's struggle with drought and their refusal to accept help from outsiders. The song opens with a reference to a year without rain, setting the stage for a desperate situation. When the man with sunflower seeds arrives, he represents a potential solution to the community's agricultural problems. However, despite his offer of help, the community sends him away. The same thing happens when a man with seed catalogs arrives a year later – he too is sent away.
Despite the community's desperate circumstances, they reject offers of help because they are suspicious of outsiders or because they believe that they can handle the situation on their own. The repetition of the phrase "we sent him away" emphasizes the community's stubbornness and their refusal to accept help when they need it most. The final lines of the song acknowledge the irony of the situation – the community is waiting for the rain to come, but they have not taken advantage of opportunities to improve their situation.
Overall, "Seed Song" is a poignant commentary on the human tendency to reject help even when it is desperately needed. The song's somber tone and minimalist instrumentation reflect the community's dire circumstances and their struggle to survive in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The rain didn't come for one calendar year
Precipitation was absent for a complete year
So when the man with the sunflower seeds in his hand came here
When a person came with sunflower seeds during that period
We sent him away, we sent him away
We didn't entertain him and forced him to leave
The rain didn't come for twelve months more
It prolonged for an additional year
So when the man with the seed catalogs darkened our door
When a person arrived with seed catalogs to our doorstep later
We sent him away (4x)
We didn't welcome him in any way repeatedly
And i know you're waiting for the ironic ending
I recognize that you await an unanticipated finale
And i know you're waiting for the punchline
I know you anticipate a humorous twist in the story
And i know you're waiting for the rain to come by
I'm aware that you and I both are waiting for rainfall
So am i (4x)
I, too, am waiting for it repeatedly
Contributed by Jacob C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bluemonday09
I spent two years off the family farm working grounds maintenance at a university. I sang this song in the second summer. I came home one day to our wheat field on fire from a stray firework. I just wished for rain.
xXSoulxSlayerXx
Ah, just what I needed to hear. Beautiful sounds. c:
suredoloveya
there used to be a comment on this song that just said "first one where I got it " and I miss seeing it
bakerbrown6
@candlehoper I totally agree!! I love atom and his versions of this, going to georgia and alpha desperation march!
NoiseOverMusic
My ex sent me this after we broke up. I'm still waiting for the ironic punchline.
teefmouf
@NoiseOverMusic still waiting?
NoiseOverMusic
I'm still waiting. If anybody is reading this, please don't send this song to your partner after a break up. This song still hurts more than any other song I've ever listened to.
Jess
corona vibes
makeithurtful
atom version is way better to me.