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.
Shadow Song
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you get there before me, would you save me a seat?
And if I never get there at all
Would you leave the seat empty?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
And if I never show, will you watch the embers glow?
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
The first two stanzas of The Mountain Goats song "Shadow Song" paints a picture of a person who wants to be with their loved one in a particular place. He asks if the person would save him a seat and light a fire for him if he is late. The stanza finishes with asking if the seat will be empty if he never arrives, and if the fire will keep burning if he doesn't show up. The second stanza repeats the same question, but this time, the person is asking if the other person will keep the fire going and watch the embers glow if he never arrives. The song then progresses into the main refrain or chorus. The singer dedicates the song to the person and notes that it is for them in case he never makes it through to where they are, romanticizing the possibility of them reuniting someday.
The song's theme is about the fear of never seeing a loved one again and the desire to be with them. The person is admitting that he may never arrive at their meeting spot. Still, he hopes that the other person will keep the hopes of them seeing each other again alive by saving him a seat and lighting a fire. It's a song about that one person you want to see or be with but can't for some reason. It's a plaintive, yearning song that captures the hope against hope of being reunited with someone that you love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you get there before me, will you save me a seat?
If you arrive there ahead of me, would you please reserve a spot for me?
If you get there before me, would you save me a seat?
In case you reach there before me, can you keep a chair for me?
And if I never get there at all
Would you leave the seat empty?
Suppose I never reach there, would you let the seat remain vacant?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
If you get there before I do, could you start a fire for us?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
If you reach that place before me, would you please kindle a flame for both of us?
And if I never show, will you watch the embers glow?
Would you keep the fire burning?
What if I never make it there, will you be there tending to the radiant embers?
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
This is a melody for you in case I would never be able to meet you where you are.
Contributed by Lily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
arctictis
If you get there before me, will you save me a seat?
If you get there before me, would you save me a seat?
But if I never get there at all
Would you leave the seat empty?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
And if I never show
Will you watch the embers glow?
You can keep the fire burning
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
arctictis
If you get there before me, will you save me a seat?
If you get there before me, would you save me a seat?
But if I never get there at all
Would you leave the seat empty?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
If you get there before me, will you light us a fire?
And if I never show
Will you watch the embers glow?
You can keep the fire burning
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
This is a song for you
In case I never make it through to where you are
BlankwaveMessiah
this is the best version of it.... man.... its so god damn good.
cole udall
This song reminds me so much of No Country For Old Men, when Ed Tom Bell is telling his wife about his dream of his father, and how he was going on ahead to light them a fire.
Zillah Glory
gorgeous... i like this version best.
Tyce Yoder
I'm grateful that out of the few live concerts I got to experience, I was at one where he played this song.
Aina Lau
Hi! This song is very beautiful and I suppose it's from a radio show, do you have a link to where I can download this version of the song? Thanks in advance, Manne
Josh K
Never heard this version. Nice.
Ben
You had better make it through.
Swag Batman
This version is from the 2003 John Peel Sessions
Janet Summers
if i heard this live i would be crying. so simple and so, so good.