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.
Song For An Old Friend
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was cold, clear water in a tall, clean glass
The sunlight hit the sides and it came through the water tilted
I saw the condensation on your hand
I could feel the glaciers melting
And a warm, soft wind
Covered up everything
You had oranges and lemons in a canvas bag beside you
And seven different kinds of light welling up inside of you
You smeared citrus pulp all over me, it felt okay
Good old east rutherford three thousand miles away
I felt the warm surge blast my mind
Coming in from behind
On the day your love came screaming through me
In the fresh light of day
I felt something falling away
On the day your love came screaming through me
The lyrics of the song Song For An Old Friend by The Mountain Goats describe a memory of a special moment shared between the singer and an old friend. The scene is set in nature, with a garter snake passing through some yellow-headed sourgrass and the singer observing the sunlight hitting the water in a glass. The imagery is vivid and sensory, with the condensation on the hand providing a tactile sensation, and the mention of glaciers melting indicating a sense of time passing and change.
The second stanza introduces the friend, who has oranges and lemons in a canvas bag, and "seven different kinds of light welling up inside of you". This line is poetic and mysterious, but seems to suggest that the friend is radiating positivity and energy. The citrus pulp being smeared all over the singer is another tactile detail that brings the memory to life.
The chorus is where the emotions of the experience are most evident, with the singer describing feeling a warm surge and having something fall away on the day their love came screaming through them. The love referred to could be romantic or platonic, but it is clear that it was intense and transformative. The song overall has a dreamy, nostalgic quality, and the specific details and vivid language used make it feel like a real memory.
Line by Line Meaning
The garter snake passed lazily through the tall yellow-headed sourgrass
Nature is serene and peaceful as the garter snake lazily moves through the tall yellow-headed sourgrass.
There was cold, clear water in a tall, clean glass
The singer's surroundings are tranquil and pure with a glass of cold, clear water.
The sunlight hit the sides and it came through the water tilted
The way the light shines through the water in the glass is beautiful and captivating.
I saw the condensation on your hand
The artist is observing a detail about a person's physical appearance and is interested in them.
I could feel the glaciers melting
The artist is so warmed by the person they're observing that it's as if glaciers are melting within them.
And a warm, soft wind
The weather is warm and inviting, creating a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere.
Covered up everything
The warmth and comfort of the wind dominates the environment, overwhelming other stimuli.
On the day your love came screaming through me
The artist is experiencing a powerful, overwhelming feeling of love that takes over them completely.
You had oranges and lemons in a canvas bag beside you
The person being observed is carrying around a bag filled with fresh, fruity citrus.
And seven different kinds of light welling up inside of you
The person's internal emotional state is extremely complex and multifaceted.
You smeared citrus pulp all over me, it felt okay
The person's touch, even when covering the singer in citrus pulp, is gentle and acceptable.
Good old east rutherford three thousand miles away
This line is likely a reference to a specific place or person significant to the artist.
I felt the warm surge blast my mind
The singer is being overwhelmed by intense feelings of passion and love.
Coming in from behind
This intensity was unexpected and sudden, hitting the singer from behind.
In the fresh light of day
The singer is now seeing and experiencing things from a different, more optimistic perspective.
I felt something falling away
Some negative or harmful aspect of the artist's life is being left behind, as they are being filled with love and positivity.
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.