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 Dana Plato
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As though the insides of your head were a big screen.
And coming in on a evening wind.
It's the unmistakable scent of brilliantine.
What kind of memory serves, what kind of world is it,
That comes headlong at you, then swerves at the last possible second?
It's this one. it's this one.
And it's easy to slow down.
And it's easy to just lie out by the blue pools
In the squinting sun and slow down.
And it's easy to slow down.
And in situations like these, it's sometimes useful to
Think of life as one long continuous evening
That never turns into night.
Hey hey!
The Mountain Goats’ song “Song for Dana Plato” is a melancholic piece that reflects on memories from the past. The opening line, “The 3 month ride sticks in your mind,” sets the tone for the song that is filled with nostalgia. The first stanza is about the vivid memories that stick to the mind like a big screen. The memory is so strong that it feels like it’s happening in real-time, and even the smell is so vivid that it triggers a strong sensation. The song goes on to muse about what kind of memory this is and what kind of world we live in, where memories come back to you at the last possible moment.
The second stanza changes tone a bit and speaks about slowing down in life. The song suggests that it’s easy to just lie out by the pool in the squinting sun and slow down. It’s a call to take a break from the fast-paced world and just relax in the moment. The last few lines of the song suggest that life is just one long continuous evening that never turns into night.
Overall, “Song for Dana Plato” is a reflection on memory, life, and the need to slow down and enjoy the moments. It’s a beautiful song with a haunting melody that stays with the listener for a long time.
Line by Line Meaning
The 3 month ride sticks in your mind
The memory of a journey lasting three months is deeply ingrained in your thoughts.
As though the insides of your head were a big screen.
It is as if your mind is projecting a movie onto a large imaginary screen.
And coming in on a evening wind.
The memory is suddenly brought back by a breeze blowing in on a quiet evening.
It's the unmistakable scent of brilliantine.
The smell that triggers the memory is that of a specific hair product.
What kind of memory serves, what kind of world is it,
Why does this memory hold such significance? What does it reveal about the world?
That comes headlong at you, then swerves at the last possible second?
Why does this memory seem to approach you rapidly, only to suddenly change direction?
It's this one. it's this one.
The memory is significant because it pertains to the current world and situation.
And it's easy to slow down.
It is simple and peaceful to take a break and relax.
And it's easy to just lie out by the blue pools
It is easy to stretch out and relax beside a serene pool of blue water.
In the squinting sun and slow down.
The warm sun invites you to relax and take a break from the fast pace of life.
And in situations like these, it's sometimes useful to
When feeling overwhelmed or stressed, it can be helpful to take a moment to slow down and breathe.
Think of life as one long continuous evening
Sometimes it is helpful to view life as a continuous period of relaxation and rest.
That never turns into night.
Life should be viewed optimistically as a never-ending period of peace and tranquility.
Hey hey!
A joyous exclamation, perhaps indicating a sense of relief or contentment.
Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.