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 Lonely Giants
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
high in the trees alone for years,
practicing my solitary scales 'til they rose like balloons
watching them go where they will go.
face in the leaves, song in my throat.
fall through the air, hoping to float.
practicing my solitary scales 'til they grow heavy,
watching them go where they will go.
The song "Song for Lonely Giants" by The Mountain Goats is a beautiful piece that delves into the concept of isolation and loneliness. The song is narrated by a giant who has spent years high up in the trees, cut off from civilization. As he sings, his scales rise like balloons, taking him to new heights, soaring through the sky in a solitary dance. He watches as they go where they will go, free to roam without any constraints, while he remains alone in his solitude, with no one to wash behind his ears.
The giant's isolation is further emphasized by his desire to float and fall through the air, hoping to find a release from the heaviness of his existence. His song, too, grows heavy with the weight of his solitude, yet he continues to practice his scales, as an act of self-expression and defiance, refusing to let his isolation defeat him. It is a beautiful piece of introspection and self-discovery, with powerful imagery that captures the true essence of what it means to be alone and isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
no one washed behind my ears.
I have been alone for so long that there is no one left to do the simple things for me, like washing behind my ears.
high in the trees alone for years,
I have been living alone in the trees for many years, cut off from society and any companionship.
practicing my solitary scales 'til they rose like balloons
I have been honing my skills and talents, perfecting them to the point where they have grown and expanded beyond my own control.
watching them go where they will go.
After all my hard work, I must now let go and allow my skills to take on a life of their own, taking me to unknown places.
face in the leaves, song in my throat.
I am one with nature and the world around me, lost in my own song and the beauty of nature.
fall through the air, hoping to float.
I am taking a risk and jumping into the unknown, hoping that my talents will keep me afloat and carry me to a better place.
practicing my solitary scales 'til they grow heavy,
I have been working so hard on my own that my skills have become a burden, weighing me down emotionally and physically.
too heavy to carry.
My talents have become too much for me to handle on my own, and I need someone else to help me bear the weight.
watching them go where they will go.
Once again, I must let go and allow my skills to take me where they will, trusting that they will lead me to a better place.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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