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.
Spilling Toward Alpha
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear you sharpening your claws.
I hear you polishing your teeth, sometimes.
but I don't mind.
and I hear you out in the garage.
I hear you messing with the motor.
I hear you tinker with the engine, sometimes.
and I hear you moving in the kitchen!
I hear you in there late at night.
I notice when you leave the gas jets on sometimes.
but I don't mind.
The song "Spilling Toward Alpha" by The Mountain Goats is a mesmerizing and intriguing piece that explores the idea of cohabiting with an unknown entity. The lyrics are imbued with vivid and descriptive metaphors, suggesting a deep sense of intimacy and familiarity with the said entity. The lyrics could be interpreted as an allegory for living with one's fears or inner demons, with the entity representing those fears.
The first verse "I hear you moving in the hallway. I hear you sharpening your claws. I hear you polishing your teeth, sometimes. but I don't mind." could be interpreted as the singer's subconscious fears manifesting in their daily life. The claws and sharpening teeth metaphorically represent fears of being attacked, while the polishing teeth could represent the fear of losing one's voice or identity. Despite acknowledging the presence of these fears, the singer doesn't seem to be phased by them, suggesting that they have come to terms with their inner conflicts.
In the second and third verse, the lyrics move towards exploring the more practical aspects of living with the unknown entity. The garage metaphor could be seen as a metaphor for the subconscious mind, with the motor and engine representing the unconscious workings of the mind. The final verse suggests a sort of comfort in living with one's fears, with the singer noticing but not being affected by the entity's actions, suggesting a sense of detachment.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear you moving in the hallway.
I am aware of your presence as you move through the hallway.
I hear you sharpening your claws.
I can hear the sound of you sharpening your claws, indicating that you may be a danger or threat.
I hear you polishing your teeth, sometimes.
I can hear the sound of you gnashing your teeth, suggesting that you are frustrated or tense.
but I don't mind.
Despite these potentially dangerous or unsettling behaviors, I am unbothered and unafraid.
and I hear you out in the garage.
I am aware of your presence in the garage.
I hear you messing with the motor.
I can hear the sound of you working on the motor, potentially indicating that you are making repairs or modifications.
I hear you tinker with the engine, sometimes.
I am sometimes aware of you working on the engine, perhaps indicating that you are constantly striving to improve or perfect it.
but I don't mind.
Despite these potentially disruptive noises, I am still unbothered and unafraid.
and I hear you moving in the kitchen!
I can hear the sound of you moving through the kitchen, perhaps indicating that you are preparing food or engaging in other domestic activities.
I hear you in there late at night.
I am aware of your presence in the kitchen even during late hours, perhaps indicating that you are a nocturnal creature.
I notice when you leave the gas jets on sometimes.
I am cognizant of when you accidentally leave the gas jets on, suggesting that you may be forgetful or absentminded.
but I don't mind.
Despite the potential danger of gas leaks, I am still unbothered and unafraid.
Contributed by Liam T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
arctictis
I hear you moving in the hallway
I hear you sharpening your claws
I hear you polishing your teeth sometimes
But I don't mind
And I hear you out in the garage
I hear you messing with the motor
I hear you tinker with the engine sometimes
But I don't mind
And I hear you moving in the kitchen
I hear you in there late at night
I notice when you leave the gas jets on sometimes
But I don't mind