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.
Teenage World
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and i'm here in my car and the rabbit's here with me
heading out highway one, respecting posted speed limits
and i tried to figure this one out but i can't find any meaning
and i'm sick and tired of trying to figure out your gestures
and i'm sick and tired of wondering what your presents mean
i'm gonna take this rabbit into malibu
dexadrine.
the wind comes through the open window and i button my shirt
and the rabbit's riding shotgun my teeth hurt
you sent me a package marked "live animals inside"
and the sun's coming up quickly above the rising tide
and i'm sick and tired of trying to figure out your gestures
and i'm sick and tired of wondering what your presents mean
i'm gonna take this rabbit into malibu
and he'll chew on sour grass while i wolf down dexadrine
dexadrine.
The song Teenage World by The Mountain Goats is a melancholic reflection on the difficult transition from adolescence to adulthood. The first stanza describes the singer of the song being given a rabbit by someone, possibly a friend or a lover, as a symbol of comfort and support. The singer takes the rabbit with them on a car ride down Highway One, an iconic road in California, but despite the scenic route and the company of the rabbit, the singer can't find any meaning in the gesture. The chorus of the song reveals the singer's frustration with the ambiguity of the other person's actions, and a need for clarity.
In the second stanza, the singer is still travelling with the rabbit, and a package arrives containing "live animals inside." The sun is rising above the ocean while the rabbit is sitting in the passenger seat. The singer is still searching for meaning in the gestures of the other person, but they're growing tired of it. The final lines of the song depict the singer heading to Malibu with the rabbit. The singer will eat dexadrine, a type of amphetamine, while the rabbit chews on sour grass. The singer's frustration with the other person's gestures may be rooted in the fact that they don't serve to provide clear guidance on how to navigate the journey into adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
you bought me a rabbit to keep me company
You gave me a rabbit as a gift to make me feel less alone.
and i'm here in my car and the rabbit's here with me
I am driving with the rabbit as my passenger in the car.
heading out highway one, respecting posted speed limits
I am driving on Highway One and following the speed limit signs.
and i tried to figure this one out but i can't find any meaning
I cannot understand the reason behind your gift of the rabbit.
and i'm sick and tired of trying to figure out your gestures
I am exhausted from trying to understand your actions and what they mean.
and i'm sick and tired of wondering what your presents mean
I am worn out from trying to decipher the meaning of the gifts you give me.
i'm gonna take this rabbit into malibu
I am planning on bringing the rabbit with me to Malibu.
and he'll chew on sour grass while i wolf down dexadrine dexadrine.
While I eat dexadrine, a type of stimulant, the rabbit will eat sour grass.
the wind comes through the open window and i button my shirt
The wind is blowing in through the window and I am buttoning my shirt to stay warm.
and the rabbit's riding shotgun my teeth hurt
The rabbit is sitting in the front passenger seat and my teeth hurt for an unknown reason.
you sent me a package marked 'live animals inside'
You mailed me a package with the warning that there are live animals inside.
and the sun's coming up quickly above the rising tide
The sun is rising quickly over the ocean's rising tide.
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.