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.
The Day the Aliens Came
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i'm really excited aboo, about, and uh and so since i wrote
it on my old cort guitar instead of the new one i, i want to
play on that just for purposes of 'cause i've been writing
it and so forth so that's why it sounds a little beat up and
flat and everything, 'cause these strings are old and everything,
so sorry about that, uh, it's i-, it's in A. i think i'm tuned to an A.
it should be called hawaiian feeling, but it probably can't be
I will wake up at six a.m. again.
and I will find my way to the front door
like a soldier crawling through the smoking carnage.
smoldering bodies at my feet,
I'd love to stick around, but I've got someone to meet.
and I will put my best foot forward.
and I'll thank god I made it out of there
on the day when my new friends come.
I will present myself in my nice white tuxedo jacket.
and I will look out at the day through my dark sunglasses,
and take in the scene.
the house behind me and the people in it
will all go up like steam in just a minute.
there's gonna be a redefining of some borders,
and I will receive my orders
on the day when my new friends come.
the rooftops and the sidewalks
will all melt like pastic.
and oh friends, old friends, dear friends,
I'm gonna look fantastic.
there won't be any reason left to cry
'cause there won't be any people left to cry for.
my memory's gonna vaporize itself.
and my italian shoes, well, they will be to die for.
I believe I can fly.
might you look up at me and wave goodbye
on the day when my new friends come?
In The Mountain Goats' song The Day the Aliens Came, the singer speaks of the impending arrival of extraterrestrial beings. The song begins with an introduction from the artist indicating that the song is new and that it has been written on an old guitar. The lyrics begin with the singer describing waking up at six in the morning and finding his way through the ruined landscape of destruction. Despite this, the singer maintains a positive attitude and continues on towards his destination.
The second verse sees the singer arriving at a location in a white tuxedo jacket and dark sunglasses. The people and the house around him all go up like steam. The singer seems indifferent to the destruction happening around him and talks about receiving orders. In the final verse, the singer describes the rooftops and sidewalks melting like plastic, and expresses how fantastic he will look in the Italian shoes. He also speaks of his memory vaporizing itself and the lack of reason to cry since there won't be any people left to cry for. The song ends with the singer asking if others might look up at him and wave goodbye when his new friends come.
Line by Line Meaning
hey, mr. hughes and mr. vanderslice, uh this is a new song
The singer introduces a new song to the audience and greets the producers of the show.
i'm really excited aboo, about, and uh and so since i wrote it on my old cort guitar instead of the new one i, i want to play on that just for purposes of 'cause i've been writing it and so forth so that's why it sounds a little beat up and flat and everything, 'cause these strings are old and everything, so sorry about that, uh, it's i-, it's in A. i think i'm tuned to an A.
The singer apologizes for the quality of the performance, explaining that he's playing on old equipment. He goes on to give technical details about the song for the audience's benefit.
it should be called hawaiian feeling, but it probably can't be called that. um, ok, right. alright.
The singer briefly muses about the title of the song but dismisses the idea because it's not appropriate. He then moves on to the performance.
I will wake up at six a.m. again. and I will find my way to the front door like a soldier crawling through the smoking carnage. smoldering bodies at my feet, I'd love to stick around, but I've got someone to meet. and I will put my best foot forward. and I'll thank god I made it out of there on the day when my new friends come.
The singer describes a vivid scene of destruction and chaos but maintains that he has somewhere to be. He remarks that he's grateful to have survived and will be ready to meet whoever is coming.
I will present myself in my nice white tuxedo jacket. and I will look out at the day through my dark sunglasses, and take in the scene. the house behind me and the people in it will all go up like steam in just a minute. there's gonna be a redefining of some borders, and I will receive my orders on the day when my new friends come.
The singer envisions a dramatic entrance in which he presents himself in his best attire to witness a scene of destruction. He suggests that the arrival of his new friends will signify a change in the world order.
the rooftops and the sidewalks will all melt like pastic. and oh friends, old friends, dear friends, I'm gonna look fantastic.
The singer predicts that the world will literally fall apart and that he will look stylish in the process.
there won't be any reason left to cry 'cause there won't be any people left to cry for. my memory's gonna vaporize itself. and my italian shoes, well, they will be to die for. I believe I can fly. might you look up at me and wave goodbye on the day when my new friends come?
The singer foresees a world without suffering but also with no memories or people left. He maintains that he will remain stylish, even in death, and makes a playful reference to a popular song as a final sign-off.
Contributed by Zoe D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.