Tianchi Lake
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Children by the water banks laughing long and loud
Changbai's high fine western peaks just beneath the clouds
Currents in the water churning in their course
Body of a sea-lion, head just like a horse

Preacher in the soft brown sand begins to speak his piece
High winds in the treetops low flying winter geese
No one taking pictures everybody still
And then the water sought its course again the way that waters will

No one at the lakeside now, moon up in the sky
Night birds in the dragon spruce, moaning long and high
Backstroking on the surface, moonlight on its face
Floats the Tianchi Monster, staring into space

Out around the temple now narcissus in bloom
Censers packed with sandalwood send smoke into the room




Children in the sand outside on their hands and knees
Sketching pictures all day long of stranger things than these

Overall Meaning

The song "Tianchi Lake" by The Mountain Goats tells the story of a visit to Tianchi Lake, which is located in Changbai Mountains in China. The first verse describes a group of children who are playing by the water banks and laughing loudly while admiring the stunning view of Changbai's high western peaks just beneath the clouds. The currents in the water are churning in their course, and the description of the creature in the water is interesting: "Body of a sea-lion, head just like a horse." This verse paints a picture of a serene place where even the fictional creatures are beautiful.


In the second verse, a preacher is standing in the soft brown sand and begins to speak, while high winds in the treetops are blowing and low-flying winter geese fly by. The scene is one of tranquility and calm, and no one is taking pictures or disrupting the peacefulness. The water, following its course, symbolizes the continuity of life and how things flow in their natural way.


The last verse describes a night scene where no one is at the lake anymore, but the moon rises high in the sky. The night birds in the dragon spruce are moaning long and high, and the Tianchi Monster floats on the surface, staring into space. The song ends with children outside the temple admiring the narcissus in bloom while also sketching pictures of stranger things than they had seen at the lake.


Overall, "Tianchi Lake" is a beautifully written song about nature, peace, and tranquility. The lyrics and imagery used to describe the lake are both detailed and vivid, providing a clear picture of the scenery and the feelings associated with it.


Line by Line Meaning

Children by the water banks laughing long and loud
Kids having a great time by the lake, giggling uncontrollably


Changbai's high fine western peaks just beneath the clouds
The grandiose mountains of Changbai, majestic and visible through fog


Currents in the water churning in their course
The flow of water moving rapidly in its path


Body of a sea-lion, head just like a horse
A creature in the lake with a body like that of a sea lion and a head resembling that of a horse


Preacher in the soft brown sand begins to speak his piece
A spiritual leader delivering a sermon on the sandy shore


High winds in the treetops low flying winter geese
Winter comes with strong winds blowing over the tree tops, while geese fly close to the ground


No one taking pictures everybody still
People do not have any urge to take pictures, and are completely still


And then the water sought its course again the way that waters will
The water flows freely the way it was meant to, taking its natural path


No one at the lakeside now, moon up in the sky
No one is present by the lake, with the moon clearly visible in the sky


Night birds in the dragon spruce, moaning long and high
Nocturnal birds flying around the dragon spruce tree, making long, high-pitched sounds


Backstroking on the surface, moonlight on its face
A creature swims on its back, with the moon shining on its face


Floats the Tianchi Monster, staring into space
The Tianchi Monster leisurely moves along the water, lost in thought


Out around the temple now narcissus in bloom
The temple surroundings are filled with the bloom of narcissus flowers


Censers packed with sandalwood send smoke into the room
Incense burners filled with sandalwood emit smoke into the air


Children in the sand outside on their hands and knees
Kids on the sand, playing on their hands and knees


Sketching pictures all day long of stranger things than these
The kids spend their whole day drawing images of things even more peculiar than what they have seen at Tianchi Lake




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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