Transcendental Youth
The Mountain Goats Lyrics

Cold through broken baseboards.
The cold seeps in through the broken baseboards of the house, making it uncomfortable and unwelcoming.

I despise this town.
The singer strongly dislikes their current surroundings and feels a sense of dissatisfaction with where they are.

Snow on the sunroof, Two stories down.
The snow has accumulated on the sunroof of the house, which is two stories below the singer's current location.

Hold hands, Wish the snow away.
The artist and someone else hold hands as they hope for the snow to disappear and for better times to come.

Rise in the darkness, Of the gathering day.
They rise early in the dark, at the start of a new day filled with possibility.

Sing. Sing for ourselves alone.
The singer urges themselves to sing and create music just for themselves, as a form of self-expression.

Speak into, The microphone.
They direct their voice into a microphone, possibly to record their music or to perform for others.

Cedar smudge our headbands, And take to the skies.
The artist and those around them use cedar smudge to cleanse and purify themselves before embarking on a journey into the unknown.

Soar ever-upwards, On air gone black with flies.
They ascend higher and higher, despite the challenges and obstacles encountered along the way.

Shroud ourselves in the cosmos. Let the music play.
They envelop themselves in the vastness of the universe, finding solace and wonder in the mysteries of existence, all while creating music and art.

Bright star of the morning, Shine on his rising way.
The singer asks for guidance and light from a star, as they embark on a new journey or chapter in their life.

Sing. In the night. In the nameless dark.
They continue to sing and make music, even when it feels like they are alone and in the darkness.

Father long gone, But we bear his mark.
The singer acknowledges the imprint that their father has left on their life, even though he is no longer around, for better or for worse.

Learn some secrets, Never tell. Stay sick, Don't get well.
The singer suggests that sometimes it is better to keep certain things hidden and to maintain a sense of illness and mystery, rather than exposing everything and striving for complete understanding.

Clutch those broken headboards. Ride the highest wave.
They hold onto what little they have left, even if it's broken or incomplete, and continue to aim for greatness despite the challenges.

Dusky diamonds shining in the far depths of the cave.
The artist finds beauty and wonder in unlikely places or circumstances, likening it to diamonds sparkling in a dark and remote cave.

Try to explain ourselves. Babble on and on.
Despite their best efforts, the artist finds it difficult to express themselves in a concise or satisfying manner.

By the time you receive this, we'll be gone.
The singer hints at their own impermanence and the fleeting nature of their existence, whether literal or metaphorical.

Sing. Sing high. While the fire climbs. Sing one for the old times.
The singer reiterates the importance of singing and creating music, even when the going gets tough, and encourages themselves to remember the good times of the past as a source of inspiration.