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.
Twin Human Highway Flares
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As we drove across the river into western Illinois
And on the railroad bridge, half a mile of solid steel
Wheels were spitting out sparks, scraping at the rails
Wind in your hair, alright
Sunset spilling through the rear window
Your white t-shirt hugging your shoulders
On the day that I become so forgetful
That all of this melts away
I will burn all the calendars that counted the years down
To such a worthless day
As we walked across the parking lot towards the motel office
We were walking with a benediction on us
Light was everywhere, the building stood against the sky
Like a monument to desperation, two floors high
A mile and a half from the river
We went back to the car to get our overnight bags
Sunset spilling through your earrings
All over your body
When we shut the motel room door behind us
We knew we'd hit the motherlode
On the day that I forget you
I hope my heart explodes
The Mountain Goats's song Twin Human Highway Flares tells a story of a road trip with a lover that ends in a motel room. The trip begins with the lover asking if the singer will always be their boy. As they drive over a railroad bridge, the wheels are spitting out sparks and scraping at the rails. The scene is vividly described with the wind in the lover's hair, the sunset spilling through the rear window, and the lover's white t-shirt hugging their shoulders and beaded with sweat. It creates a sense of excitement and anticipation for the trip ahead.
As they walk towards the motel office, they are blessed with light and the building stands tall against the sky like a monument to desperation. When they enter the motel room, they know they have hit the "motherlode." However, the song takes a darker turn with the lyrics "On the day that I become so forgetful that all of this melts away, I will burn all the calendars that counted the years down to such a worthless day. When we shut the motel room door behind us, we knew we'd hit the motherlode. On the day that I forget you, I hope my heart explodes." The singer hopes to forget the lover because their memories are "worthless" and would rather have their heart explode than forget the experience of the trip.
Overall, the song evokes a sense of adventure, love, and desire but also highlights the fear of forgetting these experiences and losing the memories that make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
You turned to me and asked me if I'd always be your boy
You asked me if my love for you would never falter or fade
As we drove across the river into western Illinois
We were journeying across the great divide towards our destination
And on the railroad bridge, half a mile of solid steel
We crossed a path of metal that stretched up high above the water
Wheels were spitting out sparks, scraping at the rails
The grinding and friction of the wheels created fiery flashes and ear-splitting noises
Wind in your hair, alright
The breeze tousling your hair was pleasant and refreshing
Sunset spilling through the rear window
The warm light from the setting sun illuminated the back of the car
Your white t-shirt hugging your shoulders
Your top was tight around your upper body, outlining your shape
Beaded with sweat
Your skin was damp with perspiration
On the day that I become so forgetful
In the distant future, if my memory fades away
That all of this melts away
If all of our shared experiences and moments evaporate
I will burn all the calendars that counted the years down
I will destroy all the records that reminded me of the passage of time
To such a worthless day
As all those days, without you, will mean nothing
As we walked across the parking lot towards the motel office
We were moving towards the office of the motel, hand in hand
We were walking with a benediction on us
We felt blessed or protected by a higher power while walking
Light was everywhere, the building stood against the sky
The sun was shining brightly, the building formed a silhouette against the sky
Like a monument to desperation, two floors high
The motel was a symbol of the struggles of people trying to survive, despite limited resources
A mile and a half from the river
We put 1.5 miles between us and the water
We went back to the car to get our overnight bags
We returned to the vehicle to retrieve our luggage, so we could settle in for the night
Sunset spilling through your earrings
The light shone through your earrings, adding shine to your face
All over your body
The light touched every part of you, making you glow
When we shut the motel room door behind us
After we closed the door to our room in the motel
We knew we'd hit the motherlode
We realized we had struck gold, or found something of great value
On the day that I forget you
If one day I lose my memory of you
I hope my heart explodes
I'd rather die than forget you
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.