US Mill
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


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Way up north
Down the road a little
Back in New England
Right here in the middle

And all the way out west
We had our ears to the ground
All of our dreams resting in the same spot
Listening for the old sound

It was ringing as clear as crystal
It was shining as bright as gold
Grain gathering on stone floor
And we were spring-heeled and we were real cold

All summer long
Deep into autumn
In a high room
And down here in the bottom





Down here in the bottom

Overall Meaning

The song "US Mill" by The Mountain Goats tells a story of the mill workers in America in the early 20th century. The lyrics suggest that these workers were scattered all over the country, from New England to the west. They are united in their work and dreams of a better life, which they all hope to achieve through their labor in the mill. The song describes the hard work and dedication of these workers, who are willing to endure the cold and long hours to make ends meet.


The lyrics of "US Mill" are also poignant in their descriptions of the workers' struggles. The line "Grain gathering on stone floor" suggests the back-breaking labor of those who gather the raw materials. The line "We were spring-heeled and we were real cold" implies that these workers were young and strong, but also cold and perhaps struggling to make ends meet. The final line, "Down here in the bottom," reinforces the idea that these workers were at the bottom of the economic ladder, but also resilient and determined to make a better life for themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

Way up north
Referring to a specific location up north


Down the road a little
The location is not far from here


Back in New England
Referring to a location in New England


Right here in the middle
The location is in the center of everything


And all the way out west
Referring to a location out west


We had our ears to the ground
We were very attentive and listening carefully


All of our dreams resting in the same spot
All of our hopes and aspirations were focused on one thing


Listening for the old sound
We were searching for something nostalgic or traditional


It was ringing as clear as crystal
We finally found what we were looking for and it was unmistakable


It was shining as bright as gold
The thing we found was valuable and precious to us


Grain gathering on stone floor
Painting a picture of a specific scene or environment


And we were spring-heeled and we were real cold
We were full of energy but also felt exposed and vulnerable


All summer long
Referring to a specific time period during the year


Deep into autumn
Referring to a specific time period during the year


In a high room
Describing a specific location within a larger building or space


And down here in the bottom
Describing a specific location within a larger building or space, but on a lower level




Contributed by Camden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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