The Mountain Goats are an American band formed in Claremont, California, by… Read Full Bio ↴The Mountain Goats are an American band formed in Claremont, California, by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. The band is currently based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle, despite the plural moniker. The Mountain Goats are, for all practical purposes, the endlessly clever and prolific John Darnielle and whatever musicians he surrounds himself with, which means that while the soundscape may change from project to project, the overall tone and feel of Darnielle's work remains remarkably consistent. At his best, he writes finely observed, slightly surreal, impressionistic vignettes that manage to mix life as we live it with life as we wish we could live it, and as such he has more in common with a novelist than he does with the typical singer/songwriter, which is fitting, as he's also a published author. Darnielle's early Mountain Goats releases were lo-fi, cassette-recorded efforts cut with a rotating lineup of musicians, such as 1995's Nine Black Poppies and 2000's The Coroner's Gambit. By 2005's The Sunset Tree, his recordings had become cleaner and less cluttered, but his characters studies were just as vivid, and as the Mountain Goats finally cohered into a stable lineup (with Darnielle joined by Peter Hughes, Matt Douglas, and Jon Wurster), they recorded tuneful, thematically unified albums such as Beat the Champ (2015) and Goths (2017) that ranked with their finest work.
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.

We Do It Different on the West Coast
The Mountain Goats Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I gotta see with my own eyes about Chicago

We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast

I heard they had a problem with some skinheads
At a show in a machine shop in Pomona
I feel like half my friends have moved to San Francisco
I think I'm gonna bleach my hair this weekend
And Dave went to New York, I don't care
You can't shut people up once they get back from their Christmas out there

Skim though such magazines as I can get my hands on
Glue circuit boards to plywood on the weekend
Trellis modulation for the children
There's a whole new world just up around the corner

We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast

We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast

We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast

Overall Meaning

The Mountain Goats' song "We Do It Different on the West Coast" is a reflection on the differences and unique characteristics of the West Coast, particularly in contrast to other parts of the country and the world. The opening lines highlight how news of the West Coast makes its way to other parts of the world, including England and Berlin, signaling the region's global influence. However, the song then turns to the perceptions and experiences of the singer, who has heard negative reports about Long Island but positive things about Chicago from friends. This leads the singer to question, "I gotta see with my own eyes about Chicago," suggesting a desire to experience things firsthand, rather than relying on second-hand accounts.

The second verse offers more personal reflections and anecdotes, such as the singer hearing about skinheads at a show in Pomona and many of their friends moving to San Francisco. The line "I think I'm gonna bleach my hair this weekend" could be read as an expression of individuality or a willingness to experiment with personal style, which may be particularly valued on the West Coast. The final lines of the verse point to the singer's personal interests and pursuits, such as reading magazines and engaging in DIY electronics projects. The closing refrain emphasizes the idea of doing things differently or uniquely, specifically in the context of the West Coast.

Overall, "We Do It Different on the West Coast" portrays the region as a place where individuality and experimentation are valued, where people are curious and open-minded, and where a distinct culture has emerged.

Line by Line Meaning

The papers write about it back in England
People in England are writing about this thing or way of life.

It's practically a lifestyle back in Berlin
People in Berlin embrace this thing or way of life as a part of their culture.

There's probably some pockets in Ohio
There might be people who are into this thing or way of life in Ohio.

Almost always something happening in Ohio
There's always something going on in Ohio, including events related to this thing or way of life.

I heard some bad reports about Long Island
I heard negative things about Long Island related to this thing or way of life.

I don't trust what people say about Long Island
I am skeptical of rumors about Long Island related to this thing or way of life.

I heard some good things from some friends about Chicago
My friends have had positive experiences related to this thing or way of life in Chicago.

I gotta see with my own eyes about Chicago
I need to experience this thing or way of life in Chicago firsthand.

We do it different on the west coast
People on the west coast have their own unique way of doing things.

I heard they had a problem with some skinheads
There was a negative incident related to this thing or way of life involving skinheads in Pomona.

At a show in a machine shop in Pomona
This incident happened at a show in a machine shop in Pomona.

I feel like half my friends have moved to San Francisco
Many of my friends have relocated to San Francisco, which has its own unique culture and vibe.

I think I'm gonna bleach my hair this weekend
I am considering changing my appearance to fit in better with the culture of the west coast.

And Dave went to New York, I don't care
Dave visited New York, but I am not interested in that culture or way of life.

You can't shut people up once they get back from their Christmas out there
People who have experienced the culture and way of life on the west coast will have a lot to say about it and won't be silenced.

Skim though such magazines as I can get my hands on
I read whatever magazines I can find related to this thing or way of life.

Glue circuit boards to plywood on the weekend
I engage in DIY projects related to this thing or way of life on the weekends.

Trellis modulation for the children
I am interested in introducing children to this thing or way of life through trellis modulation.

There's a whole new world just up around the corner
There is an exciting and vibrant culture and community related to this thing or way of life just waiting to be discovered.

Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Written by: John Darnielle

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Wolf Cub

5y↑5

The papers write about it back in England
It's practically a lifestyle back in Berlin
There's probably some pockets in Ohio
Almost always something happening in Ohio
I heard some bad reports about Long Island
I don't trust what people say about Long Island
I heard some good things from some friends about Chicago
I gotta see with my own eyes about Chicago
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
I heard they had a problem with some skinheads
At a show in a machine shop in Pomona
I feel like half my friends have moved to San Francisco
I think I'm gonna bleach my hair this weekend
And Dave went to New York, I don't care
You can't shut people up once they get back from their Christmas out there
Skim though such magazines as I can get my hands on
Glue circuit boards to plywood on the weekend
Trellis modulation for the children
There's a whole new world just up around the corner
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast
We do it different on the west coast

All comments from YouTube:

Spelled Right Samurai

5y↑5

I think my favorite part about this song is just that when I heard it live in Seattle, literally everyone was singing along. Its like they wrote us a theme song and everyone appreciates it.