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 Were Patriots
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A warm wind
Dvorak on the short wave
Clear signal coming in
La la la
La la la la la la la
La la la
Long vowels spill like liquid from your mouth
I hang on every word you say
An army of transistor radios on the bookshelf
Left on all day
Let them play
Yeah, let them all play on and on and on
Let them all play longer and louder
And long after you're gone
La la la
La la la la la la la
La la la
La la la la la la la
Clear sky sheltering our fragile little house
Listening to the radio all the time
Your hand on my forehead as though to check for a fever
Yeah, big plans in mind
La la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la
La la la la la la la
The opening lines of The Mountain Goat's song We Were Patriots set a peaceful and nostalgic scene. The clear sky over Calcutta and the warm wind creates a sense of calm and tranquillity. The mention of Dvorak on the shortwave refers to Antonín Dvořák, a Czech composer who was known for blending traditional European music with American folk music. This suggests that the music being played on the radio is a form of cultural exchange, and potentially represents a connection between the singer and their past.
The next lines describe the potency of language, with "long vowels spilling like liquid from your mouth". This phrase captures the idea of being completely enraptured by someone's speech. The phrase "an army of transistor radios on the bookshelf" creates a visual image of an abundance of radios, all tuned to the same station, conveying a sense of overwhelming unity.
The chorus, with its repetitive "la la la" melody, emphasizes the idea that even though the singer is experiencing these feelings, everything is fleeting, and will eventually disappear. The final stanza, with "big plans in mind" and the hand on the singer's forehead, suggests that this moment is particularly important, maybe even special.
Overall, "We Were Patriots" evokes an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, particularly for the singer's connection to their past, and their cultural identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Clear sky over Calcutta
The sky is clear and blue over the city of Calcutta, India.
A warm wind
There is a pleasant, warm breeze blowing in the air.
Dvorak on the short wave
A piece of music by composer Antonín Dvořák is playing on a type of radio frequency called short wave.
Clear signal coming in
The radio signal is strong and free of interference.
Long vowels spill like liquid from your mouth
The person is speaking with a smooth, melodic flow, emphasizing each long vowel sound.
I hang on every word you say
The singer is paying close attention to and cherishing every word the other person says.
An army of transistor radios on the bookshelf
There are a large number of small portable radios lined up on a shelf.
Left on all day
The radios are constantly on, playing music and other content throughout the day.
Let them play
The artist is expressing a desire to let the radios continue playing, without interruption or interference.
Yeah, let them all play on and on and on
The artist is specifically emphasizing the idea of allowing the radios to continue playing without stopping.
Let them all play longer and louder
The singer wants the radios to be played at maximum volume, for as long as possible.
And long after you're gone
The artist wants the radios to continue playing even after the other person has left or passed away.
Clear sky sheltering our fragile little house
The clear sky is providing a protective covering over the singer's small, vulnerable home.
Listening to the radio all the time
Both the singer and the other person are constantly listening to the radio, and it is a central part of their daily routine.
Your hand on my forehead as though to check for a fever
The other person is placing their hand on the singer's forehead, possibly to check for illness or show affection.
Yeah, big plans in mind
Both the artist and the other person have big dreams and aspirations for the future.
Contributed by Samantha H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.