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.
Weekend In Western Illinois
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the dandelions spread themselves thickly out
Along the fields, which are, evidently, endless
And we are hotly in love with one another
We've got an unquenchable thirst in our throats
We are, for some reason, all the time bleeding
We are friendless
And we love these dogs that roll on the lawns here in Galesburg
Because they seem to know something nobody else knows
It is written in the smiles on their faces and it rings in their high young voices
We are burning up all of our choices up here where the tall grass grows
Up here in Galesburg
The sky's opening up like an old wound
And the rain on our bodies is warm tonight
And the ground underneath us shakes in the cracking thunder
We can taste fresh blood in our mouths again
There is no chance of getting enough of it
And we tally up all our posessions, we're going under
Yeah, we love these dogs that loll in the rain here in Galesburg
As the new season rocks them in its terrible arms
They howl as if the world were ending as we are watching the sky unwinding
Some of our promises were binding up here where our dreams take form
Up here in Galesburg
Up here in Galesburg
The lyrics of "Weekend in Western Illinois" by The Mountain Goats convey a sense of reckless abandon and a romanticized view of rural Illinois. The opening lines describe the vastness of the land which seems to stretch on infinitely. The imagery of the dandelions spreading themselves thickly out perfectly depicts the abundance and carefree nature of young love. The couple is consumed by an unquenchable thirst in their throats, indicating their intense passion for each other. However, there is also a sense of isolation and loneliness present as the lovers are friendless in this remote area.
The couple finds solace and kinship with the dogs that roam free in Galesburg. The dogs are described as possessing a secret knowledge that no one else seems to have. The smiles on their faces and the ringing of their high young voices are deemed as evidence of this knowledge. The lovers are burning up all their choices up here where the tall grass grows, suggesting their willingness to forego responsibility and societal norms in favor of their impassioned love. As the sky opens up like an old wound and the rain falls on their bodies warm, they feel unstoppable, immovable, and invincible. The lyrics suggest that despite the free-spirited nature of their weekend in Western Illinois, danger and consequences are coming for them soon.
Line by Line Meaning
The land's opening up like a blanket
The vastness of the open land ahead of us is comforting and inviting.
And the dandelions spread themselves thickly out
The land is alive and thriving, evidenced by the abundance of dandelions all around us.
Along the fields, which are, evidently, endless
The fields are never-ending, which reinforces the idea of limitless possibilities and freedom.
And we are hotly in love with one another
We are consumed with passion for each other, which is a driving force in our journey.
We've got an unquenchable thirst in our throats
Our passion and desire for each other is so intense that it feels physically tangible and insatiable.
We are, for some reason, all the time bleeding
We are constantly wounded or hurting in some way, whether physically or emotionally, but we keep moving forward regardless.
We are friendless
Despite our intense connection with each other, we are isolated and without any other companionship.
And we love these dogs that roll on the lawns here in Galesburg
We find joy in the simple things, like the playful and carefree nature of the dogs in the area we're visiting.
Because they seem to know something nobody else knows
The dogs' instinct and intuition make them seem like they have a deeper understanding of the world around them than we do.
It is written in the smiles on their faces and it rings in their high young voices
The dogs' joy and excitement is contagious, and we find ourselves drawn to their exuberance.
We are burning up all of our choices up here where the tall grass grows
We are taking risks and living boldly in this place where we feel free and alive, regardless of the potential consequences.
The sky's opening up like an old wound
The sky overhead looks like it's been torn open, revealing the full force of nature and all its beauty and danger.
And the rain on our bodies is warm tonight
As the rain falls on us, we feel a sense of warmth and comfort, even in the midst of the storm.
And the ground underneath us shakes in the cracking thunder
The power of nature is palpable all around us, and we feel small and insignificant in the face of its might.
We can taste fresh blood in our mouths again
We are pushing ourselves to our limits and taking risks, which brings a sense of excitement tinged with danger.
There is no chance of getting enough of it
We are addicted to the thrill of living dangerously and pushing ourselves to the brink, and can't get enough of it.
And we tally up all our posessions, we're going under
Despite the thrill of our journey, we are constantly aware of the danger and the toll it's taking on us, both physically and emotionally.
As the new season rocks them in its terrible arms
The changing of the seasons and the passage of time is relentless and can feel overwhelming.
They howl as if the world were ending as we are watching the sky unwinding
The cries of the dogs seem to echo our own feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, as we watch the power of nature unfold around us.
Some of our promises were binding up here where our dreams take form
In this place where anything seems possible, we have made commitments and promises to each other that we take seriously and consider binding.
Up here in Galesburg
Throughout this journey and all its associated emotions, we are anchored in this specific place as a source of stability and continuity.
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.