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.
Woke Up New
The Mountain Goats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt free and I felt lonely and I felt scared
And I began to talk to myself almost immediately
Not being used to being the only person there
The first time I made coffee for just myself, I made too much of it
But I drank it all just cause you hate it when I let things go to waste
And I wandered through the house like a little boy lost at the mall
And I sang
Oh, What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
What do I do without you?
On the morning when I woke up without you for the first time
I was cold so I put on a sweater and I turned up the heat
And the walls began to close in and I felt so sad and frightened
I practically ran from the living room, out into the street
And the wind began to blow then trees began to pant
And the world in its cold way started coming alive
And I stood there like a business man waiting for the train
And I got ready for the future to arrive
And I sang
Oh, What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
What do I do without you?
The Mountain Goats's song 'Woke Up New' narrates the experience of waking up alone for the first time after a break-up. The songwriter expresses a mix of emotions like freedom, loneliness, and fear. It is typical for break-ups to be difficult, with partners going separate ways after being used to each other's company. The absence may create an inner dialogue that can pose daily challenges like not knowing what to do with oneself. The songwriter is used to having someone around, so waking up to a silent room is strange and uncomfortable at first. The opening lines expressing this situation are quite descriptive and set the tone for the song's narrative.
The subsequent verses go on to explain routine activities the singer does, but now alone: making coffee and walking around the house. It's a strange sensation to do things that remind one of the other person, and the imagery of the astronaut from space denotes a pensive mood regarding this feeling of loss. As the song progresses, the writer gets restless and decides to leave the house. The image of the "business man waiting for the train" reflects a sense of anticipation and a willingness to move forward. The song's chorus repeats as a question, expressing the uncertainty that comes with significant changes in life.
Line by Line Meaning
On the morning when I woke up without you for the first time
This line marks the moment when the singer realizes that they are alone and begins to describe their feelings in detail.
I felt free and I felt lonely and I felt scared
The singer experiences a range of emotions as they deal with the reality of being alone for the first time in a long time.
And I began to talk to myself almost immediately
The singer is forced to fill the silence left by the absence of their partner and begins to engage in self-talk to cope with the loneliness.
Not being used to being the only person there
The artist acknowledges that they are not accustomed to being alone and are struggling to adapt to the sudden change.
The first time I made coffee for just myself, I made too much of it
The artist is used to making coffee for two people and finds it difficult to adjust their routine to accommodate for their new solitary lifestyle.
But I drank it all just cause you hate it when I let things go to waste
Despite being alone, the singer still thinks about their partner and their habits and tries to honor them by not wasting things.
And I wandered through the house like a little boy lost at the mall
The singer feels out of place in their own home and is struggling to find their footing in the absence of their partner.
And an astronaut could've seen the hunger in my eyes from space
The artist's loneliness has a physical effect on them that is visible to those around them.
Oh, What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
The artist repeatedly asks themselves this question, desperate for an answer or some kind of guidance in dealing with their newfound loneliness.
What do I do without you?
This is the central question of the song, which the artist asks themselves repeatedly as they try to adjust to life without their partner.
I was cold so I put on a sweater and I turned up the heat
The singer is trying to physically adjust to the absence of their partner by making themselves comfortable in their own space.
And the walls began to close in and I felt so sad and frightened
Despite their attempts to adjust, the artist still feels overwhelmed by their loneliness and the sense of being trapped in their own space.
I practically ran from the living room, out into the street
The singer's sense of isolation is so intense that they feel compelled to leave their own home and seek some kind of connection with the outside world.
And the wind began to blow then trees began to pant
As the singer steps outside, they feel a powerful connection to the natural world and the way that it reflects their own sense of loneliness and disconnection.
And the world in its cold way started coming alive
The singer is acutely aware of the contrast between their own sense of isolation and the vibrant, busy world around them.
And I stood there like a business man waiting for the train
Despite their sense of disconnection, the artist is still determined to take some kind of action and prepare themselves for the future.
And I got ready for the future to arrive
The artist is trying to mentally and emotionally prepare themselves for the challenges of the future as they confront a new reality without their partner.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlesmckenzie8872
On the morning when I woke up without you for the first time
I felt free and I felt lonely and I felt scared
And I began to talk to myself almost immediately
Not being used to being the only person there
The first time I made coffee for just myself I made too much of it
But I drank it all just 'cause you hate it when I let things go to waste
And I wandered through the house like a little boy, lost at the mall
And an astronaut could've seen the hunger in my eyes from space
And I sang oh, what do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do without you?
On the morning when I woke up without you for the first time
I was cold so I put on a sweater and I turned up the heat
And the walls began to close in and I felt so sad and frightened
I practically ran from the living room out into the street
And the wind began to blow and all the trees began to pant
And the world, in its cold way, started coming alive
And I stood there like a business man waiting for the train
And I got ready for the future to arrive
And I sang oh, what do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do?
What do I do without you?
@0lotr1freak2
"And I got ready for the future to arrive." I love that line.
@windsroad-
The part with the coffee really hits me the hardest. That moment when you've realized you made two cups, not one, and there's no one to help you finish it. So to honor the person you've lost, you drink both in silence, knowing no one will ever even know. It makes for a beautifully sad picture.
@yrantiquebrand
lowkey gonna make a painting/t-shirt of this scene or something. It’s too tragically beautiful not to make.
@SylvanBL00d
I always assumed this song was about a breakup, but it could just as readily be about the death of a loved one. Sometimes the two don't feel so different.
@dandeelyonn
I know exactly what you mean
@electriksheep1508
SylvanBL00d it says i woke up free so i assumed it was about a breakup
@mollybeth2775
The morning after my mom died I listened to this very song for that reason.
@Snarkyjones42
Dave Matthews' Grace is Gone is very similar in that aspect. Sounds like a breakup song, but actually about the death of his stepfather.
Also, a very nice sad drinking song.
@lindseym2553
It could still be the death of a loved one, feeling free doesn’t necessarily mean they were bad or hurtful. With long illness, when they finally pass it is relieving as much as it is painful.
@caileealldredge5358
This song always makes me cry my eyes out no matter what. The way he explains this incredible loss of a loved one makes you feel every single emotion he went through. This song relates to a ton of people's situations and explains them perfectly