Satori In Denver
The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice Lyrics


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Speed down 24 toward the city for supplies
Technically out of bounds
Roll my window down
Hear my tires sing to the asphalt and drink in the highway sounds

Oh, solitude, friend of the friendless
Light in the dark night coming on
Grab what I want without saying a word
And drive through the dark 'till dawn

Track lights blur together
Anklet buzzing on my leg
Thinking up lies to tell
And this may be the time I get banished from the palaced
To seek out some smaller cell

Oh, solitude, friend of the friendless
Light in the dark night coming on




Grab what I want without saying a word
And drive through the dark 'till dawn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Satori in Denver" paint a picture of a solitary road trip towards the city, where the singer is seeking supplies but also indulging in the freedom of the open road. The singer is technically out of bounds, perhaps referring to a self-imposed exile or the crossing of some boundary in their life. As they speed down the road, the singer revels in the sensory experiences around them - the sound of their tires on the asphalt, the feel of the wind rushing past with the window down, and the blur of track lights passing by.


However, there is also an undercurrent of loneliness and desperation in the lyrics. The singer refers to themselves as "friendless" and seeks solace in the solitude of the trip. They are thinking up lies to tell, hinting at some kind of deception or inner turmoil. The mention of being banished from the palace suggests a fall from grace or loss of status, adding to the sense of displacement and uncertainty. Despite this, however, the singer is still able to indulge in a sense of freedom and possibility, grabbing what they want without saying a word and driving through the dark until dawn.


Overall, "Satori in Denver" captures the conflicting emotions of a solitary journey - the sense of liberation and possibility, but also the loneliness and uncertainty that come with it.


Line by Line Meaning

Speed down 24 toward the city for supplies
Rush towards the city to get provisions, breaking the rules.


Technically out of bounds
Going outside of where one is allowed.


Roll my window down
Open the car window.


Hear my tires sing to the asphalt and drink in the highway sounds
Listen to the sound of the tires on pavement and appreciate the sounds of the freeway.


Oh, solitude, friend of the friendless
Solitude is a valuable companion for those without friends.


Light in the dark night coming on
Hope is beginning to appear in the midst of darkness.


Grab what I want without saying a word
Take what is desired without expressing any words.


And drive through the dark 'till dawn
Keep driving through the night until daybreak.


Track lights blur together
The lights alongside the road blend and become fuzzy.


Anklet buzzing on my leg
The sound of the anklet is audible on the leg.


Thinking up lies to tell
Devising stories to share.


And this may be the time I get banished from the palaced
This could be the occasion where I am exiled from reputations.


To seek out some smaller cell
To look for a smaller space.




Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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