. . .
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The glowing world, the bench backed up against the house
The chicken coops, the darkness surrounding everything
It was late and the night was moving slowly
We laid down on the ground because the world was lonely
If you keep quiet it will stay like this forever
If you'll just keep quiet it will stay like this forever
I feel certain of it now
And all the birds were sleeping in their perches
The little wind swaying birches
And the north American wild turkey that your father brought home
Woke up and came toward us
And the moonlight and the turkey waking up
And the night air and the moonlight on your skin
And the moonlight and the turkey waking up
And quiet yard and the turkey and the moon
Unimaginable
Unimaginable
Unimaginable
Unimaginable
. . .
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The ocean wind cold on our lips
Wild fern growing, sinking ships
All the signs are easy to read
In the morning you come my way
Your skin is pink, the sky is gray
There's fresh cranberries in your mouth
With thick red water dripping out
You expect me to believe everything you say
Well, okay
. . .
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red red, red everywhere
bright red all along the thin canvas wall
i stepped outside, for a little air
i stepped outside to get away from it all
i went out to the front, and saw the purple sky
making jokes about my condition
i am going for a walk
i'll be back in half an hour
watch over the children
i'll be back in half an hour
hey hey la la la
hey hey la la la
. . .
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we both know you're leaving
you just don't want to say it yet
'cause you don't want to hurt my feelings
so you gnaw your little holes in the net
and you torture me with those big eyes
and you punish me with pity
but i'm going to cleveland
you say you wanted to strike first
because one of us was leaving
that's what you say
but i've always been real fond of you
so i never would've treated you this way
and you torture me with those big eyes
and you punish me with pity
but i'm going to cleveland
i hear the cuyahoga calling, now i know
what was i was born for
and you say 'hey john where are you going?'
but that's not my name anymore
and you torture me with those big eyes
and you punish me with pity
but i'm going to cleveland
. . .
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the pictures that you paint
aren't as pretty as they once seemed to me
and the coffee's bitter because it's been boiling too long
and the jokes you tell
aren't as funny as they once seemed to me
and the songs you sing are just plain hackneyed
but the stars shine down on all god's children
and the sun sets on the good and on the evil
and i know you
and i know you
the throbbing flowers outside i get it
and the paint peeling from the bathroom wall
and the smile on your face is alive
and the smile on your face is real pretty
and the sun shines down on all god's children
and the stars burn for the good and the evil
and i know you
and i know you
. . .
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there was rain
there was wind
there was spring coming in
there was a feeling of approaching doom
and i was happy to see you
it was cold in your room you were warm
and that's all i remember
and you arms were warm
and that's all i remember
later on near morning
we were talking about nothing
a little rain
a little wind
quiet cold cold air coming in
and you were warm
and that's all i remember
and you arms were warm
and that's all i remember
and your eyes were pretty
and that's all i remember
and your hands were soft
and that's all i remember
and the hall was well lit as i walked down it
and that's all i remember
and the rain was light and it felt soft on my face
and that's all i remember
and the car was quiet inside
and that's all i remember
and it was dark when the sunlight was coming
and that's all i remember
. . .
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[john spoken]
hi, it's the mountain goats
it's the seventeenth of december
at nine thirty four in the morning
and this is called no, i can't.
you bought me some candy.
and you bought me some flowers.
and you bought me a sofa.
and you bought me a radio.
thank you for the candy.
thank you for the flowers.
thank you for the sofa.
thank you for the radio.
(now i have everything i need.) x4
you brought me a puppy.
and you brought me a lamp.
and you brought me some books.
and you brought me a filing cabinet.
thanks you for the puppy.
thank you for the lamp.
thanks for the books.
thanks for the filing cabinet
i don't know what i did without it.
(now i have everything i need.) x4
you came by. and you came in.
and you let the wind in.
it must be cold outside.
we looked out, through the sliding glass door.
but i'd forgotten what we were looking for.
thank you for coming by.
it's nice to see you once in a while.
thank you for the coat i forgot to mention.
i've been freezing in here.
i've been freezing in here.
(now i have everything i need.) x4
yeah!
. . .
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i'm coming in.
try to stop me.
push furniture in front of the door.
it only gives me something to push against.
in the full heat of the summer's day,
you're telling me to go away.
but you owe me eight-thousand dollars and i can use it
i'm only getting stronger.
you may have noticed.
but a head full of memories propels me ever further
and in the living room i don't see where you are,
but the back door's locked, so you can't have gone far
and eight-thousand dollars is a whole lot of money
and i could use it.
could be that it's my imagination, but i think i hear you now.
so come out come out, wherever you are.
olly-olly-olly-olly-olly-olly oxen free see i'm
perfectly aware of where our love stands,
but the plain fact is that you owe me eight grand
if it helps to jog your memeory,
i lent it to you on tuesday, when we were drinking.
ha! ha-ha-ha-uh-uh-ha! uh-ha!....
. . .
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spoken:
...the sargeant drop to the ground
in the shadow of a low branch
they heard a branch crack to the left
then the sound of footsteps
two of the renegades carrying firewood , a third with a rifle
were walking towards them
closer and closer
the sea gobbles up the full sun
and i look at you and i know you're the one
the one i used to know something about
and i try to say what it was, but the words won't come out
and you ask me to hold you
that's the devils' work.
you show your palms and i see they're empty
and i'd check them twice if you'd let me
but you wouldn't do that now would you?
i didn't think so.
and you ask me to hold you
that's the devils' work.
we stand on the sand and we watch the world turn
and we stand on the sand and we watch the water burn
and we stand on the sand six inches from one another
and the sands burn and blow and neither one of runs for cover
and you ask me to hold you
that's the devils' work.
and you ask me to hold you
that's the devils' work
. . .
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toward the end of our first year in las vegas
you looked up from your little corner
and i saw that your face was getting a little brighter
and you asked me is it really getting warmer
or is it just me
and then you started mumbling unintelligibly
so what are you saying anyway?
i thought i heard bells ringing
but then i remembered that i no longer knew what bells sounded like
i thought maybe we'd strike up a conversation
'till bad luck cruised by on his ten-speed bike
i got real cold
and i grabbed my coat
and i saw that the ringing was coming from your throat
what are you saying anyway?
. . .
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you bought me a rabbit to keep me company
and i'm here in my car and the rabbit's here with me
heading out highway one, respecting posted speed limits
and i tried to figure this one out but i can't find any meaning
and i'm sick and tired of trying to figure out your gestures
and i'm sick and tired of wondering what your presents mean
i'm gonna take this rabbit into malibu
and he'll chew on sour grass while i wolf down dexadrine
dexadrine.
the wind comes through the open window and i button my shirt
and the rabbit's riding shotgun my teeth hurt
you sent me a package marked "live animals inside"
and the sun's coming up quickly above the rising tide
and i'm sick and tired of trying to figure out your gestures
and i'm sick and tired of wondering what your presents mean
i'm gonna take this rabbit into malibu
and he'll chew on sour grass while i wolf down dexadrine
dexadrine
. . .
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big birds in the trees
cars locked and i've lost my keys
crashing sounds of the waterfall
and a statue of jesus 200 feet tall
3000 miles from the north california
and 3 little feet from falling off the earth
and the shadow of a mountain
should cast a shadow on a
and the snow underfoot is soft and yeilding
la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la
look at those birds
i'd say something about them but i've lost the words
they're laughing and they're watching me
and the radiator's boiling for no reason
wild cattle crossing as it strikes their fancy
and a handfule of money which does me no good
and a pocketfull of medicine to amuse myself
with a photograph of someone stapled to my shirt sleeve
la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la la la
la la la la
. . .
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sail on down the road
'bout a half a mile or so
and i tried to make you stay,
but now you're going
it was plain to see that a small town boy like me
just wasn't your cup of tea that was wishful thinking
i gave you my heart and i tried to make you happy
you gave me nothing in return
you know it ain't so hard to say, 'would you please just go away?'
you come to comfort me
but i don't need your sympathy
and the way you look at me, well it's condescending.
i feel my stomach churn
and didn't you ever learn
not to tell someone something ifyou don't mean it
i gave you my heart and i tried to make you happy
you gave me nothing in return
you know it ain't so hard to say, 'would you please just go away?'
sail on.
sail on.
sail on
. . .
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black mollies in the aquarium,
darting back and forth as though an earthquake were certain
and I, turned up the heater
and I ripped off my shirt
and I grabbed hold of my stereo
and I threw it out the window
you were in town again
you'd come around again
you were dragging me down again with you
siamese fish flashing like sparklers
it started to rain
and the telephone rang a couple of times
I put a bullet through its cold dead brain
and I got out my photographs of you
and I put bullets though all of them too
you were in town again
you'd come around again
you were dragging me down again with you
yeah
. . .
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*Spoken Word*
The Mountain Goats, on the uh, well, the 20, 4th of January, a Monday... at about ten.
And uh this is called uh, this is called... well I dunno what it's called, by the time i write down the titles on the tape then I'll know what it's called.
0:40
The rain came down,
Soaked the old Hibachi.
And I wish I could sing,
Like Allen Calachi. (?)
Then you would know,
How sad it was,
When the rain came down.
Drop by drop, gallon by gallon.
Brother If I could sing, if I could sing like Allen.
Then you would know,
And understand,
How sad it was,
When the rain came down.
. . .
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If you were anywhere near his door
You saw it swing open and you heard the moon roar
Trying to yank herself right out of her orbit
The whole natural world
Painted red, just like a target
It was a cold dark day
With low clouds standing in the way
And the stars jockeying for position
On the slow thick morning of the death-dealing physician
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
And you could feel his features in the air
A wide smile and perfect hair
He had complete control of the rising tides
And a medicine bag hanging at his side
It was a cold dark day
With low clouds standing in the way
And the stars jockeying for position
In the flowing blue world of the death-dealing physician
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
And the rain came down like water from a faucet
I saw him at the crossroads, but I never saw him cross it
One minute he was on this side
And the next he was be over on the other
So went his rounds, one sad patient after another
It was a cold dark day
With low clouds standing in the way
And the stars jockeying for position
In the crushed velvet world of the death-dealing physician
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
It was a cold dark day
With low clouds standing in the way
And the stars jockeying for position
In the impossibly large office of the death-dealing physician
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
(Oh yeah)
. . .
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i hear you starting up again
i seee you standing on the deck
i hear your voice start to carry
i see the veins throbbing in you neck
and i know what you're saying
and i know what you're saying it for
but i'm not listening
i'm not listening anymore
and i see you come toward me
i see the sun withdrew from the sky
i hear your voice getting stronger and louder
and i see a stranger in your eyes
and i know what you're saying
and i know what you're saying it for
but i'm not listening
i'm not listening anymore
. . .
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you're a strong one, you're a lion
you're brave, death defyin'
you're in your car, crossing town.
and i can feel you, coming down.
you're so pretty, i could burst
and i wonder, who's gonna talk first
my muscles all shaking, and blood's turned to foam
it's tuesday, and you're coming home.
yeah!
. . .
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the waves were beating
against the shore
the waves were beating
as if they hadn't before
the dock was soaking
the wood was wet
your hair blew madly
i can't forget.
we went down to the boat.
we went down to the boat.
yeah!
the rushing water
the pale sky
hey, that's a good way
to let the dock dry
you know what i mean
we were slaves
the word was lurching
the dark way
as we went down to the boat
we went down to the boat.
we went down to the boat.
we went down to the boat.
yeah!
. . .
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hey, what's wrong with you?
hey, what are you trying to do?
'cause if what you had in mind
is what i think it is
then it's not very kind
and it won't be necessary
it won't be necessary now
it won't be necessary
it won't be necessary now
hey, what are you doing, my love?
hey, didn't i just tell you that such a thing
would be over and above what's called for in this case
pull the ski mask away from your face
it won't be necessary
it won't be necessary now
it won't be necessary
it won't be necessary now
it won't be necessary
it won't be necessary now
. . .
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the garter snake passed lazily through the tall yellow-headed sourgrass
there was cold, clear water in a tall, clean glass
the sunlight hit the sides and it came through the water tilted
i saw the condensation on your hand
i could feel the glaciers melting
and a warm, soft wind
covered up everything
on the day your love came screaming through me
you had oranges and lemons in a canvas bag beside you
and seven different kinds of light welling up inside of you
you smeared citrus pulp all over me, it felt okay
good old east rutherford three thousand miles away
i felt the warm surge blast my mind
coming in from behind
on the day your love came screaming through me
in the fresh light of day
i felt something falling away
on the day your love came screaming through me
. . .
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somewhere in the damn forest
where the fat pines look like my brother's arms
thick and ripe
i'm trying to get out for days and these green vines
keep getting in my way
i came up to a clearing
where the cross currents cooled my face
i would've sat down there in the middle
i would've rested just a little
but for the fire-bellied toads
see the ground was wet and they were everywhere
fire-bellied toad number five
from what may or may not have been unlimited series
opened up his little mouth
as though to speak
and then he spoke
and then he spoke to me, and he said
"you can't holler down a rain barrel
you can't climb around a tree
i don't want to play in your yard
if you won't be good to me."
honey it was downright creepy
. . .
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evening came on like a big red wing
and the dying sun, split his colors on everything,
and as the night came on, you burst into song
and you scraped your car up against the guardrail
and god is present in the sweeping gesture
but the devil is in the details
. . .
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[john spoken]
hi, it's the mountain goats
it's the seventeenth of december
at nine thirty four in the morning
and this is called no, i can't.
you bought me some candy.
and you bought me some flowers.
and you bought me a sofa.
and you bought me a radio.
thank you for the candy.
thank you for the flowers.
thank you for the sofa.
thank you for the radio.
(now i have everything i need.) x4
you brought me a puppy.
and you brought me a lamp.
and you brought me some books.
and you brought me a filing cabinet.
thanks you for the puppy.
thank you for the lamp.
thanks for the books.
thanks for the filing cabinet
i don't know what i did without it.
(now i have everything i need.) x4
you came by. and you came in.
and you let the wind in.
it must be cold outside.
we looked out, through the sliding glass door.
but i'd forgotten what we were looking for.
thank you for coming by.
it's nice to see you once in a while.
thank you for the coat i forgot to mention.
i've been freezing in here.
i've been freezing in here.
(now i have everything i need.) x4
yeah!
. . .
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the 3 month ride sticks in your mind
as though the insides of your head were a big screen.
and coming in on a evening wind.
it's the unmistakable scent of brilliantine.
what kind of memory serves, what kind of world is it,
that comes headlong at you, then swerves at the last possible second?
it's this one. it's this one.
and it's easy to slow down.
and it's easy to slow down.
and it's easy to just lie out by the blue pools
in the squinting sun and slow down.
and it's easy to slow down.
and in situations like these, it's sometimes useful to
think of life as one long continuous evening
that never turns into night.
hey hey!
. . .
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[john spoken] i never get tired of this one...
i've got a new life
you would hardly recognize me.
i'm so glad.
how could a person like me care for you?
why should i bother when you're not the one?
i saw the sign
and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign.
love is demanding without understanding
yeah i saw the sign and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign
and noone's gonna drag you up.
under the pale moon,
for so many years i've wondered who you are.
how could a person like you bring me joy?
under the pale moon where i see a lot of stars.
i saw the sign
and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign.
love is demanding without understanding
yeah i saw the sign and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign
and noone's gonna drag you up
to get into the light where you belong.
i saw the sign
and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign.
love is demanding without understanding
yeah i saw the sign and it opened up my eyes i saw the sign
and noone's gonna drag you up
hey!
. . .
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