The Mountain Goats – Itzcuintli-Totzli Days

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i hear the pads beat, loud as drums.
i know he's coming. let him come.

chorus
let the big big rabbit come out.
let the big big rabbit come down.
let him cast his shadow on the bright face of our little house.
let him dance through the garden.
let him come.

it's getting darker, as the sky grows colder
and i feel your hand on my naked shoulder.
praise god i know you're with me. i know you're here.
i can feel you breathing. i know you're near me.
ok

Send "Itzcuintli-Totzli Days" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by mattjanosko


Itzcuintli-Totzli Days song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +2
    My Interpretation:In Aztec mythology, rabbits symbolize drunkenness, and one of the Ahuiateteo (gods of excess) is Macuiltochtli, the rabbit god of pulque (a type of booze) and insobriety. There was also the Centzon Totochtin, the four-hundred rabbit deities who frequently met up for parties and to get drunk.

    Dogs, on the other hand, were connected to the Aztec underworld. Xolotl was the dog-headed god of lightning and death and acted as a guide for souls traveling to Mictlan (also called Itzcuintlan), the ninth and furthest level of the underworld. Some legends also have a yellow dog guarding the river Apanoayan, which is the first of the nine levels of Mictlan.

    Considering JD's use of alcoholism in other songs, it could be said that the rabbit represents someone who is alcoholic and bent on destroying a relationship. The inclusion of Itzcuintli doesn't seem to mean too much from a mythological standpoint, but dogs are often used to hunt small game like rabbits. The title could be a reference to both the 'rabbit' (alcoholic) and to the 'dog' (the 'you' in the lyrics), saying that the relationship will outlast the interference.
    Flag moorishfloweron July 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is the only mountain goats song i can say honestly say i dont like maybe it's the childish chorus because the guitar is decent i dont ...know but everything else by JD is amazing
    Flag captain_insanoon July 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:No idea. Im guessing that its using a metaphor from Aztec mythology (wasnt there a rabbit god?) Might check it out some more and get back to you guys :)
    Flag dagwoodon September 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:that's awesome you know that. now what the hell does that have to do with the song?
    Flag fuckedupdogon April 09, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:"Itzcuintli" is aztec for "dog" and
    "Tochtli" is aztec for "rabbit" (i think it's the same, even though it's spelled differently)
    Flag linzasauruson March 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i wish that someone on this vast internet would come on over to this song and let everybody with the deathly curious mind (such as mine) know what the hell the tittle of the song is or means.
    Flag fuckedupdogon February 08, 2005   Link

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