I just saw the Mountain Goats last night in Chicago. John talked about the meanings of a few songs before they played them, and this was one.
He talked about how many people have interpreted this as being a very happy song, stemming from the uplifting sound and seemingly optimistic chorus.
However, he actually described the song as being someone who is more or less at the end of their rope, but maybe has one thing left that is keeping them from complete despair. The song is about someone who is extremely depressed, and just barely holding on.
It stuns me that anyone could interpret this as a happy song. The narrator is putting on the bravest place possible, but they are hanging by a very dubious thread (their faith in God).
It stuns me that anyone could interpret this as a happy song. The narrator is putting on the bravest place possible, but they are hanging by a very dubious thread (their faith in God).
A kind and loving God would't let their small ship run aground. Nonetheless, their ship is going to run aground. Ergo.......
A kind and loving God would't let their small ship run aground. Nonetheless, their ship is going to run aground. Ergo.......
I just saw the Mountain Goats last night in Chicago. John talked about the meanings of a few songs before they played them, and this was one.
He talked about how many people have interpreted this as being a very happy song, stemming from the uplifting sound and seemingly optimistic chorus.
However, he actually described the song as being someone who is more or less at the end of their rope, but maybe has one thing left that is keeping them from complete despair. The song is about someone who is extremely depressed, and just barely holding on.
It stuns me that anyone could interpret this as a happy song. The narrator is putting on the bravest place possible, but they are hanging by a very dubious thread (their faith in God).
It stuns me that anyone could interpret this as a happy song. The narrator is putting on the bravest place possible, but they are hanging by a very dubious thread (their faith in God).
A kind and loving God would't let their small ship run aground. Nonetheless, their ship is going to run aground. Ergo.......
A kind and loving God would't let their small ship run aground. Nonetheless, their ship is going to run aground. Ergo.......