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Alpha Rats Nest Lyrics
Ah the lengthening hours in the refinery
Belching fire into the sky
We do our best vampire routines
As we suck the dying hours dry
The night is lovely as a rose
If I see sunlight hit you
I am sure that we'll both decompose
Ah the fitful sleep and the fire engines
That I dream of when I dream
Some day we'll both wake up for good
I will try hard not to scream
The evening wind will shake the blinds
You're stirring from your slumber
We've got something hateful on our minds
Oh sing sing sing
For the dying of the day
Sing for the flames that will rip through here
And the smoke that will carry us away
Yeah sing for the damage we've done
And the worse things that we'll do
Open your mouth up and sing for me now
And I will sing for you
Belching fire into the sky
We do our best vampire routines
As we suck the dying hours dry
The night is lovely as a rose
If I see sunlight hit you
I am sure that we'll both decompose
That I dream of when I dream
Some day we'll both wake up for good
I will try hard not to scream
The evening wind will shake the blinds
You're stirring from your slumber
We've got something hateful on our minds
For the dying of the day
Sing for the flames that will rip through here
And the smoke that will carry us away
Yeah sing for the damage we've done
And the worse things that we'll do
Open your mouth up and sing for me now
And I will sing for you
Song Info
Submitted by
weezerific:cutlery On Oct 11, 2004
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Take Southwood Plantation Road to Old St. Augustine Road; turn onto Capital Circle South and then turn onto Woodville highway which you follow to the coast. Before you come into the bustling metropolis of St. Marks Florida (pop. 272), there sits an old oil refinery alongside the river surrounded by a fense. Guarding the gate sits an old rusted fire engine. Bitter unending love.
-Marc Tallahassee, FL.
actually i think the literal end of the alpha couple is alpha omega, when she's actually finally left. this is one of at least two or three "great last gasp" kind of song in the alpha story, where they start to resign themselves to their fate. i think, anyway. i'm not darnielle.
No. JD has said that, while "Alpha Omega" was ORIGINALLY the last song in the series, he changed his mind. "Alpha Rat's Nest" is officially the end of the alpha couple.
No. JD has said that, while "Alpha Omega" was ORIGINALLY the last song in the series, he changed his mind. "Alpha Rat's Nest" is officially the end of the alpha couple.
Anybody notice the rising black smoke carrying them far away?
Correct. That connection is intentional.
Correct. That connection is intentional.
Also note the throwing of lit cigarettes against the wall in Oceanographer's Choice.
Also note the throwing of lit cigarettes against the wall in Oceanographer's Choice.
The sustained metaphor in this song is so beautiful and intelligent and perfect. The song, too.
Ah the end of the Alpha's. They were what got me into The Mountain Goats. I'd heard little bits of their stuff but as soon as my brother explained to me the concept (and played a few songs for me) of Tallahassee, I was hooked. So of course, the end saddens me. But I don't believe it could have been more perfect. The hope that lingers on even in the end. Or at least the acceptance. The ability to look back with fond memories. God. Amazing.
Taken out of the context of the Alpha couple, this song kind of reminds me of Jurgis and Ona from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.
I know Alpha Omega is supposed to be the last one, but I am convinced that they both die in Oceanographer's Choice. That leaves Alpha Rats Nest as the finale, a capstone to the whole sordid story. I've always thought of it as the couple taking a bow. Credits roll, everybody sings a happy song to summarize.
Alpha Omega WAS supposed to be the last one. JD has since changed the story. Now Alpha Rat's Nest is the last song in the whole series.
Alpha Omega WAS supposed to be the last one. JD has since changed the story. Now Alpha Rat's Nest is the last song in the whole series.
Alpha Omega is no longer the last song in the Alpha series. True, it was supposed to be. But JD changed it. Alpha Rat's Nest is now the last song in the series.
In this song, their house burns down with both of them inside it.