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Many Guides Lyrics
Though the ocean's deep and choppy
Let it be your guide
It'll take you to the one you love
Who's on the other side
If you meet a mountain goat
Let him be your guide
If he leads you far astray
Kill him and skin his hide
Going around the mountain glacier
To the other side
If you see the face of God
His laws you must abide
Though the boxcar's rough and smelly
It's a place to hide
If it takes you to L.A.
Take it all in stride
Since the prarie's flat and lonesome
There's no place to hide
If you see a lion, lie down
And pretend you died
When you reach the gates of Heaven
After you have died
Put on fast the blood of Jesus
He'll get you inside
Let it be your guide
It'll take you to the one you love
Who's on the other side
Let him be your guide
If he leads you far astray
Kill him and skin his hide
To the other side
If you see the face of God
His laws you must abide
It's a place to hide
If it takes you to L.A.
Take it all in stride
There's no place to hide
If you see a lion, lie down
And pretend you died
After you have died
Put on fast the blood of Jesus
He'll get you inside
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The song has some really interesting meaning. I suppose on one level it's simply a cautionary song instructing people to trust some of the natural and spiritual guidelines that are inherent in the world. On another level, it seems to incourage docility and improvisation in one's life.
i think the last line of the mountain goat stanza is actually "kill him and skin his hide." that's what i'm hearing, anyway.
makes me laugh... so violent, dear silly sufjan! revenge on the mountain goat. haha.
really love this song... particularly the last bit. :)
yep yep, JpegMasterJesse, you've summed it up quite nicely.