The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Buy these shirts
Shirts are so nice
You'll look stylish
In your Mountain Goats shirt
Ooh ooh ooh
People see you walking down the street, they say
Who's that handsome person
In the Mountain Goats shirt
You will seek out your family, who you haven't seen in ten years, and you're kinda worried how the whole thing's gonna go
And you show up at the door and they say God,
It's good to see you
In your Mountain Goats shirt
After the College of Cardinals was done voting
And it was announced that Cardinal Ratzinger, who leans rather far right, was gonna be the new Holy Father, for better or worse
He could've made a better first impression on the world's media
In his Mountain Goats shirt
So if you're lonely
Or shirtless
Stop by the merchandising table and check out Mr. Vanderslice, he's attractive and I hear he's available
And he's got a whole table full of Mountain Goats shirts
Shirts are so nice
You'll look stylish
In your Mountain Goats shirt
Ooh ooh ooh
People see you walking down the street, they say
Who's that handsome person
In the Mountain Goats shirt
You will seek out your family, who you haven't seen in ten years, and you're kinda worried how the whole thing's gonna go
And you show up at the door and they say God,
It's good to see you
In your Mountain Goats shirt
After the College of Cardinals was done voting
And it was announced that Cardinal Ratzinger, who leans rather far right, was gonna be the new Holy Father, for better or worse
He could've made a better first impression on the world's media
In his Mountain Goats shirt
So if you're lonely
Or shirtless
Stop by the merchandising table and check out Mr. Vanderslice, he's attractive and I hear he's available
And he's got a whole table full of Mountain Goats shirts
Lyrics submitted by valrus
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
damn, i love my mountain goats shirt.
I would love a mountain goats shirt, I think it would make me a happier person.
For those that don't know this was a completly adlibbed song from one of the mountaingoats live shows in Sanfransisco, also as soon as he's done singing John hears a guy say "I tottaly requested that song" and says "i guarentee you, in the future people will go, play the one about the mountain goats shirt!" and sure enough he gets requests all the time for it especialy in sanfransisco which he always refuses. Except one time he adlibbed a tiny new version.
Further, John has said that he hates it when people request the song, because the reason it was funny is because it was ad-libbed and so he thinks repeating it is kind of missing the point.