The Whale Song

First off. I absolutely love this song. The first few minutes of instrumental are amazing. It really reminds me of older Modest Mouse, with the jaunty guitar and what-not.

Now, Reading over the lyrics, it does seem that it could be from a whales perspective, being captured by the fisherman, as applcobbler brought up. But at the same time, I wouldn't put it past Isaac to have more than one meaning to his song, or draw analogies between two things. (One of the best thing about Modest Mouse songs are that the meanings are often up to personal interpretation.) I feel that it could be drawing an analogy between whale hunting and as ButteryWaffles said, "Showbiz".

Modest Mouse were the whales, swimming happily in their familiar waters. They weren't well known, the weren't really famous, but they were happy. Those major labels and interviews and popularity are the hunters. Maybe they didn't have a choice, it came without warning, or maybe they had to for whatever reason. But they were attacked, pulled out of the familiar waters and taken elsewhere, unfamiliarity, uncomfortable, to be made use of(I.E. Make "radio-friendly" songs and do interviews, for money. Basically doing the typical "rockstar" life. A whole cycle of just making more songs. Not really having fun with it anymore.) And he's saying that, they didn't have a choice in this, they were "Captured" against their will, but in retrospect, he wishes he could have found a way out. Find a way so that it wouldn't have had come to this.

Buuuuuut this is all my personal take on it, after some thinking. Either way the song is awesome.

And it's not like There was warning We were happy And it's not like There was mourning In the warning

DAMN I love Isaac's word play

I get the idea that this is about drugs and that he believes if he could of found a way out, all the people around him would have been able to. He's getting high but wishes he wasn't. There was no warning or mourning because the drugs feel good and he didn't realize to what extent the damage was causing.

There's nothing to do with drugs. Read the director's description below.

After entering his personal sanctuary, an artist is presented with a hand-crafted drawing tool that assists him in materializing his mental impressions. The machine discharges his thoughts as an endless web of yarn that guides him through his physical thoughts. The story progresses to reveal that he is divided between two worlds, one of dull reality and the second of warped memories. In the process of finding a way out of his consciousness, he is trapped between the two competing spaces, which eventually inflict lethal damage, acting as metaphors to self-destruction.

There are three vocal portions to this song. Naturally, everyone can only ever seem to transcribe the first two. The original vocal track sings:

I guess I am a scout, so I should find a way out So everyone can find a way out

And I know I am a scout, and I should find a way out So everyone could find a way out

I know I am a scout, I should've found a way out So everyone can find a way out

The second vocal layer sings:

They keep us in, to pull us out I'm rising up, wish I was sinking down And it's not like there was warning, we were happy And it's not like there was mourning in the warning

Instead of seeing a neighbor out God, I wish I would've found a way out It's the last time we were happy, ever happy

But there's a third "megaphone" voice, singing something else between these two. I can't make out all the words, but it sounds like he's singing something along the lines of:

No one's going to find a way out No one get's out on the first try

Anyone have a better time deciphering it then me?

I think this song is about the band itself and how they wish they could return to their less well-known days, etc., but like all MM songs it is really up for individual interpretation.

No matter what it's really about, this is an unbelievable song.

I think this is similar to "tiny cities made of ashes" on Moon and Antarctica...Isaac seems to sing about trying to find a way out of this existance...which for most people is a mundane grind of going to your office job, working hard, coming home exhausted..and then seeing whats on TV: Survivor, big brother, reality TV, shows that talk about nothing, media hosts (i.e. CNN) who talk and gossip about politicians (i.e. nothing of value). Its difficult to say who he is a "scout" for, because then everything would become a bit over the top in my head about a group of people trying to escape reincarnation or something like that..so I won't even go there. But he's definately looking for a better life; whether its him going through frustration about meaninglessness or how God could let life go on in this way, or him trying to be positive and "float on" as he says

My impression is that "Whale Song" is about the sense of responsibility individuals often feel for the state of all humanity. Given the fact that this album was produced during this economic downturn really puts meaning to words like

"I guess/know I'm just a scout I should have found a way out so everyone can find a way out"

And especially coming from an individual like Brock who's a minor celebrity and thus an influential person, it would seem he is expressing some feeling of burden given his now noteworthy status (even though he didn't necessarily intend to become so influential). However, the context of this song can be taken further than just the modern state of the world; it could very well be taken more metaphorically like in the case of the character Ishmael from Moby Dick-- one individual searching for truths about self and reality in a Godless world who ultimately finds peace and beauty in the surprises. Furthermore, the title "Whale Song", like the vast majority of Modest Mouse songs, probably hints at the concepts expressed through the lyrics. With lines like

"Instead of seeing a neighbor out God, I wish I would've found a way out It's the last time We were happy Ever happy"

it is clear that there is a sense of regret. However, Brock is not just precise with his lyrics but also with how he presents them both in tone and enunciation in conjunction with the music. In "Whale Song", while the lyrics express sorrow and regret, the sound of the vocals and instrumentals are more upbeat, almost epic. Therefore, the message seems to be: this is reality, there is no escape, but existence is what one makes of it.

This has become my favorite modest mouse song of the week, and i think i like it so much because there is that one point where he kind of just starts talking, and then he starts talking again in a slightly different voice. Eventually his voice is overlapping at least three, maybe four times. Then if he wants to emphasize one lyrics, he has two of the voices sync up and it stands out. Each voice has a unique sound to it, it just sounds so beautiful.

The instrumentals of this song are fucking great.

It brings me so so close to feeling the very edge of everything. I really can't describe it properly.