High Hawk Season

The Mountain Goats

I heard the wings beat on the wind tonight
As the heat stole power from the darkening light
I saw the streets fill up with people that I knew
People who looked like you

Rise if you're sleeping, stay awake
We are young supernovas and the heat's about to break

Drift through the streets, walk between the cars
Newborn sons and daughters spat forth from distant stars
The summer will reveal itself to those whose hearts are true
And to the faithless few

Rise if you're sleeping, stay awake
We are young supernovas and the heat's about to break

Who will rise and who will sink?
Who's going to stand his ground and who's going to blink?
Surge forward from Van Cortlandt Park like frightened sheep
Spirit throngs that hoist us high, three thousand warriors deep
Spray our dreams on any surface where the paint will stick
Try to time the rhythm, listen for the click

Rise if you're sleeping, stay awake
We are young supernovas and the heat's about to break


Lyrics submitted by mossushi, edited by ThistleKis

High Hawk Season song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +3
    My Interpretation
    The imagery throughout this song seems to reference or pay homage to Sol Yurick's "The Warriors".
    DPOakleyon April 15, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    as for meaning, its a call to a generation. to stand up. to be.
    fallsaddleson April 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    One of my favorites from the new album! beautiful, and i love the acapella aspect of the song.
    fallsaddleson April 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    as for meaning, its a call to a generation. to stand up. to be.
    fallsaddleson April 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I think the chorus refers to "waking up" from a state of mind where the only feeling you can experience is rage ("heat") about the things that have happened to you. The process of allowing yourself to feel everything about those memories, not just anger, can feel like exploding. Hence "supernovas".
    obsequiousleafon April 16, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    To the extent that the song is about any one thing, it's derived from the movie, The Warriors, not the book. Van Cortland Park is the park in the Bronx that all the gangs met in at the beginning of the movie.
    akrasianon March 02, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Adding on, I think the backing vocals sound cowboyish, which I think is intentional for setting the mood the song requires. In the movie "The Warriors" the Warriors are innocent but have to fight their way home while trying to prove their innocence. This theme fits in with Westerns where the morally upstanding person or group have to fight against extreme odds to win against the faithless few oppressors. I think what John loved about the Warriors is the struggle of people who in this instance are innocent, who are trying to do the right thing against severe odds.
    akrasianon March 02, 2016   Link

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