I think the title is a reference to the reggae band The Ethiopians, kind of expanding on the "lovers' reggae" line. A long time ago, though, someone left a comment here saying that the actual country has a tense relationship with its neighbors which also made it an apt title due to the lines about the alpha couple's mistrust of their neighbors. The "alpha couple," btw, in case you are just getting into the Mountain Goats, are a fictional, disfunctional, alcoholic, codependant, married couple that JD has written many songs about, often with "alpha" in the titles; this track was originally part of the album Tallahassee, which is entirely about them, so we can assume that "Ethiopians" is about them as well. Sorry for the late response!
The past days I was on vacation and I went through an unusual cycle every day. I woke up in the evening or late afternoon and drank several cups of coffe. Then I listened to the Mountain Goats all night and accompanied the Alphas in their home in Tallahassee among others. I sang along John's nasal voice and looked at the walls that get a kind of yellow-ish tint at night. I contemplated things like smashing my furniture or setting my house on fire. Weird what the Goats do to you. I love the video
JD has said that the title is a reference to the old ska band the Ethiopians, as an example of the "lovers' reggae" being listened to. He likes to give his songs strange titles that often don't have much to do with the song directly. It really has naught to do with the country itself. It's about the alpha couple trying to live together.
You're "friend" is an asshole and you're wife isnt a real woman that deserves the real man like yourself. If the past 2 years have taught me anything its hang in there things only can get better after you go so low
Window-mounted air conditioning unit Humming like a hive We want to send postcards to the friends we used to have Rub their noses in the ugly fact that we are still alive And we play lovers' reggae On accordion and banjo When the moon is high And we lie on the floor Get suspicious of the people Who've just moved in next door The bad taste in our mouths The twinkle in your eye Good things never last Bad things never die Wind chime from Tahiti that we found down at the auction Tolls its minor chord And I can't think of one thing in this whole wide blessed world That's more dangerous and frightening than you when you get bored We go through scads of money Don't know where it comes from Don't know where it goes And we stare out the window See the poison flowers the neighbours grow Sprouting up in nice neat rows The swelling in our limbs The twinkle in your eye Good things never last Bad things never die
LOVE these cartoons and LOVE the way the message you interpreted from the song, but I think most of the lyrics are intended to be read with pessimism about the relationship, considering the song was supposed to be on Tallahassee.
now when I listen to oceanographer's choice I'm going to think of two bears hatefucking. actually, the whole Alpha couple song cycle is going to get pretty weird. but it was worth it.
Window mounted air conditioning unit Humming like a hive We want to send postcards to the friends we used to have Rub their noses in the ugly fact that we are still alive And we play lovers' reggae On accordion and banjo when the moon is high And we lie on the floor Get suspicious of the people who've just moved in next door The bad taste in our mouths The twinkle in your eye Good things never last Bad things never die Wind chime from Tahiti that we found down at the auction Tolls its minor chord And I can't think of one thing in this whole wide blessed world That's more dangerous and frightening than you when you get bored And we go through scads of money Don't know where it comes from, don't know where it goes And we stare out the window See the poison flowers the neighbors grow Sprouting up in nice neat rows The swelling in our limbs The twinkle in your eye Good things never last Bad things never die
However, I like the point you've made; sometimes it works even better to ignore an artist's intent and determine what the work means to you, and I hope this response hasn't discouraged you from doing so...
![Wiz Khalifa - Khalifa's Home [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnrLCTe0Nz4/mqdefault.jpg)
I feel like if all he'd ever written were his unreleased B-Sides, Darnielle would still be America's best songwriter.
ArmorArmadillo
He is America's best song writer
I hope you see it now
girls poop too thus the word “still”
My favorite part of being a mountain goats fan is, you can know 100+ songs by heart, and STILL find new hidden gems from 15/20 years ago
is it a song about ethiopia or something else I'm confused
I think the title is a reference to the reggae band The Ethiopians, kind of expanding on the "lovers' reggae" line. A long time ago, though, someone left a comment here saying that the actual country has a tense relationship with its neighbors which also made it an apt title due to the lines about the alpha couple's mistrust of their neighbors. The "alpha couple," btw, in case you are just getting into the Mountain Goats, are a fictional, disfunctional, alcoholic, codependant, married couple that JD has written many songs about, often with "alpha" in the titles; this track was originally part of the album Tallahassee, which is entirely about them, so we can assume that "Ethiopians" is about them as well. Sorry for the late response!
This shit was some VINTAGE, tape-era Darnielle lyricism. Ffs the man OPENS this one with “window-mounted air conditioning unit”
almost 15 years later, this is all i can think of when listening to this song. Thanks for doing such a great job on this video!
the swelling in our limbs
the twinkle in your eye
good things never last
bad things never die
The past days I was on vacation and I went through an unusual cycle every day. I woke up in the evening or late afternoon and drank several cups of coffe. Then I listened to the Mountain Goats all night and accompanied the Alphas in their home in Tallahassee among others. I sang along John's nasal voice and looked at the walls that get a kind of yellow-ish tint at night. I contemplated things like smashing my furniture or setting my house on fire. Weird what the Goats do to you. I love the video
I like seeing the Alpha Couple as cute little bears
"Good things never last, bad things never die." Love Darnielle's genius, true lyrics.
Love this tune. Shame it didnt end up on Tallahassee. The world deserves to hear this one.
Bryce Rosenwald I feel like he just didn’t want to release songs that describe air conditioners. Same thing happened with AHWT
@@Yoshimitsu4prez dude, you're right. I literally came to this song after listening to the air conditioner line in Midland, too
The fact that there are 2 other songs in the cans keeps me awake at night. WHAT ARE THEY, JOHN?? WHAT ARE THEY?
Andrew Ballard Alpha Chum Gatherer and Going to Prison!
Peacocks (Explicit Version)
New Chevrolet In Flames and Build Your Own Container Garden did not make the album either but they have studio versions
are they the songs that keep you up at night (standing on that solid rock)?
Going to Prison sounds like the punchline to the longest joke I've ever heard
That pink bear trying to make me act up
the worst part about mountain goats songs is that they end
Emily Hughes Thank you for saying that.
Good things never last
Emily Hughes
I believe one of the best things about The Mountain goats is most of the songs are short
JD has said that the title is a reference to the old ska band the Ethiopians, as an example of the "lovers' reggae" being listened to. He likes to give his songs strange titles that often don't have much to do with the song directly. It really has naught to do with the country itself. It's about the alpha couple trying to live together.
just saw my wife of 12 years run away to maine with my best friend. Weird what the Goats do to you. anyway I love the video
what happened?
a cigarette They beat the retreat, hopped on the plane, got out of there, and went to Maine.
You're "friend" is an asshole and you're wife isnt a real woman that deserves the real man like yourself. If the past 2 years have taught me anything its hang in there things only can get better after you go so low
Man do I have a Mountain Goats song for you /s
puh, i'm sorry, that's rough buddy..
This is my favourite thing on the whole internet
Window-mounted air conditioning unit
Humming like a hive
We want to send postcards to the friends we used to have
Rub their noses in the ugly fact that we are still alive
And we play lovers' reggae
On accordion and banjo
When the moon is high
And we lie on the floor
Get suspicious of the people
Who've just moved in next door
The bad taste in our mouths
The twinkle in your eye
Good things never last
Bad things never die
Wind chime from Tahiti that we found down at the auction
Tolls its minor chord
And I can't think of one thing in this whole wide blessed world
That's more dangerous and frightening than you when you get bored
We go through scads of money
Don't know where it comes from
Don't know where it goes
And we stare out the window
See the poison flowers the neighbours grow
Sprouting up in nice neat rows
The swelling in our limbs
The twinkle in your eye
Good things never last
Bad things never die
Love how John kinda looks like Stirner here. Kinda apt considering the themes of Tallahassee…
Best video good work man!!
The spanking bear is my favorite. haha. It's just all so awesome.
LOVE these cartoons and LOVE the way the message you interpreted from the song, but I think most of the lyrics are intended to be read with pessimism about the relationship, considering the song was supposed to be on Tallahassee.
What a great song, and what a great visual accompaniment.
There is nothing in this universe more GIF worthy than 0:14 - 0:25
Wyatt Maurer in this whole wide blessed world even?
For some reason I can only describe this video as "Nifty!"
GOOD THINGS NEVER LAST, BAD THINGS NEVER DIE
Love this song and love this video.
When this is the quality of stuff that doesn’t make it onto the albums!
I'm deep down the RUclips rabbit hole and Im glad I fell deep. 😆
this is so relaxing and pleasant to me in every way possible
this is one of my favorite videos on youtube
GOOD THINGS NEVER LAST
BAD THINGS NEVER DIE.
now when I listen to oceanographer's choice I'm going to think of two bears hatefucking. actually, the whole Alpha couple song cycle is going to get pretty weird.
but it was worth it.
tbh
Wow thank you I've never heard this song before and it's vintage Mountain Goats!
+Jeremy Clarke there is so much vintage lo-fi tmg, and its really worth the listen
I did, and thank you! I keep starting them and then then quitting early cause it takes so long.
This song warms me up
A great artist
Great cartooning. Loved the video!
Love it! Well played, sir! well played...
Love your cartoon. Nice one.
props on this cartoon, I would NOT have the patience! :)
maybe but its super fun to do these types of animations, at least I find
should be the official video!!! great job
the cartoon is hilarious!
Window mounted air conditioning unit
Humming like a hive
We want to send postcards to the friends we used to have
Rub their noses in the ugly fact that we are still alive
And we play lovers' reggae
On accordion and banjo when the moon is high
And we lie on the floor
Get suspicious of the people who've just moved in next door
The bad taste in our mouths
The twinkle in your eye
Good things never last
Bad things never die
Wind chime from Tahiti that we found down at the auction
Tolls its minor chord
And I can't think of one thing in this whole wide blessed world
That's more dangerous and frightening than you when you get bored
And we go through scads of money
Don't know where it comes from, don't know where it goes
And we stare out the window
See the poison flowers the neighbors grow
Sprouting up in nice neat rows
The swelling in our limbs
The twinkle in your eye
Good things never last
Bad things never die
amazing!!! You rule dude! :)
i love this :D
I love this!
Fantastic!!
so lovely :)
However, I like the point you've made; sometimes it works even better to ignore an artist's intent and determine what the work means to you, and I hope this response hasn't discouraged you from doing so...
That was awesome!!
Did you make the cartoon? Cuse you should make more :D and defiantly my favorite mountain goats song love it :)
Thanks, John!
that was amazing.
i like the cartoon its cute
this is great thanks
That 1,2,3,4 definitely wasn't a reference to Meyer's Square, right? I'm definitely off the deep-end, yeah?
I don't remember if I had a reason for that pattern, but I am not well versed in the martial arts, so I'm going to say it's a neat coincidence
@@SIDEKICKDUSTY Thanks for the response! And the fun video!
I love this.
does anyone know what the title refers to? ive never been able to find a clear answer
I'm pretty sure it's a reference to the ska/reggae group of the same name, an example of the "lovers' reggae" that the couple plays.
*twinkle*
ye
still love it :)
Does anyone know where to find the chords to this?
www.themountaingoats.net/wiki/doku.php?id=tabs:ethiopians
i think at least half of the views on this video are me
So I guess between the two of us, we're all the views.
Been coming back to this video for the last decade. I've left my mark.
Can anyone tell me where I could get this song?
@manfacekilla Really? It says where you can get the song *in* the video. ~_^
This song is much too short