I think that the reason I like the Mountain Goats so much (aside from the obvious "he's really good") is that he reminds me consistently that there is always going to be one more amazing song to hear. One more song where the lyrics will hit me like a ton of bricks and be poignant, thoughtful ones. I love the thought that every time I walk into a record store, I have a chance of picking up something that is as amazing as Grace, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea or any other of a number of records that have come out of nowhere to hold my headphones hostage for long stretches of time. So, with that I leave you with the second half of this song, Elijah.

I know you're waiting.
I know you've been waiting for a long long time.
And i'm coming home.
I'm coming home.

Set the table.
Those three extra places --
One for me,
One for your doubts,
And one for God.

Let the incense burn in every room.
Feel the fullness of time in the empty tomb.
Feel the future kicking in your womb.
I'm coming home.
I'm coming home.

I swear. Those lyrics are incredible. There's more to it than that, but I haven't really figured out the rest. Except there's a verse about idols, and the Bible says Elijah was bent on getting rid of idolatry. What I really love is the way the title is the key to making sense of the lyrics. He does that a lot. For those of you not 'in the know' with Judaism (not that I really am anyway) the real money shot of the song is that during the seder, families often leave an empty seat for the prophet Elijah who is supposed to show up during a part of the meal to announce the coming of the Messiah, which explains the empty places at the table and the empty tomb/future kicking in your womb thing. Woo wee. All that in a two-and-a-half minute pop song. Music that makes you want to learn. I have to love that.