Elijah

Elijah
Album	The Coroner's Gambit
Released	2000
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	3:07
Previous Track	"Jaipur"
Next Track	"Trick Mirror"

Elijah is the second song on the album The Coroner's Gambit.

Lyrics

Streak the windows, smear the walls with coconut oil yeah
Fill a cast-iron kettle with water and magnolia blossom
Let it boil
Let the water roll
Let the fire take its toll, I'm coming home
I'm coming home

Dust off the idols, give them something to eat
I think they're hungry, I know I'm starving half to death
I know you're waiting
I know you've been waiting for a long, long time 
And I'm coming home
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

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "This is a new song. It's about jail, sort of." -- 2000-10-15 - Go! Rehearsal Studios, Room 4 - Carrboro, NC

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 2000-02-06 - The Press - Claremont, CA
• 2000-10-15 - Go! Rehearsal Studios, Room 4 - Carrboro, NC
• 2000-10-19 - WFMU Session - WFMU Studios - Jersey City, NJ
• 2001-02-10 - The Maintenance Shop - Ames, IA
• 2001-06-23 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
• 2001-10-19 - Mission Space - Baltimore, MD
• 2002-03-10 - The Green Room - Iowa City, IA
• 2002-03-11 - The Maintenance Shop - Ames, IA
• 2003-02-18 - Uffes Källare - Växjö - Gothenberg, Sweden
• 2006-08-10 - 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
• 2008-03-22 - The Black Cat - Washington, D.C.
• 2008-12-14 - The Zoo - Brisbane, Australia
• 2008-12-18 - San Francisco Bath House - Wellington, New Zealand
• 2009-02-25 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
• 2009-03-18 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
• 2009-03-24 - Pearl Street - Northampton, MA
• 2009-03-25 - Somerville Theater - Somerville, MA
• 2009-04-03 - Mission Creek Music Festival - The Mill - Iowa City, IA
• 2009-04-06 - Buskirk-Chumley Theater - Bloomington, IN
• 2011-03-24 - The National - Richmond, VA
• 2011-03-26 - Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center - York, PA
• 2011-03-28 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
• 2011-04-01 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
• 2011-04-03 - The Opera House - Toronto, Ontario
• 2011-04-06 - Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN
• 2011-04-12 - Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
• 2011-05-28 - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, England
• 2011-07-13 - 1982 Bar - Gainesville, FL
• 2011-07-28 - Meadowbrook Pavilion - Gilford, NH
• 2012-09-07 - Hopscotch Festival - Fletcher Opera Theater - Raleigh, NC
• 2012-12-13 - Origami Vinyl - Los Angeles, CA
• 2013-06-23 - High Dive - Gainesville, FL
• 2014-04-19 - Laurie's Planet of Sound - Chicago, IL
• 2014-05-02 - Kresge Recital Hall - Knox College - Galesburg, IL
• 2015-05-31 - Amoeba Records - San Francisco, CA
• 2016-02-25 - High Dive - Gainesville, FL
• 2016-02-27 - Noise Pop 2016 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
• 2016-04-03 - Columbus Theatre - Providence, RI
• 2016-09-03 - Mr. Small's - Millvale, PA
• 2016-09-18 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD
• 2016-12-16 - House Show for Scott - Cherry Hill, NJ
• 2017-09-16 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
• 2022-12-06 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
• 2023-02-16 - Water Street Music Hall - Rochester, NY
• 2023-10-13 - Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
• 2024-02-29 - Teragram Ballroom - Los Angeles, CA
• 2024-03-01 - Noise Pop 2024 - Grace Cathedral - San Francisco, CA
• 2024-05-25 - Albert Hall - Manchester, England

Videos of this Song

• 2009-02-25 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
• 2011-03-24 - The National - Richmond, VA
• 2011-04-01 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
• 2016-02-27 - Noise Pop 2016 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
• 2024-05-25 - Albert Hall - Manchester, England