Peacocks

Peacocks
Album	Tallahassee
Released	2002
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	3:44
Previous track	"See America Right"
Next Track	"International Small Arms Traffic Blues"

Peacocks is the ninth song on the album Tallahassee. It was performed by Houses in Tallahassee Turns Ten. In 2012, on his Twitter account, John revealed that the song was initially intended to be a bit more sexually explicit.

Lyrics

I hear them squeal
I see them preen
Fans all spread out
Neat and clean 

Grab hold of the morning
Head out to the porch
Feel the wind stopping
Feel the sun scorch
I fear for my safety
You can see it in my eyes
In an hour or two
We will rise 

Then a sharp breeze kicks up
I hug myself hard
How come there's peacocks in the front yard?

Sun's all prickly
On my neck
When the helicopter passes
We both hit the deck
Hands grasping and groping
Seizing opportunity
Right where it lies
The sky will fall
We will rise

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "This is a song about encroaching dread." -- 2010-03-14 - The Social - Orlando, FL

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 2003-10-04 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
• 2004-08-15 - Live at the Wireless - Triple J Session
• 2007-03-08 - The Independent - San Francisco, CA
• 2007-03-10 - Steynberg Gallery - San Luis Obispo, CA
• 2007-03-11 - The El Rey - Los Angeles, CA
• 2010-03-11 - Memorial Union Building - University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH
• 2010-03-13 - Harvest of Hope Festival - St. Augustine, FL
• 2010-03-14 - The Social - Orlando, FL
• 2012-11-29 - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA
• 2012-11-30 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
• 2012-12-17 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA
• 2016-02-24 - Sidebar Theatre - Tallahassee, FL
• 2016-02-25 - High Dive - Gainesville, FL
• 2016-02-28 - Noise Pop 2016 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
• 2023-10-29 - The Heights Theater - Houston, TX

Videos of this Song

• 2010-03-14 - The Social - Orlando, FL
• 2012-11-29 - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA