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Poltergeist is an unreleased song by the Mountain Goats. It was originally intended to be included on Devil in the Shortwave.

Lyrics[]

I can't stand it when you tell our infant son
That he was born beneath a bad sign
And I can't stand it when smiles up at you
Just because you're his mother
And I can't stand the bitter thing that I've become
Between the four walls that hold up our ceiling
And I wonder when the house gets real quiet
Who between us will be the first one to give into the feeling

And I know, I know you don't want me to hurt you tonight
And I, I don't want you to hurt me the way you do

I can't stand it when you put the boy to bed and you
Sing him those songs I used to sing to you
Yeah I can't stand to hear you sing those songs
When you know you don't mean them
And I can't stand the way my body still remembers 
How much we used to mean to one another way back when
And I can't stand going back to seek the shelter of your arms
And then I can't stand it again

And I know, I know you don't want me to hurt you tonight
And I, I don't want you to hurt me the way you do

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song[]

  • "It's another one of those songs where you got -- not sure -- one person? And you got your other person, and you have your once-shining beacon of romantic love that was an example to the neighbors and a vision of hope to the young, and it has somehow or other become a thing that kills you if you look at it. It's a very bad scene. Sorry that I do these things to these people." -- 2001-08-03 - 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
  • "This is a song about marriage. pause Not mine, though." -- 2003-06-06 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN

Things Referenced in this Song[]

Live Shows this Song Was Played at[]

Videos of this Song[]

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