| Raid on Entebbe | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Album |
Jack and Faye |
|
Released |
N/A |
|
Artist |
the Mountain Goats |
|
Length |
2:15 |
|
Next Track |
"Adair" |
| Raid on Entebbe (live version) | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Album |
Yoyo A Go Go - Another Live Compilation |
|
Released |
1999 |
|
Artist |
the Mountain Goats |
|
Length |
2:19 |
|
Previous Track |
"Dub Narcotic Express" (Dub Narcotic Sound System) |
|
Next Track |
"A Girl In The Sky" (Jenn Kliese And Khaela Maricich) |
Raid on Entebbe is the first song on the unreleased Jack and Faye single. It, along with the rest of the single, is available for free download on themountaingoats.net.
A live version of the song (recorded at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival, 1997-07-16 - Capitol Theater - Olympia, WA) appears on Yoyo A Go Go - Another Live Compilation. John Darnielle begins this version by singing an excerpt from Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" a capella.
Lyrics[]
On the shores of a lake named after a late queen of England I heard new rumors of war The sun was a red ball up in the summer sky I saw my sister standing in the doorway She had that look on her face that reminded me of you The reports were coming hourly and the sky was blue They were shifting the power again They always do this when I come home I tucked my shirt in though I don't know why Shielded my eyes from the light up in the sky 'Cause it was shining, blazing like a highway flare In the incredibly, impossibly dry air I heard my mother call my sister to the kitchen again And thought that everything was headed straight down the drain They positioned themselves in strategic locations I was beginning to lose my patience If you'll just put your hand in mine We're gonna leave all our troubles behind
Comments by John Darnielle About this Song[]
- "[audience member: 'Raid on Entebbe!'] Hmm. Do I know how to play 'Raid on Entebbe'? [audience: 'Yes!'] No, that's -- you don't know -- you can't say yes with authority! You don't know that! 'Yes, you do, because I would like to hear it' -- no, you don't know that with authority! ....That's the first song I ever put a B minor in. Oh no, it's just a B flat. Don't get excited about the B minor." -- 2011-04-11 - Wexner Center - Columbus, OH
Things Referenced in this Song[]
- The title of the song appears to allude to Operation Entebbe. There is also a 1977 TV movie titled "Raid on Entebbe" that starred Charles Bronson (see also For Charles Bronson).
- The "lake named after a late queen of England" is likely Lake Victoria, adjacent to Entebbe in central Uganda.
- The last lines of the song ("If you'll just put your hand in mine / We're gonna leave all our troubles behind") are taken from the song "Don't Look Back" by the Temptations.
Live Shows this Song Was Played at[]
- 1997-07-16 - Capitol Theater - Olympia, WA
- 1998-02-06 - Cow Haus - Tallahassee, FL
- 1998-04-12 - Brownie's - New York City, NY
- 2009-03-30 - Oberlin College - Oberlin, OH
- 2009-10-13 - Point Ephemere - Paris, France
- 2011-04-11 - Wexner Center - Columbus, OH
- 2020-02-22 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
- 2021-08-16 - Meow Wolf - Santa Fe, NM
| Jack and Faye |
|---|
|
Side One: "Raid on Entebbe" • "Adair" |