Song for Mark and Joel

Song for Mark and Joel
Album	Beautiful Rat Sunset
Released	1994
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	2:13
Previous Track	"Sendero Luminoso Verdadero"
Next Track	"Going to Maryland"

Song for Mark and Joel is the fifth song on the EP Beautiful Rat Sunset.

Lyrics

I opened up the window and the cold air came in
And I saw a bird on a branch outside
That I had never seen before
He looked a robin, but it had an upside down v-shaped
Red mark on its chest
And I had a special feeling in my mind
I had a special feeling in my mind
I had a certain glint in my eye
On the morning the trouble came by

There was a map of the American Midwest on one wall
And there was a map of the American West on another wall
And there was a map of Rome on the third wall
And there were maps in all directions
I was looking at them, pondering connections
When trouble came by

Then I stuck my head out the window
I had to stick my head out the window
It was much colder than I'd imagined it would be
It was much, much colder than I'd imagined it would be
It was much, much colder
It was much, much colder and trouble came by

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "I wrote this song for Mark and Joel. It's called 'Song for Mark and Joel.'" -- 2013-06-05 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ

Things Referenced in this Song

• "Mark and Joel" are Mark Givens and Joel Huschle of Wckr Spgt. Mark painted Beautiful Rat Sunset's cover art, and Joel provided the rat (named Mr. Do) for the model.

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 1994-02-08 - The Motley Underground - Claremont, CA
• 2013-06-03 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
• 2013-06-04 - Strand-Capitol Performing Arts - York, PA
• 2013-06-05 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
• 2013-06-08 - Port City Music Hall - Portland, ME
• 2013-06-11 - Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead - Munhall, PA
• 2013-06-17 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
• 2013-06-24 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• 2013-10-10 - Arches - Glasgow, Scotland
• 2013-10-13 - People's Place - Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 2013-10-14 - Luxor - Cologne, Germany
• 2013-10-16 - La Gaite Lyrique - Paris, France

Videos of this Song

• 1994-02-08 - The Motley Underground - Claremont, CA
• 2013-06-17 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
• 2013-10-13 - People's Place - Amsterdam, Netherlands