Stars Fell on Alabama

Stars Fell on Alabama
Album	Nine Black Poppies
Released	1995
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	2:42
Previous Track	"Nine Black Poppies"
Next Track	"Lonesome Surprise"

Stars Fell on Alabama is the eighth song on the Nine Black Poppies EP.

Lyrics

You looked real calm as we made our way up the walk
There were lazy kisses, and hands brushing and small talk	
The moon was high, your smooth face was dry
And the kudzu grew

And the stars fell on Alabama
And your eyes filled up with light
And the stars fell on Alabama

The warm earth underneath us gave way
Dry grass crinkled like paper as a breeze came in across the bay
Cold clean water nearby glimmered in your eyes 
And your pistol glistened

And the stars fell on Alabama
And your eyes filled up with light
And the stars fell on Alabama
But if you think I'll take a bullet for you, you're dreaming

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "We haven't played 'Stars Fell on Alabama' all tour. I've been agitating to get it back but we haven't had time to practice it. Are you down for it? Okay. Look, if we play it, and it goes poorly, you have to get collective amnesia very quickly and just go, 'Oh, that was a nice set. They never even tried to play that one song that didn't work out so good.' Is that cool? Okay, thank you." -- 2003-02-05 - Hanbury Ballroom - Brighton, England

Things Referenced in this Song

The title references a jazz standard of the same title from 1934 composed by Frank Perkins with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 1996-02-25 - Tower Musikclub - Bremen, Germany
• 1996-11-02 - Gothenburg Radio - Gothenburg, Sweden
• 1996-11-11 - Schauspielhaus - Bochum, Germany
• 1997-06-16 - Club Laga - Pittsburgh, PA
• 1997-12-06 - The Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
• 1998-04-04 - Duke Coffeehouse - Durham, NC
• 1999-12-02 - Columbus, OH
• 2001-06-23 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
• 2003-02-05 - Hanbury Ballroom - Brighton, England
• 2003-02-14 - Substanz - Munich, Germany
• 2017-12-14 - Holocene - Portland, OR
• 2023-02-15 - Mickey's Black Box - Lititz, PA
• 2024-01-19 - Saturn - Birmingham, AL