The narrators in “Their Gods Do Not Have Surgeons” see the writing on the wall and are worried about what it means.

Track: “Their Gods Do Not Have Surgeons”
Album: Songs for Pierre Chuvin (2020)

You cannot make many sweeping statements about the Mountain Goats without running into contradictions. I want to say that the characters in these songs have become quieter and more introspective over time, but I’m not sure that’s true. I do feel a sense, having listened to the entire history again, song by song, for years now, that the characters have evolved the way we all evolve. As we age, one would hope, we become more aware of our responsibility in situations. The early narrators are angry that people don’t connect with them but the more recent ones start to understand they are part of the problem. There are obviously problems with that thesis, but allow it to me, for a minute.

The narrators across Songs for Pierre Chuvin do not fit into either part of this because they are presented, largely, as blameless. An invading force takes them out. Darnielle’s perspective is to present their last moments and their rebellion before it all goes away. “Their Gods Do Not Have Surgeons” finds a plea from the conquered to the conquerors to ask them to show the mercy that they supposedly bring. Further than that, the song demands basic ideas that the new civilization supposedly prides themselves on: beauty, peace, community.

It’s not that these narrators need to be contrite, it’s that the delivery of the song tells us they think this approach might work. At the very least, bluster and open rebellion isn’t an option anymore. Those are easy, even appropriate, responses. But what do you have left when that fails?