“Last Gasp at Calama” deals with the hypocrisy of invaders explaining how great things with in their peaceful ways.

Track: “Last Gasp at Calama”
Album: Songs for Pierre Chuvin (2020)

“Last Gasp at Calama” references Matthew 7:2, which is the classic verse that tells people not to judge others, lest you be judged yourself. Specifically, the verse says “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” John Darnielle quotes it directly and says “so you say, and it’s true.” The narrator here is reacting to a conquering force with a doctrine that focuses on love and understanding but, well, the force is conquering you.

There are hundreds of songs by other bands that have this same message but feel just as preachy as the message they are rebelling against. “Last Gasp at Calama” is direct, for sure, but it’s crafted from the perspective of someone who is often lost to history. The narrator is “out in the street // free and young” when they meet the new “humorless men” that are conquering their city in what we now call Algeria. We think of events thousands of years ago as happening between nations, but this is a bunch of specific guys impacting one specific person. That’s a unique way to tell the story.

The narrator knows what’s coming, as does almost everyone in Songs for Pierre Chuvin. They know their time is limited, but they also think that their conquerors will get theirs, eventually. The album repeats this message in different ways, but it’s nice here to spend a moment with someone who hopes that before the eventual downfall, maybe someone can chuck some rocks at these specific dudes.