Neutral Milk Hotel » Tracks » Oh Comely

Neutral Milk Hotel – Oh Comely (8:16)

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Popular tags: indie, acoustic, lo-fi, folk, indie rock  See more

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About This Track

“Oh Comely” is the most cryptic song on the album yet instrumentally simple. It’s origins seem to stem from an earlier recording entitled “Oh Sister” and was fused with another early song, “Goldaline”. Recorded by Mangum on his own in one take, an admiring cry of “Holy Shit!” can be heard at the end. The song remained relatively unchanged, only the vocals were doubled in places and a horn line was added by Spillane towards the end of the song.

Comely is an old English word meaning someone who is attractive and wholesome. However it appears the title character only appears wholesome to Mangum, and appears to be suffering from depression. The talk of being their when she loses her breath, and crushing any enemies that she has is being particulary prominent, as it seems Mangum wants to protect her. Mangum’s relentless and powerful strum continues when describing the life of the one who is comely in the scond verse. Sudenly the strumming slows and a completely direct and honest verse about Anne Frank appears. Even when trying to protect the title character it seems Mangums want to save Anne Frank in “some sort of time machine” is unrelenting. Last of all apears the lyrics about a certain Rose Wallace Goldaline a siamese twin sister who is being reasured by the other sister while they are freezing in the woods about to be eaten by a strange beast.
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  • opheliasashes

    amazing lyrics, beautiful song <3

    last month

  • dunjchi

    I haven't heard this in years! and I still know all the lyrics. you just can't skip this song once it comes on... it's the law

    last month

  • Srpaco

    HOLY SHIT!

    last month

  • CherryAtomic

    I tried to sing this and it is SO FUCKING HARD. I mean seriously, does the guy ever breathe?! It's wonderful and beautiful and impossible.

    last month

  • Emmings

    Woah.

    last month

  • evanmoore

    damn...

    last month

  • Sjitty

    I wished I could save her in some sort of time machine..

    December 2011

  • lovenerd

    This song feels good

    December 2011

  • cedorris

    This song is a masterpiece.

    December 2011

  • Last_RichFM

    This song brings me to tears. It's full of emotion, raw/pure vocals, and just... I can't explain, it's a feeling that i can't describe. Just one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard in my life. So, Thank you Mr Mangum.

    December 2011

  • prominence_la

    Got lost in this again. "Epic" and "masterpiece" suit this one well.

    December 2011

  • devn3t

    epic.

    December 2011

  • mo0nmilk

    I can't even listen to this anymore..

    December 2011

  • crustlesspie

    A masterpiece.

    November 2011

  • houghster27

    "I know they buried her body with others, her sister and mother and 500 families, and will she remember me 50 years later, I wished I could save her in some sort of time machine" - love how the most direct bit of the entire album, is in arguably the most cryptic song on it

    November 2011

  • CainDavies

    WE KNOW WHO OUR ENEMIES AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE [3]

    November 2011

  • grapejoos

    This was indescribably awesome at Town Hall this weekend. It was so good the audience did two ovations for it. Even Mangum seemed a little taken aback by how powerful it was.

    October 2011

  • houghster27

    some sort of time machine.

    October 2011

  • houghster27

    HOLY SHIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

    October 2011

  • Ocean_ic

    so fucking beautiful and epic.

    October 2011
See all 343 shouts

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