With 16 studio albums since 1994, so many interesting, varied and clever songs to choose from the California indie-folk band continuously fronted by John Darnielle, so how about this? Rain in Soho is a tongue-in-cheek apocalyptic goth-parody (aimed amicably at Sisters of Mercy's Andrew Eldritch) from the 2017's album Goths. Full of humorously doom-laden lyrics, literary, biblical, and popular culture references (Batman and a 1971 Boeing hijacker), and a chorus backed by Nashville Symphony Chorus, what's not to like?
[Verse 1]
No one knows where the lone wolf sleeps
No one sees the hidden treasure in the castle keep
No one learns the secret name
No one burns in the absent flame
No one broke D.B. Cooper’s fall
No one hopes to hear the bagman call
Children piping in the main square
But no one’s dancing
No one’s dancing down there.
[Chorus]
The river goes where the water flows
But no one knows when the Batcave closed
The river goes where the water flows
But no one knows when the Batcave closed.
[Verse 2]
No promise sweeter than a blood pact
Nothing harder to go through with than a vanishing act
No morning colder than the first frost
No friends closer than the ones we’ve lost
Nothing sharper than a serpent’s tooth
Nothing harder than the gospel truth
Though you repent and don sackcloth and try to make nice
You can’t cross the same river twice.
[Chorus]
The river goes where the water flows
But no one knows when the Batcave closed
The river goes where the water flows
But no one knows when the Batcave closed.
[Bridge]
There’s a club where you’d like to go
You could meet someone who’s lost like you
Revel in the darkness like a pair of open graves
Fumble through the fog for a season or two.
[Verse 3]
No town more barren than our town
No haven safer than the one they tore down
No greater love than to lay my life down for a friend
No sweeter pleasure than to see the credits clear through to the end
No one knows where the lone wolf’s gone
No one sees it camped out right there in the front lawn
We played for you but you would not sing
No one was going to get away with anything.
[Chorus]
The river goes where the water flows
But no one knows when the Batcave closed
The river goes where the water flows
But no one knows when the Batcave closed.
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