Listen: Volcano Choir Unveil ‘Comrade’ Track

Whichever potion Justin Vernon magically drank in that winter cabin of his, way back on an ice-cold evening in Wisconsin, has started to bubble up. It’s malfunctioning, in part for the better. Vernon’s gone gloriously loopy and Volcano Choir are reaping the rewards.

The twinkling, pensive, occasionally mind-blowing ‘Comrade’ from the band’s ‘Repave’ album sways from drifting to colossally fit-to-burst. The focus, though, is all on the lyrics.

Occasionally swinging into vocoder mode, Vernon comes out with things like:

‘just rid the fucking pulpit’, ‘for a folly-ridden Romeo, you break down a fortress NOW’ and ‘that Ticonderoga’s shit’.

These things need context. Maybe a whole university lecture needs to be devoted to the stuff. They’re posted in full below the player of ‘Comrade’.

‘Repave’ is released on Jagjaguwar, 2nd September.



like i didn’t know it
choking on the pulp of it
semper fi
you kept me on your long line
tugging in the whole time
keep shining on

and that silent head grip…
can’t do it no more

the honey bin
the bunny’s in
is telling you there’s a countdown
oh, damn your eyes

had that one a long time

sorting out the long pipe
hoping that the copper fits
make sure you stay oblivious

said that we could go back
said that we could go find
terra forming!
said that you were coke blind
drinking in dramnesic
tore out at the comrade

that’s a comrade, making a comrade offer

that Ticonderoga’s shit
made my mind and my heart all split up over
the floor of the jackpot
there’s a floor to the jackpot
where’do you rise???

you don’t even lie to me no more

‘ey say you ain’t a comrade
still, i’d know you’d come back
for a folly-ridden Romeo, you break down a fortress NOW
standing out in public
stained with your conscience

i know that you love me
you are just lawless, son

give it another fortnight
eye to eye the culprit
just rid the fucking pulpit
i ain’t giving you another full ride
underneath the combine
said it didn’t bump you right
habitual falling right?

(wow)