Raja Vocative

Raja Vocative
Album	Orange Raja, Blood Royal
Released	1995
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	2:06
Previous Track	"The Only Thing I Know"
Next Track	"Hatha Hill"

Raja Vocative is the third song on the single Orange Raja, Blood Royal. It was re-released on the compilation Ghana.

Lyrics

A bird you would've liked brought the sky down
But it was useless to see it without you around
And in the unstoppable camera of my mind's eye
I saw you and some foreign guy

And I could hear your voice ringing
I could hear you singing
From all the way across the country in Palm Springs
I can hear you now

Your laughter tore through the New Jersey night
And I can't stand it that I'm alright
Stood out on the balcony and I took a look around
And a bird we would've loved the sight of brought the sky down

And I can hear your voice ringing
I can hear you singing
From all the way across the country in Palm Springs
I can hear you now

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "This is a song written by a much younger man than me who had the same Social Security number. It's a love song." -- 2008-03-02 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
• "There is maybe one person alive who would be able to do the decoding necessary to get at the truth of the matter, and she isn’t talking." -- "A Constant Reminder That People Burn And So Does Time" (May 2008)

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 1994-08-18 - Under ACME - New York, NY
• 1995-04-12 - Simplon - Groningen, The Netherlands
• 1995-04-15 - Underground - Cologne, Germany
• 1996-03-14 - Broadway Kino - Essen, Belgium
• 1996-08-30 - Knitting Factory - New York, NY
• 1996-09-02 - Tokyo Rose - Charlottesville, VA
• 1996-09-03 - Fletcher's - Baltimore, MD
• 1996-09-11 - Argo - Denton, TX
• 1996-11-22 - Slattery's - Dublin, Ireland
• 1997-04-04 - Duke Coffeehouse - Durham, NC
• 1997-06-14 - Zoot's - Detroit, MI
• 1999-01-24 - Echo Lounge - Atlanta, GA
• 1999-07-23 - CBGB - New York City, NY
• 2003-08-23 - Breadstretchers - Springfield, IL
• 2004-10-04 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
• 2005-07-04 - Fulton Mall Parking Garage - Brooklyn, NY
• 2008-03-02 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
• 2008-03-04 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
• 2008-05-26 - Daytrotter Session - Daytrotter Studio - Rock Island, IL
• 2008-10-18 - In the Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
• 2009-06-14 - Zoop II - Farm Sanctuary - Watkins Glen, NY
• 2009-08-21 - Durham Be Easy Festival - Durham, NC
• 2009-11-19 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
• 2009-11-20 - Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN
• 2011-04-01 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
• 2012-01-27 - Cafe Eleven - St. Augustine, FL
• 2012-07-xx - Gothamist House Session - Florida Keys Recording Studio Rooftop - Queens, NY
• 2015-04-11 - City Winery - New York, NY
• 2015-11-17 - Trinity - Bristol, England
• 2016-12-16 - House Show for Scott - Cherry Hill, NJ
• 2017-06-28 - Columbus Theatre - Providence, RI
• 2017-09-06 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
• 2017-09-13 - Englert Theatre - Iowa City, IA
• 2019-11-14 - De Helling - Utrecht, The Netherlands
• 2022-04-29 - Ventura Music Hall - Ventura, CA
• 2022-05-09 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR
• 2022-05-21 - The Sylvee - Madison, WI
• 2022-09-09 - Bogart's - Cincinnati, OH
• 2022-11-16 - Roundhouse - London, England
• 2022-11-18 - Vicar Street - Dublin, Ireland
• 2023-02-15 - Mickey's Black Box - Lititz, PA
• 2023-10-28 - Longhorn Ballroom - Dallas, TX

Videos of this Song

• 1995-04-12 - Simplon - Groningen, The Netherlands
• 2008-03-02 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
• 2009-06-14 - Zoop II - Farm Sanctuary - Watkins Glen, NY
• 2009-08-21 - Durham Be Easy Festival - Durham, NC
• 2012-07-xx - Gothamist House Session - Florida Keys Recording Studio Rooftop - Queens, NY
• 2015-11-17 - Trinity - Bristol, England