MOG

It seems like someone (brother?) is running away from his problems or the mistakes he made.  maybe they are trying to tell him that he doesn't need to face it all alone.

or it could just be that I think this because it's what i do (avoiding dealing with problems while alienating people that offer to help). :)

Deg, I'm with you on this one.  I don't know if it's an actually brother or not, but I'm convinced the voice is trying to help his brother. 

He might be struggling with an addiction. There are a few things that make me think this:

• First off Mykonos could be some sort of rehab facitlity - many are scenic and meant to be relaxing. He's going to Mykonos to "dissipate shadows of the mess you [he] made"
  
• The fact that he turns his brother away has got to be significant and many addicts do become reclusive from friends and family. (I'm still stuck on the ancient gate bit...)
• He remembered when they took him down - this to me is clearly an intervention of sorts.   A forcefull admittance into rehab.
• Finally I feel the voice is upset with his brother - this is why he reminds him how hard it is to find a friend in tough times - in the end I feel the voice is fed up and "You go wherever you go today, you go today" is his way of saying get it together or get lost.

I could be off, maybe "you go today" is more of a push to get help.  Also "brother you don't need to turn me away" could really be the addicts clear denial or fight about the intervention..

interesting, I didn't even think of addiction, but it could be. especially with the "took you down" bit.

I'm not sure about the "ancient gate" either, but some reason I picture him standing at the gate of his brothers house, not being allowed in. It's probably less literal than that, but I can't help picturing it anyway.

I was thinking of "you go today" as more of a observation; like he sees his brother disappearing away from offered help, the way he often does.   but with your whole addiction/rehab idea, it does seem more like a demand.

these guys are pretty much kicking ass.  amazing how when things like this are good, the meme spreads so godamn fast on the web. 

i remember hearing the word amy winehouse for the first time and that spread like wildfire too.

Isnt mykonos just a Greek island where tourists and celebrities go for the 'incredible' night-life? I just think its written for the sake of rhyme, especially the ancient gate bit. fleet foxes' frontman actually admitted when asked about the meaning of White Winter Hymnal, that it's really just for rhyme.