Here we come to a turning of the season
Witness to the arc towards the sun
The neighbors blessed burden, within reason
Becomes a burden borne of all in one
[Chorus:]
But nobody, nobody knows
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders
Don't carry it all, don't carry it all
We are all our hands in holders
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
But this I swear to all
A monument to build beneath the arbors
Upon a cliff the that towers towards the trees
But every vessel pitching hard to starboard
Lay it's head on summers freckled knees
[Chorus:]
And nobody, nobody knows
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders
Don't carry it all don't carry it all
We are all our hands in holders
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
This I swear to all, this I swear to all
Buried wreath of trillium and ivy
Laid upon the body of the boy
Lazy will the long come from it's hiding
Return his quiet certitude to the soil
So raise a glass to turnings of the season
And watch it as it arcs towards the sun
And you must bear your neighbor's burden within reason
And your labors will be borne when all is done
[Chorus:]
And nobody, nobody knows
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders
Don't carry it all don't carry it all
We are all our hands in holders
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
And this I swear to all
And this I swear to all
And this I swear to all
To all, to all, to all
The Decemberists - The King Is Dead Album Lyrics
The Decemberists - The King Is Dead Lyrics
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Calamity Song
Had a dream
You and me and the war at the end times
And I believe
California succumbed to the fault line
We heaved relief
As scores of innocents died
And the Andalusian tribes
Setting the lay of Nebraska alight
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angel
Hetty Green
Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab
If you know what I mean
On the road
It's well-advised to follow your own path
In the year of the chewable Ambien tab
And the Panamanian child
Stands at the Dowager Empress's side
And all the remains is the arms of the angel
And all the remains is the arms of the angels
And you've receded into loam
And they're picking at your bones
Will call cold
We'll come home
Quiet now
Will we gather to conjure the rain down
Will we now
Build a civilization below ground
And I'll be crowned
The community kicked it around
And the Andalusian tribes
Setting the lay of Nebraska alight
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angel
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angels
You and me and the war at the end times
And I believe
California succumbed to the fault line
We heaved relief
As scores of innocents died
And the Andalusian tribes
Setting the lay of Nebraska alight
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angel
Hetty Green
Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab
If you know what I mean
On the road
It's well-advised to follow your own path
In the year of the chewable Ambien tab
And the Panamanian child
Stands at the Dowager Empress's side
And all the remains is the arms of the angel
And all the remains is the arms of the angels
And you've receded into loam
And they're picking at your bones
Will call cold
We'll come home
Quiet now
Will we gather to conjure the rain down
Will we now
Build a civilization below ground
And I'll be crowned
The community kicked it around
And the Andalusian tribes
Setting the lay of Nebraska alight
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angel
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angels
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Rise to Me
Big mountain, wide river,
There's an ancient call,
These tree trunks, these stream beds,
Leave our bellies full
They sing out, I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
Hey Henry, can you hear me,
Let me see those eyes
This distance, between us
Can seem a mountain size
But boy, you are gonna stand your ground
They rise to you you'll blow them down
Let me see you stand your ground
They rise to you you'll blow them down
My darling, my sweetheart,
I am in your sway,
Two cold climbs, come spring time
So let me hear you say, my love
I am gonna stand my ground, they rise to me and I'll blow them down
I am gonna stand my ground, they rise to me and I'll blow them down
'Cause I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
There's an ancient call,
These tree trunks, these stream beds,
Leave our bellies full
They sing out, I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
Hey Henry, can you hear me,
Let me see those eyes
This distance, between us
Can seem a mountain size
But boy, you are gonna stand your ground
They rise to you you'll blow them down
Let me see you stand your ground
They rise to you you'll blow them down
My darling, my sweetheart,
I am in your sway,
Two cold climbs, come spring time
So let me hear you say, my love
I am gonna stand my ground, they rise to me and I'll blow them down
I am gonna stand my ground, they rise to me and I'll blow them down
'Cause I am gonna stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Rox in the Box
If the rocks in the box
Get the water right down to your socks
This bulkhead's built of fallen brethren's bones
We all do what we can
We endure our fellow man
And we sing our songs to the headframe's creaks and moans
And it's one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
What were you meant for
And it's seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And you won't make a dime
On this gray granite mountain mine
Of dirt you're made and of dirt you will return
So while we're living here
Let's get this little one thing clear
There's plenty of men to die, you don't jump your turn
And it's one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
What were you meant for
And it's seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And it's one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
Whatever you're meant for
And it's seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
Get the water right down to your socks
This bulkhead's built of fallen brethren's bones
We all do what we can
We endure our fellow man
And we sing our songs to the headframe's creaks and moans
And it's one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
What were you meant for
And it's seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And you won't make a dime
On this gray granite mountain mine
Of dirt you're made and of dirt you will return
So while we're living here
Let's get this little one thing clear
There's plenty of men to die, you don't jump your turn
And it's one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
What were you meant for
And it's seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And it's one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
Whatever you're meant for
And it's seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won't make it again
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
January Hymn
On a winter's Sunday I go
To clear away the snow
And green the ground below
April all an ocean away
Is this a better way to spend the day?
Keeping the winter at bay
What were the words I meant to say
Before you left
When I could see your breath lead
Where you were going to
Maybe I should just let it be
And maybe it will all come back to me
Seeing, oh, January, oh
How I lived a childhood in the snow
And all my teens in tow
Stuffed in strata of clothes
Hail the winter days after dark
Wandering the gray memorial park
A fleeting beating of hearts
What were the words I meant to say
Before she left
When I could see her breath lead
Where she was going to
Maybe I should just let it be
And maybe it will all come back to me
Seeing, oh, Janu...
Oh, January, oh
To clear away the snow
And green the ground below
April all an ocean away
Is this a better way to spend the day?
Keeping the winter at bay
What were the words I meant to say
Before you left
When I could see your breath lead
Where you were going to
Maybe I should just let it be
And maybe it will all come back to me
Seeing, oh, January, oh
How I lived a childhood in the snow
And all my teens in tow
Stuffed in strata of clothes
Hail the winter days after dark
Wandering the gray memorial park
A fleeting beating of hearts
What were the words I meant to say
Before she left
When I could see her breath lead
Where she was going to
Maybe I should just let it be
And maybe it will all come back to me
Seeing, oh, Janu...
Oh, January, oh
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Down By The Water
See this ancient riverbed
See where all the follies are led
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
I was just some tow-head teen
Feeling 'round for fingers to get in between
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
The season rubs me wrong
The summer swells anon
So knock me down, tear me up
But I would bear it all broken just to fill my cup
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Sweet descend this rabble round
The pretty little patter of a seaport town
Rolling in the water and rolling down the old main drag
All dolled up in gabardine
The lash-flashing Leda of Pier nineteen
Queen of the water and queen of the old main drag
The season rubs me wrong
The summer swells anon
So knock me down, tear me up
But I would bear it all broken just to fill my cup
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
The season rubs me wrong
The summer swells anon
So knock me down, tear me up
But I would bear it all broken just to fill my cup
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
See where all the follies are led
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
I was just some tow-head teen
Feeling 'round for fingers to get in between
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
The season rubs me wrong
The summer swells anon
So knock me down, tear me up
But I would bear it all broken just to fill my cup
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Sweet descend this rabble round
The pretty little patter of a seaport town
Rolling in the water and rolling down the old main drag
All dolled up in gabardine
The lash-flashing Leda of Pier nineteen
Queen of the water and queen of the old main drag
The season rubs me wrong
The summer swells anon
So knock me down, tear me up
But I would bear it all broken just to fill my cup
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
The season rubs me wrong
The summer swells anon
So knock me down, tear me up
But I would bear it all broken just to fill my cup
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Down by the water and down by the old main drag
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
All Arise!
Baby wants a new spin
Baby wants a broken heart
Hear you found a lynchpin to keep it all from falling apart
But you keep on rollin'
You keep on rollin'
Better find a way
Better kick it from your big, brown eyes
Hear it tightens up when you fall after fifty tries
Like a ship at ocean
Like a ship at ocean
Like a ship at ocean
Like a ship at sea
You spit thick and you cross your heart
But the culvert's all run dry
From keeping shotgun shy all arise
Just be mine tonight
So the dollar shot shot broke the law and they knocked you down
Better call the coppers if you need someone to push you around
But you keep on stealin'
You keep on stealin'
Yes, you keep on stealin'
Well, there's nothing left to steal
You spit thick and you cross your heart
But the culvert's all run dry
From keeping shotgun shy all arise
Just be mine tonight
Just be mine tonight
Just be mine tonight
Baby wants a broken heart
Hear you found a lynchpin to keep it all from falling apart
But you keep on rollin'
You keep on rollin'
Better find a way
Better kick it from your big, brown eyes
Hear it tightens up when you fall after fifty tries
Like a ship at ocean
Like a ship at ocean
Like a ship at ocean
Like a ship at sea
You spit thick and you cross your heart
But the culvert's all run dry
From keeping shotgun shy all arise
Just be mine tonight
So the dollar shot shot broke the law and they knocked you down
Better call the coppers if you need someone to push you around
But you keep on stealin'
You keep on stealin'
Yes, you keep on stealin'
Well, there's nothing left to steal
You spit thick and you cross your heart
But the culvert's all run dry
From keeping shotgun shy all arise
Just be mine tonight
Just be mine tonight
Just be mine tonight
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
June Hymn
Here's a hymn to welcome in the day
Heralding a summer's early sway
And all the bulbs all comin' in
To begin
The thrushes' bleeding battle with the wrens
Disrupts my reverie again
Pegging clothing on the line
Training jasmine how to vine
Up the arbor to your door
And more
Standing on the landing with the war
You shouldered all the night before
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
A barony of ivy in the trees
Expanding out its empire by degrees
And all the branches burst abloom
In the boom
Heaven sent this cardinal maroon
To decorate our living room
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And years from now when this old light
Isn't ambling anymore
Will I bring myself to write
"I give my best to Springville Hill"
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And summer comes to Springville Hill
Heralding a summer's early sway
And all the bulbs all comin' in
To begin
The thrushes' bleeding battle with the wrens
Disrupts my reverie again
Pegging clothing on the line
Training jasmine how to vine
Up the arbor to your door
And more
Standing on the landing with the war
You shouldered all the night before
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
A barony of ivy in the trees
Expanding out its empire by degrees
And all the branches burst abloom
In the boom
Heaven sent this cardinal maroon
To decorate our living room
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And years from now when this old light
Isn't ambling anymore
Will I bring myself to write
"I give my best to Springville Hill"
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And summer comes to Springville Hill
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
This Is Why We Fight
Come the war
Come the avarice
Come the war
Come hell
Come attrition
Come the reek of bones
Come attrition
Come hell
This is why
Why we fight
Why we lie awake
And this is why
This is why we fight
When we die
We will die
With our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why
Why we fight
Come hell
Bride of quiet
Bride of all unquiet things
Bride of quiet
Bride of hell
Come the archers
Come the infantry
Come the archers
Of hell
This is why
Why we fight
Why we lie awake
This is why
This is why we fight
And when we die
We will die
With our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why we fight
Come hell
Come hell
This is why
Why we fight
Why we lie awake
This is why
This is why we fight
When we die
We will die with our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why we fight
So come to me
Come to me now
Lay your arms around me
And this is why
This is why
We fight
Come hell
Come hell
Come hell
Come hell
Come the avarice
Come the war
Come hell
Come attrition
Come the reek of bones
Come attrition
Come hell
This is why
Why we fight
Why we lie awake
And this is why
This is why we fight
When we die
We will die
With our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why
Why we fight
Come hell
Bride of quiet
Bride of all unquiet things
Bride of quiet
Bride of hell
Come the archers
Come the infantry
Come the archers
Of hell
This is why
Why we fight
Why we lie awake
This is why
This is why we fight
And when we die
We will die
With our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why we fight
Come hell
Come hell
This is why
Why we fight
Why we lie awake
This is why
This is why we fight
When we die
We will die with our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why we fight
So come to me
Come to me now
Lay your arms around me
And this is why
This is why
We fight
Come hell
Come hell
Come hell
Come hell
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Dear Avery
Dear Avery, I think of you only
Were you waving, were you dead on the vine
Oh Avery, I think of you lonely
But I could just grab you by the nape of your neck
There are times life will rattle your bones
And will bend your limbs
You're still far away the boy you've ever been
So you bend back and shake at the frame
Of the frame you made
But don't you shake alone
Please Avery, come home
Headstrong, you and your long arms
Listing lazily on the cusp of your tease
But you were my Avery and when you needed saving
I could just grab you by the nape of your neck
There are times life will rattle your bones
And will bend your limbs
You're still far and away the boy you've ever been
So you bend back and shake at the frame
Of the frame you made
But don't you shake alone
Please Avery, come home
Don't you shake alone
Please Avery, come home
Come home
Were you waving, were you dead on the vine
Oh Avery, I think of you lonely
But I could just grab you by the nape of your neck
There are times life will rattle your bones
And will bend your limbs
You're still far away the boy you've ever been
So you bend back and shake at the frame
Of the frame you made
But don't you shake alone
Please Avery, come home
Headstrong, you and your long arms
Listing lazily on the cusp of your tease
But you were my Avery and when you needed saving
I could just grab you by the nape of your neck
There are times life will rattle your bones
And will bend your limbs
You're still far and away the boy you've ever been
So you bend back and shake at the frame
Of the frame you made
But don't you shake alone
Please Avery, come home
Don't you shake alone
Please Avery, come home
Come home
Writer: COLIN MELOY
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
The King Is Dead is the sixth studio album by The Decemberists, released on Capitol Records on January 14, 2011. Described as the "most pastoral, rustic record they've ever made" by Douglas Wolk of Rolling Stone, the album reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart for the week ending February 5, 2011. The song "This Is Why We Fight" reached number 19 on the U.S Alternative Songs Chart, while the song "Down by the Water" also charted in the United States. In November 2011, the band released an EP of album out-takes, entitled Long Live the King.
Prior to the album's release, frontman Colin Meloy stated: "If there's anything academic about this record, or me trying to force myself in a direction, it was realising that the last three records were really influenced by the British folk revival [...] this whole world that I was discovering, that I was poring over, learning inside-out. It was a wanting to get away from that. And looking back into more American traditions, reconnecting with more American music."
Performed By:
The DecemberistsPrior to the album's release, frontman Colin Meloy stated: "If there's anything academic about this record, or me trying to force myself in a direction, it was realising that the last three records were really influenced by the British folk revival [...] this whole world that I was discovering, that I was poring over, learning inside-out. It was a wanting to get away from that. And looking back into more American traditions, reconnecting with more American music."
Genre(s): Indie folk, indie rock, folk rock, Americana
Length: 40:26
Released: January 14th, 2011
Year: 2011