Death Cab for Cutie — Foxglove Through The Clearcut
Album: Asphalt MeadowsAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1367
Length: 5:03
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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There was a man who used to live by the ocean
But he never set foot in the sea
It made him nervous that the water was always in motion
And he feared the creatures who swam beneath
And when I asked him how he'd ended up there
Above a world he would never know
He said he'd driven all the way across America
And when he got to the edge there was nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
He said that nothing lives long, only the earth and the mountains
As he quoted black kettle's death song
The words drifting off into the emptiness
Of this great land where we've never belonged
And while the frontiers are ever-expanding
Our living rooms fall into disarray
And no one seems interested in fixing what they've broken
They just sweep the pieces into the bushes and slip away
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
And now he and I watch the foxglove grow through the clearcut
Where a forest once grew high and wild
For what is a funeral without flowers
And ten thousand tombstones reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
But he never set foot in the sea
It made him nervous that the water was always in motion
And he feared the creatures who swam beneath
And when I asked him how he'd ended up there
Above a world he would never know
He said he'd driven all the way across America
And when he got to the edge there was nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
Nowhere left to go
He said that nothing lives long, only the earth and the mountains
As he quoted black kettle's death song
The words drifting off into the emptiness
Of this great land where we've never belonged
And while the frontiers are ever-expanding
Our living rooms fall into disarray
And no one seems interested in fixing what they've broken
They just sweep the pieces into the bushes and slip away
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
And now he and I watch the foxglove grow through the clearcut
Where a forest once grew high and wild
For what is a funeral without flowers
And ten thousand tombstones reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Reaching for the sky
Comments (50)add comment
You're kidding right ? this is
Mello?
this gets me every time… i love it
You know, it's a great sentiment in this song, but my goodness this song is way overplayed. Less of this and less Billie Eilash please, Bill.
I appreciate the off-beat stuff. SKALD rocks and you introduced me to Gotye way before they had a hit in the U.S.
I appreciate the off-beat stuff. SKALD rocks and you introduced me to Gotye way before they had a hit in the U.S.
Unpopular opinion: I like the melody, but have to pass on the spoken word lyrics. It's distracting.
I like it! : )
Flight of the concords would do a great job of this…
I have such a strong emotional reaction to these lyrics that I love/dread when this song comes on
Poignant, moving, difficult to clear from my mind after it's over...
7 => 8
This is the first of their songs that I've wholeheartedly liked. It's great when a band gets better as they go.
I was looking forward to hearing this live tomorrow - unfortunately notice of cancellation due to illness came through a little while ago. Pity - I'm liking songs off this album better then more I hear them
He said he'd driven all the way across America
And when he got to the edge there was nowhere left to go...
Very existential poetic lyrics.
Love.
when the first spoken lyric started, thought of Frank Black. Nice variation for the band and it gets more interesting with each listen. May not last but am 'enjoying it while'...
This is so cathartic, wash of emotion and clean breath out
these guys are so good at the emotional swells and space in the music, LOVE EM
Easy 8
these guys are so good at the emotional swells and space in the music, LOVE EM
Easy 8
springof63 wrote:
Interesting read. Wonder if it was intentionally changed from White Antelope (as referenced in that article) to Black Kettle (who lived that day...) ?
I don't know why exactly but the words "Nothing lives long, except the Earth and the Mountains, As he quoted black kettle's death song" intrigued me enough to google them. It led me to this https://markloveshistory.com/2...
If true, that was an unpleasant and eye-opening revelation.
I dunno what else to say at this point....
Interesting read. Wonder if it was intentionally changed from White Antelope (as referenced in that article) to Black Kettle (who lived that day...) ?
springof63 wrote:
Yes, and while it's arguable whether CO gov John Evans at the time played a direct role, his policies and reaction are leading a drive to change the name of Mt. Evans , a 14er viewable from Denver.
I don't know why exactly but the words "Nothing lives long, except the Earth and the Mountains, As he quoted black kettle's death song" intrigued me enough to google them. It led me to this https://markloveshistory.com/2...
If true, that was an unpleasant and eye-opening revelation.
I dunno what else to say at this point....
Yes, and while it's arguable whether CO gov John Evans at the time played a direct role, his policies and reaction are leading a drive to change the name of Mt. Evans , a 14er viewable from Denver.
Just upgraded this to a 10! I'll have to find Dances With Wolves - I've found the CD I bought when the film came out!!
The more I hear and listen to this track the more I love it - how appropriate it is for our times
A striking piece of music. I know this sounds funny, but I'm finding it hard to rate it as I'm not sure how much I like it. I suspect I'll work it out after a few more listens.
MilSF1 wrote:
I always listen to the music first... lyrics way later. I like the music so far.
I really like most DCfC, but this feels like a song written by a 20yr old kid on his second joint in the dorm room. Shallow pretending to be deep.
Loving the lyrics.
"a world he would never know"
We all have many worlds we will never know
We all have many worlds we will never know
I love Death Cab generally but this one isn't doing it for me. 
I can see where the photo for the album cover was shot from my kitchen window :)
I really like most DCfC, but this feels like a song written by a 20yr old kid on his second joint in the dorm room. Shallow pretending to be deep.
What a fanatastic track - so different from other DCFC tracks - I even had to look up about Black Kettle - I wonder if Dances With Wolves is based on this most interesting Native American
Felt this song was a bit of a departure for Death Cab, but it grows on me each listen. Also some compelling lyrics.
topleftcorner wrote:
The verse about the foxgloves. I live near Seattle on a wooded lot and foxgloves grow wherever there are clearings, which there are more and more. So many invasive species here. I tried to remove them, but it's proven to be a losing battle.
This is one of the saddest pieces I've ever heard. Reminds me of the first time I saw a clearcut forest on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, above the ocean. Sad indeed.
The verse about the foxgloves. I live near Seattle on a wooded lot and foxgloves grow wherever there are clearings, which there are more and more. So many invasive species here. I tried to remove them, but it's proven to be a losing battle.
I don't know why exactly but the words "Nothing lives long, except the Earth and the Mountains, As he quoted black kettle's death song" intrigued me enough to google them. It led me to this https://markloveshistory.com/2...
If true, that was an unpleasant and eye-opening revelation.
I dunno what else to say at this point....
If true, that was an unpleasant and eye-opening revelation.
I dunno what else to say at this point....
This is dreamy in the best possible way...
Hey it's Deathcab not sounding like Deathcab. That's a good thing. Really like this one
Van Morrison style
It is all becoming a memory
tomperth1 wrote:
I´ve to update this for some reason. Great to hear new DCFC - Cheers, William!
Great to hear new DCFC - Cheers, Bill!
I´ve to update this for some reason. Great to hear new DCFC - Cheers, William!
This is the 2nd time I've heard it. The first time, I wished Ben had sung rather than spoken the primary lyrics. This is growing on me, but I still kinda wish it was sung. That said, it was the song that stood out to me the most from my first spin of the album.
Compelling, different and tuneful. Certainly not the Death Cab I have come to know and to usually psd. I would listen to this one anytime. I'll start it at 7. Nice track.
The sound reminds me of Tranatlantacism, still my favorite DCFC album
Regardless of however much I like the song or how high I 'rate a record', at this first listen, I sure do appreciate the lean towards introducing the newest music and the (to me) slightly expanded dj introduction. I'm not quoting directly, but "Hey, you guys really should listen to this, it's really good." is nice to hear on the radio.
Thanks William and the new crew. I think you're getting it right.
Thanks William and the new crew. I think you're getting it right.
Today is 9/16/2022 and I’m hearing this for the first time. Instant 10🙏
This is one of the saddest pieces I've ever heard. Reminds me of the first time I saw a clearcut forest on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, above the ocean. Sad indeed.
Very sad reading: “Nothing lives for long. Except the Earth and the Mountains.”
Black Kettle's Death Song
Black Kettle's Death Song
Cool. Music from the future. This is 8/25/2022 and the album will be released on 9/16/2022. Next time please post what price the SP500 will be trading at 3 weeks in the future too. I'll donate a portion of the proceeds to RP! Also, and more importantly, this is an interesting song.
Great to hear new DCFC - Cheers, Bill!
Oh my! Lovely...
Yay! New Death Cab!
Was working and this came on... Made me stop to check it out. First impression: Wow, this is different, and quite nice! Was surprised to see it was Death Cab.
I thought this was King Missile.
Love the poetry.
Interesting and compelling, need to hear it a few more times
You're kidding right ? this is Mello?
I just caught it in the Mellow mix today. So it's still in the Mellow lineup It's got to be an error