The Decemberists — Lake Song
Album: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful WorldAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 462
Length: 5:47
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Down by the lake
We were overturning pebbles
And upending all the animals alight
And I took a drag
From your cigarette and pinched it
'Tween my finger and my thumb
Till it died
And the sun burned low on the radio
Say that you will
Say you will or will you won't
Or you whatever you prevaricate
Your whole life, don't you?
This much I can say:
I would've waited till the oceans
Fell Away and all the sunken cities
Would reveal themselves to you
But you won't, will you?
Because you never do
And the sun burned through
Sweet as honeydew
And I
Seventeen and terminally fey
I wrote it down and threw it all away
Never gave a thought to what I paid
And you
All sibylline, reclining in your pew
You tattered me, you tethered me to you
The things you would and wouldn't do
To tell the truth I never had a clue
Now we arise
To curse those young suburban villains
And their ill-begotten children from the lawn
Come to me now
And on this station wagon window
Set the ghost of your two footprints
That they might haunt me when you're gone
And when the light broke dawn
You were forever gone
But I remember you:
You were full
You were full and sweet as honeydew
And I
Seventeen and terminally fey
I wrote it down and threw it all away
And never gave a thought to what I paid
All sibylline, reclining in your pew
You tattered me, you tethered me to you
The things you would and wouldn't do
You noticed how I never had a clue
Never had a clue
You were full and sweet as honeydew
You were full and sweet as honeydew
We were overturning pebbles
And upending all the animals alight
And I took a drag
From your cigarette and pinched it
'Tween my finger and my thumb
Till it died
And the sun burned low on the radio
Say that you will
Say you will or will you won't
Or you whatever you prevaricate
Your whole life, don't you?
This much I can say:
I would've waited till the oceans
Fell Away and all the sunken cities
Would reveal themselves to you
But you won't, will you?
Because you never do
And the sun burned through
Sweet as honeydew
And I
Seventeen and terminally fey
I wrote it down and threw it all away
Never gave a thought to what I paid
And you
All sibylline, reclining in your pew
You tattered me, you tethered me to you
The things you would and wouldn't do
To tell the truth I never had a clue
Now we arise
To curse those young suburban villains
And their ill-begotten children from the lawn
Come to me now
And on this station wagon window
Set the ghost of your two footprints
That they might haunt me when you're gone
And when the light broke dawn
You were forever gone
But I remember you:
You were full
You were full and sweet as honeydew
And I
Seventeen and terminally fey
I wrote it down and threw it all away
And never gave a thought to what I paid
All sibylline, reclining in your pew
You tattered me, you tethered me to you
The things you would and wouldn't do
You noticed how I never had a clue
Never had a clue
You were full and sweet as honeydew
You were full and sweet as honeydew
Comments (23)add comment
I am over the moon that the Decemberists are coming to Vancouver BC on the 29th of July. I have my tickets and a shit eating grin!
When I first started to listen to this track I really thought this was Rodriguez and then I remebered he's never played - which is a great shame as he does have some lovely songs AND if you've never seen the documentary 'Searching for Sugarman' do - this is a great story.
should my 8 become a 9... No it is now a 10!
such a shoking good band
such a shoking good band
crogers wrote:
It could, of course, be a work of imaginative fiction.
Myself, I find this song to be almost embarrassingly personal, lovely in sound, sweet in meaning and simply beautiful in total. If you've never had a love that you felt strongly and painfully about, down in your core, while knowing all the while that it could never really last because of who you are or who (s)he is, well... this song might be lost on you.
But, if you have had that feeling and found yourself willing to sacrifice your very soul for the love — "seventeen and terminally fey", "you were full and sweet as honeydew", "i wrote it down and threw it all away" — this song deserves a deeper listen, especially if you're cognizant of the writer's orientation. And turn it up for Pete's sake — that's what headphones and earbuds were invented for! There is humanity going on in there — but you gotta listen to hear it!
I think it takes courage to write songs like this and that lends a lot to my overall appreciation of the piece. I really do get that it's not everyone's angle - and if you just can't stand it, I've certainly been there, I understand, there's the door. But if an artist has the guts to put these feelings out there on display, perhaps we putzes can respect that enough to find three minutes to give it a thorough listen and a fair shake. Don't let the fear of feeling something keep you from feeling anything.
It could, of course, be a work of imaginative fiction.
Wow. A tune by The Decemberists that I didn't hit skip on.
Glorious Beauty Begins Within .... 10/10
when I was younger ~ I was green
and as I grew ~ a lighter shade
but as I grow ~ it seems to me
the green will never ~ really ever fade
RabbitEars wrote:
All good stuff. Makes a lot more sense then most (not all) of the music being offered today
Thought for a sec it was Nick Drake, but Colin Meloy’s own talents share his spirit - thanks boys, I’ll be getting your tracks soon! MM
down to 5 for the nihilistic album title
Superb!
Reminds me of the Australian band The Whitlams.
Reminds me of the Australian band The Whitlams.
crogers wrote:Myself, I find this song to be almost embarrassingly personal, lovely in sound, sweet in meaning and simply beautiful in total. If you've never had a love that you felt strongly and painfully about, down in your core, while knowing all the while that it could never really last because of who you are or who (s)he is, well... this song might be lost on you.
But, if you have had that feeling and found yourself willing to sacrifice your very soul for the love — "seventeen and terminally fey", "you were full and sweet as honeydew", "i wrote it down and threw it all away" — this song deserves a deeper listen, especially if you're cognizant of the writer's orientation. And turn it up for Pete's sake — that's what headphones and earbuds were invented for! There is humanity going on in there — but you gotta listen to hear it!
I think it takes courage to write songs like this and that lends a lot to my overall appreciation of the piece. I really do get that it's not everyone's angle - and if you just can't stand it, I've certainly been there, I understand, there's the door. But if an artist has the guts to put these feelings out there on display, perhaps we putzes can respect that enough to find three minutes to give it a thorough listen and a fair shake. Don't let the fear of feeling something keep you from feeling anything.
But, if you have had that feeling and found yourself willing to sacrifice your very soul for the love — "seventeen and terminally fey", "you were full and sweet as honeydew", "i wrote it down and threw it all away" — this song deserves a deeper listen, especially if you're cognizant of the writer's orientation. And turn it up for Pete's sake — that's what headphones and earbuds were invented for! There is humanity going on in there — but you gotta listen to hear it!
I think it takes courage to write songs like this and that lends a lot to my overall appreciation of the piece. I really do get that it's not everyone's angle - and if you just can't stand it, I've certainly been there, I understand, there's the door. But if an artist has the guts to put these feelings out there on display, perhaps we putzes can respect that enough to find three minutes to give it a thorough listen and a fair shake. Don't let the fear of feeling something keep you from feeling anything.
Not a fan of his singing style or voice. PSD.
ScottishWillie wrote:
Yes.
Near-instant classic. This guy's voice, often impressive, is just perfect here.
Hadn’t seen it, but now you have pointed it out, its obvious. This may be why I instantly liked it.
Yes.
Near-instant classic. This guy's voice, often impressive, is just perfect here.
Bone wrote:
Pink Moon, anyone?
Hadn’t seen it, but now you have pointed it out, its obvious. This may be why I instantly liked it.
I kindof like this group, clean sound, nice voice telling good stories, invites me to put on the headphones (at the office right now!) and turn on the volume. Thanks Bill for bringing (at least to me) another musical discovery.
Steely_D wrote:
Contrived, certainly, but I also think it is a thing of beauty.
Loves me some Nick Drake.
Contrived, certainly, but I also think it is a thing of beauty.
Loves me some Nick Drake.
Myself, I find this song to be almost embarrassingly personal, lovely in sound, sweet in meaning and simply beautiful in total. If you've never had a love that you felt strongly and painfully about, down in your core, while knowing all the while that it could never really last because of who you are or who (s)he is, well... this song might be lost on you.
But, if you have had that feeling and found yourself willing to sacrifice your very soul for the love — "seventeen and terminally fey", "you were full and sweet as honeydew", "i wrote it down and threw it all away" — this song deserves a deeper listen, especially if you're cognizant of the writer's orientation. And turn it up for Pete's sake — that's what headphones and earbuds were invented for! There is humanity going on in there — but you gotta listen to hear it!
I think it takes courage to write songs like this and that lends a lot to my overall appreciation of the piece. I really do get that it's not everyone's angle - and if you just can't stand it, I've certainly been there, I understand, there's the door. But if an artist has the guts to put these feelings out there on display, perhaps we putzes can respect that enough to find three minutes to give it a thorough listen and a fair shake. Don't let the fear of feeling something keep you from feeling anything.
But, if you have had that feeling and found yourself willing to sacrifice your very soul for the love — "seventeen and terminally fey", "you were full and sweet as honeydew", "i wrote it down and threw it all away" — this song deserves a deeper listen, especially if you're cognizant of the writer's orientation. And turn it up for Pete's sake — that's what headphones and earbuds were invented for! There is humanity going on in there — but you gotta listen to hear it!
I think it takes courage to write songs like this and that lends a lot to my overall appreciation of the piece. I really do get that it's not everyone's angle - and if you just can't stand it, I've certainly been there, I understand, there's the door. But if an artist has the guts to put these feelings out there on display, perhaps we putzes can respect that enough to find three minutes to give it a thorough listen and a fair shake. Don't let the fear of feeling something keep you from feeling anything.
Bone wrote:
I was thinking more along the lines of Cello Song
Pink Moon, anyone?
I was thinking more along the lines of Cello Song
Pink Moon, anyone?
annie_fannie wrote:
It does remind me of Don McLean's phrasing style. It's pretty similar in the lyrical style as well - rhyming three-syllable words and stuff like that.
Hmmm, hearing very early Don McLean (Tapestry) here faintly.
It does remind me of Don McLean's phrasing style. It's pretty similar in the lyrical style as well - rhyming three-syllable words and stuff like that.
Hmmm, hearing very early Don McLean (Tapestry) here faintly.
Great melancholy song for a cloudy Friday afternoon.