Like many before him, Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) was a frustrated colle… Read Full Bio ↴Like many before him, Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) was a frustrated college student before he was an acclaimed songwriter. While majoring in English, with an emphasis on creative writing at the University of Montana, he also played in an alternative-countryish band called Tarkio from 1996 - 1999. Members included Colin Meloy, Gibson Hartwell, Louis Stein, and Brian Collins. In 2006, Kill Rock Stars released a 2-cd discography of Tarkio's material entitled "Omnibus".

Annabelle Leigh
Tarkio Lyrics

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Anabelle Leigh
Do you consent to be my only love
I see you there on the bed
You′re shirt lays bare, your thin white arms
And surely by now
Surely by now
All the plans we made are gone
Surely by now

Surely by now
It's all in tatters
With a lift of an eyelash
You were holding my heart in your little hands
Glaring soft with the goosedown
And I will gently loose your shirt to fall
Surely by now
Surely by now
All the plans we made are gone
Surely by now
Surely by now
It′s all in tatters
Surely by now
Surely by now
All the plans we made are gone
Surely by now

Surely by now
It's all in tatters

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tarkio's "Annabelle Leigh" present a melancholy plea for love that has been lost, or perhaps never existed. The singer addresses their beloved Annabelle Leigh, asking for consent to be their only love. The imagery portrayed in the song is vivid, with Annabelle lying on a bed in a state of undress, her thin white arms exposed, and the singer gently removing her shirt. The use of the phrase "Surely by now" repeats throughout the song, suggesting that time has passed and the plans made by the singer and Annabelle have not come to fruition, leaving them both in an emotional state of tatters.

It is possible that this song is about unrequited love or a relationship that has fallen apart despite the singer's efforts. The image of Annabelle holding the singer's heart in her hands emphasizes the vulnerability they feel and their eagerness to be loved in return. Despite the sadness that permeates the lyrics, there is a sense of tenderness in the way the singer interacts with Annabelle, suggesting that they still hold onto the hope of love being realized.

Line by Line Meaning

Anabelle Leigh
Addressing the person named Anabelle Leigh

Do you consent to be my only love
Asking Anabelle if she agrees to be the singer's only love

I see you there on the bed
The singer sees Anabelle lying on the bed

You're shirt lays bare, your thin white arms
Anabelle's shirt is open, revealing her thin white arms

And surely by now
At this point in time