Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (they use the national anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts) and to the atmosphere associated with the month of December, the Decemberists write songs that range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. They often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist" from the 5 Songs EP and "The Mariner's Revenge Song" on Picaresque. Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical ("Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect") to epic ("The Tain") to truly dark ("Odalisque"). They often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists' musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel. Since their debut, their sound has undergone a consistent evolution, most notably in the direction of progressive rock with a strong folk influence, though they have also been described as indie rock and, by Stephen Colbert, as "hyper-literate prog rock." For example, one song, "When the War Came", uses a little-known story from the Siege of Leningrad to describe the heroism of civilian scientists during warfare. The lyrics state: "We made our oath to Vavilov / We'd not betray the solanum / The acres of asteraceae / To our own pangs of starvation". Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov was a Russian botanist whose laboratory, a seedbank containing 200,000 types of plant seeds, many of them edible, was preserved throughout the siege, during which hundreds of thousands of people died.
In March 2005, the Decemberists were reportedly the first band to distribute a music video via BitTorrent -- the self-produced "16 Military Wives" (from Picaresque). That same month, the band's equipment trailer was stolen; fans contributed to a replacement fund, and another fund-raiser was organized via an eBay auction, with buyers bidding for copies of Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey and original art work by Carson Ellis. They also received help from Lee Kruger, The Shins, The Dandy Warhols and other musicians. The Martin Guitar Company offered six- and twelve-string guitars on permanent loan. In early April, police discovered the trailer in Clackamas, Oregon, and a fair amount of the band's merchandise, but the instruments and equipment were not recovered.
On 12 December 2005, Meloy revealed to Pitchfork Media that they had signed to Capitol Records, and planned to begin recording their major label debut with producers Tucker Martine and Chris Walla, of Death Cab for Cutie fame, in April 2006. The Decemberists' first album on Capitol, and their first major label debut, The Crane Wife, was released on 3 October 2006. The release was accompanied by an appearance the same day on the world-wide syndicated TV talk show Late Night with Conan O'Brien when the track "O Valencia!" was performed. The Decemberists began their tour in support of The Crane Wife, with The Rout of the Patagons Tour, on 17 October 2006, at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom. Their opening act was Lavender Diamond. Later on in the tour, Alasdair Roberts opened for the band.
In July 2007 the Decemberists set out on a five-date tour with a full orchestral accompaniment. On 7 July, the tour put the group on the stage of the historic Hollywood Bowl for the first time in their career, and they were joined by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. On 15 July the group performed with The Mann Festival Orchestra at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They then played a free concert in Chicago, Ilinois, at the recently developed Millennium Park with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. In September 2007 they also played at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
In October 2007, they began The Long and Short of It Tour. However, having completed the European portion of the tour and immediately after playing the Chicago dates, the rest of the tour was canceled due to illness.
On 24 March 2009, the band released The Hazards of Love, their fifth album. The album's first single, "The Rake's Song", was made available for free on the band's website. The album featured guest appearances from My Brightest Diamond, Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond, Robyn Hitchcock and Jim James. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200.
On 11 January 2011, the band released their sixth album The King is Dead. The band released the first single "Down by the Water" for free on their website. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States and is the highest charting album in the band's career. The second single, "This Is Why We Fight" was released on January 25, 2011.
There is another band with the same name:
(2). The Decemberists formed in Liverpool in 1984 when Andy Ford and Tom Gent from Swim Naked hooked up with Colin Pennington, who had just left The Tunnel Users. They played their first show at The Cavern in 1985 and then played extensively in their home city. After recording demo tapes which attracted attention from BBC Radio 1's John Peel and Rough Trade Records, they secured a residency at University Of London Union (ULU). Their first release was James Is (Still The Same) on the Discreet Campaigns compilation cassette tape alongside New Order and Cocteau Twins. After the appearance of Gift Horse on the Ways To Wear Coats compilation LP in 1987, the band changed their name to Hellfire Sermons.
James Is (Still The Same) was included on The Sound Of Leamington Spa Volume 6 in 2009. They are listed as ‘The Decemberists Of Liverpool 1985-87’ on this album to make a distinction from the famous 21st century group of the same name.
A Bower Scene
The Decemberists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said the sister
When wilt thou trouble the water
In the cistern
And what irascible black Bart
Is the father
Grew wider
The fruit of her amorous centaur
Inside her
And so our heroine withdraws
To the Taiga
The Decemberists' song "A Bower Scene" is a somber and mysterious ballad that tells the story of a young woman who has faced untold suffering and eventually retreats into isolation in the Taiga. The lyrics speak to the lingering effects of trauma and the pull of the natural world when the human world becomes unbearable.
The song's opening lines set the tone for the rest of the piece, with the 'inconsolable daughter' being the titular heroine, and her unnamed sister expressing a desire for her to disrupt the stagnant water, symbolizing a desire for change. The mention of 'irascible black Bart' as the father suggests that there was discord in the family dynamic that contributed to the heroine's eventual breakdown. Additionally, the reference to 'young Margarete's waistline' growing wider suggests that the young woman may have been victimized in some way, either through incest or sexual assault, which is further hinted at with the mention of the 'amorous centaur' inside her.
The final lines of the song, which reference the Taiga, evoke a sense of natural wonder and beauty, while also speaking to the character's desire to escape from the pain of her past. Overall, "A Bower Scene" is a haunting and evocative piece that speaks to the complexities of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Thou inconsolable daughter
You, my dear daughter, cannot be comforted
Said the sister
Said the sibling of the daughter
When wilt thou trouble the water
When will you disturb the calm surface of the water
In the cistern
Located in the covered tank where water is stored
And what irascible black Bart
Who is this angry, temperamental, dark-skinned man called Bart
Is the father
Who happens to be the father
And when young Margarete's waistline
And when the young Margarete's tummy area
Grew wider
Expanded in size
The fruit of her amorous centaur
The result of her love for a half-human, half-horse creature
Inside her
Located within her body
And so our heroine withdraws
Therefore, our main character retreats
To the Taiga
To a forested area with coniferous trees, known as the Taiga
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind