Don't Carry It All
The Decemberists Lyrics
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Witness to the arc towards the sun
The neighbors blessed burden within reason
Becomes a burden borne of all in one
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
But this I swear to all
A monument to build beneath the arbors
Upon a cliff that towers towards the trees
But every vessel pitching hard to starboard
Lay it's head on summer's freckled knees
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
And there a 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 neighbors burden within reason
And your labors will be borne when all is done, 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’ song “Don’t Carry It All” is a tribute to the importance of community and the power of collaborative efforts towards a common goal. The song draws upon imagery of seasonal change, suggesting that the challenges of life can be made easier when shouldered in unity. The first verse begins with the singer referring to autumn, a time when the leaves fall from trees and the air cools. This transitional period in nature is seen as symbolic for changes in life. The neighbors are stated to have a “blessed burden within reason,” possibly referring to work that needs to be done in order to prepare for the winter. However, what normally would have been a shared task among the community has become a burden carried by an individual. The chorus then urges listeners to “let the yoke fall from our shoulders” and to not carry it all. The singer acknowledges that we need each other’s help to bear the burdens of life and a better option is to work together instead.
The second verse talks about building a monument “beneath the arbors.” It may represent a project that people have been working on for a long time or something they feel passionate about. However, no matter how much they may try, the project constantly shifts and is “pitching hard to starboard,” indicating a potential for failure. In this difficult time, it is suggested that they turn to the outdoors and nature. They should seek solace in the “summer’s freckled knees” and remember that nobody knows what will happen. The third verse refers to the trillium and ivy, laying on the body of the boy, representing the end of a life cycle. It is a reminder that we should cherish the present moments and make the most out of our time.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we come to a turning of the season
We have reached a turning point in nature's cycle.
Witness to the arc towards the sun
We observe the sun's increasing path towards summer.
The neighbors blessed burden within reason
Initially a reasonable responsibility, but now burdensome.
Becomes a burden borne of all in one
The burden now affects everyone, not just the neighbors.
And nobody, nobody knows
No one knows what the future holds or how to handle this.
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders
We need to release the burden that weighs us down.
Don't carry it all don't carry it all
We cannot handle everything ourselves without help.
We are all our hands in holders
Together we can uphold and support one another.
But meet this bold and brilliant sun
We should face the coming season with confidence.
But this I swear to all
I make a solemn promise to everyone listening.
A monument to build beneath the arbors
A tribute to nature, built under the shade of trees.
Upon a cliff that towers towards the trees
A towering cliff providing a view of the trees and nature.
But every vessel pitching hard to starboard
Every obstacle and struggle has to be overcome.
Lay it's head on summer's freckled knees
Find comfort in the beauty and warmth of summer.
And there a wreath of trillium and ivy
A floral tribute made of trillium and ivy.
Laid upon the body of the boy
Placed as a tribute on a young man's grave.
Lazy will the long come from it's hiding
Nature will slowly restore balance and peace.
Return his quiet certitude to the soil
The young man's calmness and certainty will live on through nature.
So raise a glass to turnings of the season
Celebrate the changes and transitions in nature.
And watch it as it arcs towards the sun
Observe and appreciate the natural cycle of the seasons.
And you must bear your neighbors burden within reason
Help others with their problems as long as it's a reasonable responsibility.
And your labors will be borne when all is done
Your hard work will pay off in the end.
And nobody nobody knows
The future is uncertain and unpredictable.
Let the yoke fall from our shoulders
We need to release ourselves from the burden.
Don't carry it all don't carry it all
We cannot handle everything without help or support.
We are all our hands in holders
We need to support each other as we face challenges together.
Beneath this bold and brilliant sun
We need to face the future with confidence and optimism.
And this I swear to all
I am making a commitment to everyone listening.
To all
This promise applies to everyone.
To all
This promise applies to everyone.
To all
This promise applies to everyone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind