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.
Shankhill Butchers
The Decemberists Lyrics
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The Shankill butchers ride tonight
You'd better shut your windows tight
They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives
And taking all their whiskey by the pint
'Cause everybody knows if you don't mind your mother's words
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers want to catch you awake
They used to be just like me and you
They used to be sweet little boys
But something went horribly askew
Now killing is their only source of joy
'Cause everybody knows if you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers want to catch you awake
The Shankill butchers on the rise
They're waiting until the dead of night
They're picking at their fingers with their knives
And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
'Cause everybody knows if you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers want to catch you
The Shankill butchers want to cut you
The Shankill butchers want to catch you awake, awake, awake, awake
The Decemberists' song "Shankhill Butchers" is a haunting melody about a group of real-life murderers who were active in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the 1970s. The lyrics describe the Shankill Butchers as they prepare to go out and kill their next victim. The first verse warns listeners to "shut your windows tight" because the Butchers are out and about, "sharpening their cleavers and their knives" and drinking whiskey to prepare themselves for the night's work. The second verse explains that the Butchers used to be "just like me and you," sweet little boys who have been transformed into killers. The chorus repeats the warning to listen to your mother's words and mind your manners or risk falling prey to the Shankill Butchers.
The song's refrain "everybody moan, everybody shake" seems to suggest a widespread sense of fear and dread among the populace as they wait for the next victim of the Butchers. The final verse is particularly gruesome, describing the Butchers "picking at their fingers with their knives" and wiping off their cleavers on their thighs. The repetition of the phrase "awake, awake, awake, awake" brings the song to a chilling conclusion, emphasizing the Butchers' predatory nature and their willingness to strike at any time.
Overall, the lyrics of "Shankhill Butchers" provide a harrowing depiction of a real-life group of killers who terrorized a city for years. The song's eerie melody and haunting refrain capture the sense of dread and helplessness felt by the victims and their families.
Line by Line Meaning
The Shankill butchers ride tonight
Tonight, the notorious Shankill butchers are out and about
You'd better shut your windows tight
You must ensure your windows are closed and locked tightly, for your own safety
They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives
The butchers are getting their weapons ready for their gruesome work
And taking all their whiskey by the pint
They're drinking copious amounts of whiskey, perhaps to steel their nerves before committing murder
'Cause everybody knows if you don't mind your mother's words
As everyone is aware, if you don't heed your mother's warnings and advice, you could be in grave danger
A wicked wind will blow your ribbons from your curls
A cruel fate will befall you and your life will be destroyed
Everybody moan, everybody shake
Fear and panic is spreading among the people
The Shankill butchers want to catch you awake
The killers are looking for victims who are still awake and vulnerable
They used to be just like me and you
These murderers were once innocent and similar to ordinary individuals
They used to be sweet little boys
In their younger years, these individuals were wholesome and innocent
But something went horribly askew
Something went terribly wrong in their lives, leading them on a path of evil
Now killing is their only source of joy
They derive pleasure only from committing heinous acts of murder
The Shankill butchers on the rise
The killers are increasing in number and power
They're waiting until the dead of night
The murderers are biding their time, waiting until it is darkest to strike
They're picking at their fingers with their knives
They're fidgeting and agitated, not content until they can use their blades to inflict harm
And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
They are cleaning off their bloodied weapons with casual disregard, making ready for the next killing
The Shankill butchers want to catch you
They are eager to ensnare and harm their next victim
The Shankill butchers want to cut you
They want to inflict terrible harm on their next hapless target
The Shankill butchers want to catch you awake, awake, awake, awake
The killers want to find you in a vulnerable, conscious state, awake and easy to overpower
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.