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.
Song for Myla Goldberg
The Decemberists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Myla Goldberg hangs a crooked foot all upside down
It comes around it comes around
It comes around it comes around
Pretty hands do pretty things when pretty times arise
Seraphim and seaweed swim where stick-limbed Myla lies
It comes around it comes around
It comes around it comes around
Still now you're waiting to grow
Inside you're old
Sew wings to your pigeon toes
Put paper to pen
To spell out "Eliza"
We begin with sticky shins make sticky then our shoes
Shoes beget to clothes and hat 'til sticky's sticking too
Finiculi finicula finiculi finicula
Listen in as shin-kicked Jim relates his story sad
About a boy who kicked until his shins were all but rubberbands
But now
I know New York I need New York
I know I need unique New York
Still now you're waiting to grow
Inside you're old
Sew wings to your pigeon toes
Put paper to pen
To spell out "Eliza"
Eliza
Eliza
It comes around it comes around it comes around
The Decemberists’ song “Song for Myla Goldberg” is a beautiful and whimsical piece that showcases the band’s skill with wordplay and storytelling. The song is centered around Myla Goldberg, a fictional character who is described as having a “crooked foot” and a “steady hand” on her brow. The lyrics speak to the idea that pretty things come from pretty hands and times, and juxtaposes this with Myla’s stick-limbed appearance as she lies among seraphim and seaweed.
The song also includes a call to action, encouraging listeners to sew wings to their “pigeon toes” and to put “paper to pen” to spell out the name “Eliza.” The idea of growing and becoming is also present in the lyrics, as the singer tells Myla and the listener to wait for growth, to accept that we are old inside, and to create something new and unique.
Overall, “Song for Myla Goldberg” is a beautifully crafted piece that weaves together themes of growth, beauty, and creativity. Its whimsical lyrics and storytelling make it a standout track on The Decemberists’ album.
Line by Line Meaning
Myla Goldberg sets a steady hand upon her brow
Myla Goldberg puts her hand on her forehead in a focused manner
Myla Goldberg hangs a crooked foot all upside down
Myla Goldberg dangles a foot in a twisted position
It comes around it comes around
Life has a way of repeating itself
Pretty hands do pretty things when pretty times arise
People tend to act nicely when in pleasant situations
Seraphim and seaweed swim where stick-limbed Myla lies
Imagery of a peaceful or heavenly place where Myla is present
Still now you're waiting to grow Inside you're old Sew wings to your pigeon toes Put paper to pen To spell out "Eliza"
Advice to take action and pursue something creative (writing or art) to feel young again
We begin with sticky shins make sticky then our shoes Shoes beget to clothes and hat 'til sticky's sticking too
Starting from humble beginnings, one's possessions gradually become nicer until they become stuck up about their material possessions
Finiculi finicula finiculi finicula
Nonsense phrase with no discernible meaning
Listen in as shin-kicked Jim relates his story sad About a boy who kicked until his shins were all but rubberbands But now
Introduction to a sad story about a boy who hurt himself by kicking too much
I know New York I need New York I know I need unique New York
Repetition of a tongue-twister as a vocal exercise or as a statement of the singer's love for New York
It comes around it comes around it comes around
Reiteration of the idea that life has a way of repeating itself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cicknobb5321
Myla Goldberg sets a steady hand upon her brow
Myla Goldberg hangs a crooked foot all upside down
It comes around it comes around
It comes around it comes around
Pretty hands do pretty things when pretty times arise
Seraphim and seaweed swim where stick-limbed Myla lies
It comes around it comes around
It comes around it comes around
Still now you're waiting to grow
Inside you're old
Sew wings to your pigeon toes
Put paper to pen
To spell out "Eliza"
We begin with sticky shins make sticky then our shoes
Shoes beget to clothes and hat 'til sticky's sticking too
Finiculi finicula finiculi finicula
Listen in as shin-kicked Jim relates his story sad
About a boy who kicked until his shins were all but rubberbands
But now
I know New York I need New York
I know I need unique New York
Still now you're waiting to grow
Inside you're old
Sew wings to your pigeon toes
Put paper to pen
To spell out "Eliza"
Eliza
Eliza
It comes around it comes around it comes around
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Colin Meloy
Song for Myla Goldberg lyrics © BMG Rights Management
@bookishly_paige
I have been listing to this since birth, and I'm 13
@coolguymcgee3243
this is a really good song
@josiahfresnel9217
Pretty underrated, though bohemian song topic.
@bkninja3172
I have a friend named Eliza and I think she may be developing a negative opinion about me. I wish I could play this song for her without it seeming like I'm in love with her lol Great song though
@Genny-Zee
This songs called Myla not Eliza
@collzapanda
@@Genny-Zeedid you listen to the song? it literally says eliza in the lyrics
@cicknobb5321
Myla Goldberg sets a steady hand upon her brow
Myla Goldberg hangs a crooked foot all upside down
It comes around it comes around
It comes around it comes around
Pretty hands do pretty things when pretty times arise
Seraphim and seaweed swim where stick-limbed Myla lies
It comes around it comes around
It comes around it comes around
Still now you're waiting to grow
Inside you're old
Sew wings to your pigeon toes
Put paper to pen
To spell out "Eliza"
We begin with sticky shins make sticky then our shoes
Shoes beget to clothes and hat 'til sticky's sticking too
Finiculi finicula finiculi finicula
Listen in as shin-kicked Jim relates his story sad
About a boy who kicked until his shins were all but rubberbands
But now
I know New York I need New York
I know I need unique New York
Still now you're waiting to grow
Inside you're old
Sew wings to your pigeon toes
Put paper to pen
To spell out "Eliza"
Eliza
Eliza
It comes around it comes around it comes around
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Colin Meloy
Song for Myla Goldberg lyrics © BMG Rights Management
@nut4663
Thank you
@jesuisravi
is this about Myla Goldberg the novelist?
@laurenkrimsky1486
jesuisravi Yes it is. I heard her speak and someone asked about the song. She said she doesn’t know how they knew she was pigeon toed. Eliza is the girl from her novel Bee Season.