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.
The Abduction of Margaret
The Decemberists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Provide cover
What previous witnessed ardor
Of our lovers
Our heroine here falls prey to
Her abductor
All a gallop with Margaret slung rude
Cross withers
Having clamped her innocent fingers
In fetters
This villain must calculate crossing
The ? river
The above lyrics are from The Decemberists' song "The Abduction of Margaret," which tells the story of a young woman named Margaret who is abducted by a villain on horseback. The lyrics speak of the whispered trellises providing cover for the abductor, while the previous witnessed ardor of the lovers is contrasted with the cruel reality of Margaret's abduction. The song speaks of Margaret's innocence and vulnerability, as she is taken forcibly by the abductor. The lyrics then describe the abductor carrying Margaret across the river on horseback, having clamped her innocent fingers in fetters.
The song is a classic example of The Decemberists' storytelling abilities, as they weave a tale of abduction and adventure in just a few stanzas. The lyrics are rich with imagery, with the whispered arbors and clamped fingers creating a vivid mental picture of Margaret's ordeal. The use of language is also interesting, with words such as "ardor" and "fetters" bringing a sense of old-world charm to the story.
Line by Line Meaning
And all the while whispering arbors
The surroundings were full of foliage and trees that veiled and whispered secrets to the people doing something secretive.
Provide cover
The whispering trees provided cover for the people doing something secretive.
What previous witnessed ardor
What previously witnessed passionate love can compare with the love story that is about to unfold.
Of our lovers
This passionate love was between the main characters who are about to cross paths.
Our heroine here falls prey to
The main character, a female hero, became the target of something undesirable.
Her abductor
The person who abducted her, someone who has taken her against her will.
All a gallop with Margaret slung rude
With Margaret thrown over a horse, her abductor moves quickly and hastily.
Cross withers
The abductor crosses over the withers of the horse, taking Margaret with him on the horse's back.
Having clamped her innocent fingers
The abductor forcefully took hold of Margaret's innocent fingers, perhaps as a way to keep her from escaping.
In fetters
The abductor put shackles on Margaret's wrists, enslaving her and making it extremely difficult for her to escape.
This villain must calculate crossing
The abductor must carefully and precisely plan how to cross a certain river.
The ? river
The river in question is unspecified but is something that presents a challenge for the abductor during their escape with Margaret.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind