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 Hazards of Love 3
The Decemberists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The flowers me you fed
Tasted spoiled for suddenly
I find that I am dead
But father don't you fear
Your children all are here
Singing oh the hazards of love
The basins overflown
The water covers everything
And me left all alone
But papa here in death
I have regained my breath
To sing oh the hazards of love
To sing oh the hazards of love
Spare the rod, you'll spoil the child
But I prefer the lash
My sisters drowned and poisoned
All of me reduced to ash
And buried in an urn
But father I return
Singing oh the hazards of love
Singing oh the hazards of love
The hazards of love
The hazards of love
The lyrics to The Hazards of Love 3 by The Decemberists are dark and yet the melody is hauntingly beautiful. The song tells the story of a woman who has died due to poisonous flowers given to her by her father. The first verse, "Father I'm not feeling well, the flowers me you fed, tasted spoiled for suddenly, I find that I am dead, but father don't you fear, your children all are here" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The daughter, even in death, sings about the dangers of love and the consequences of being blind to it.
As the song progresses, the daughter's sister and then the daughter herself die tragic deaths. The second verse, "Father turn the water down, the basins overflown, the water covers everything, and me left all alone, but papa here in death, I have regained my breath" is particularly poignant, as the daughter is left to drown by herself. However, in death she feels free from the hazards of love and is able to sing a warning to others.
The chorus, "Singing oh the hazards of love, singing oh the hazards of love" is repeated throughout the song, reflecting the theme of the dangers of love. The final verse, "Spare the rod you'll spoil the child, but I prefer the lash, my sisters drowned and poisoned, all of me reduced to ash, and buried in an urn, but father I return, singing oh the hazards of love" further highlights the dangers of love and even the consequences of discipline.
Overall, The Hazards of Love 3 is a haunting and mesmerizing song that tells a dark story with a powerful message about the hazards of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Father I'm not feeling well
The singer is expressing their pain and ailments to their father.
The flowers me you fed
The singer is referring to the actions made by their father to care for them.
Tasted spoiled for suddenly
The singer is describing how the care provided to them became unsatisfactory to the point where they are in pain.
I find that I am dead
The artist is using hyperbole to emphasize the severity of their agony and discomfort.
But father don't you fear
The artist is trying to calm their father, assuring them that they do not need to worry.
Your children all are here
The singer is trying to indicate that they are still alive and present despite their ailment.
Singing oh the hazards of love
The singer is using sarcasm and cynicism to reflect on how love can bring about pain, hardship, and unfulfillment.
Father turn the water down
The artist is still in pain and is requesting their father to tend to the water that is causing them grief.
The basins overflown
The artist is describing how their father's care is excessive and detrimental to them.
The water covers everything
The artist is using metaphor to represent how their physical discomfort is consuming everything about them.
And me left all alone
Although physically present with their father's care, the singer feels deserted and neglected.
But papa here in death
The artist is using sarcasm again to exaggerate their pain and misfortune, as they are not actually dead.
I have regained my breath
The singer is indicating that they are recovering from their misery and are now filled with vigor and energy.
To sing oh the hazards of love
The singer is once again being sarcastic and bitter about how love is not always a happy and fulfilling emotion.
Spare the rod, you'll spoil the child
The singer is using a common proverb to criticize their father's harsh discipline and punishment towards them.
But I prefer the lash
The artist is being ironic, indicating they would rather endure physical punishment than the emotional pain caused by their father's care.
My sisters drowned and poisoned
The artist is revealing a dark family history, where their siblings were victims of abuse or mistreatment.
All of me reduced to ash
The singer is using metaphor to represent how their negative experiences have left an irreversible impact and have almost destroyed them.
But father I return
The singer is indicating that they have healed and become stronger despite their past suffering.
Singing oh the hazards of love
The artist is repeating the sarcastic refrain, as they are still critical of how love can bring about pain and hardship.
The hazards of love
The artist is repeating the title of the song to emphasize how love can cause danger, trouble or difficulty.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind