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 4
The Decemberists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A million stones, a million bones, a million holes within the chinking.
And painting rings around your eyes these peppered holes so filled with crying.
A whisper weighed upon the tattered down where you and I were lying.
Tell me now, tell me this, a forest's son, a river's daughter,
A willow on the willow wisp, our ghosts will wander all of the water.
So let's be married here today these rushing waves to bare our witness,
And we will lye like river stones rolling only where it takes us.
[Chorus]
But I pulled you and I called you here,
And I caught you and I brought you here
These hazards of love, never more will trouble us.
Oh Margaret the lapping waves are licking quietly at our ankles
Another bow another breath this brilliant chill's come for the shackle.
With this long last rush of air we speak our vows and sorry whispers,
When the waves came crashing down, he closed his eyes and softly kissed her.
But I pulled you and I called you here,
And I caught you and I brought you here
These hazards of love, never more will trouble us.
And these hazards of love, never more will trouble us.
The lyrics of The Decemberists' "The Hazards of Love 4" tell a story of two lovers, Margaret and her forest-born lover. Margaret is seen as a protector, arranging rocks around the hull of a sinking ship to prevent it from completely submerging. The lyrics describe tears filling the holes in their peppered eyes, suggesting pain and sadness. The couple is likened to a willow wisp and a willow tree, with their ghosts wandering in the water. They decide to marry here today, with the waves bearing witness.
The chorus expresses the singer's ownership and protection of his beloved, suggesting that the hazards of love no longer trouble them. However, the closing verse sees the water slowly encroaching on them, with the couple speaking their vows and whispers before they are overcome by the waves.
Line by Line Meaning
Margaret arrayed the rocks around the hull before it was sinking,
Margaret placed rocks around the boat before it sank.
A million stones, a million bones, a million holes within the chinking.
The rocks represented the many obstacles and problems they had faced in their relationship.
And painting rings around your eyes these peppered holes so filled with crying.
The singer noticed the tears and sadness in Margaret's eyes due to their troubled relationship.
A whisper weighed upon the tattered down where you and I were lying.
There was an unspoken tension between the artist and Margaret as they lay together.
Tell me now, tell me this, a forest's son, a river's daughter,
The artist is asking about their identities and questioning their future together.
A willow on the willow wisp, our ghosts will wander all of the water.
They will always be connected, even after death, like ghosts that float on water.
So let's be married here today these rushing waves to bare our witness,
They want to get married by the water as a symbol of the obstacles they have overcome in their relationship.
And we will lye like river stones rolling only where it takes us.
They will flow together in life like river stones, going wherever life takes them.
But I pulled you and I called you here,
The artist took the initiative to bring them together.
And I caught you and I brought you here
The artist is taking responsibility for bringing them together despite the obstacles they faced.
These hazards of love, never more will trouble us.
Their love has survived the obstacles they faced and will no longer trouble them.
Oh Margaret the lapping waves are licking quietly at our ankles
The artist acknowledges the peaceful presence of the water around them.
Another bow another breath this brilliant chill's come for the shackle.
The singer is experiencing a sense of release and freedom from their troubles.
With this long last rush of air we speak our vows and sorry whispers,
They are finally addressing and apologizing for the problems in their relationship as they make their vows.
When the waves came crashing down, he closed his eyes and softly kissed her.
Even in the face of potential danger, the singer is choosing Margaret and their love.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind