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.
Won't Want for Love
The Decemberists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please array a path for me
The woods are blowing thick and fast around
Columbine, Columbine
Please alert this love of mine
Let him know his Margaret comes along
Won't quell my want for love
And I may swoon from all this swaying
But I won't want for love
Mistlethrush, Mistlethrush
Lay me down in the underbrush
My naked feet grow weary with the dusk
Willow Boughs, Willow Boughs,
Make a bed to lay me down
Let your branches bow to cradle us
And all this stirring inside my belly
Won't quell my want for love
And I may swoon from all this swaying
But I won't want for love
Oh, my own true love
Oh, my own true love
Can you hear me, love?
Can you hear me, love?
And all this stirring inside my belly
Won't quell my want for love
And I may swoon from all this swaying
But I won't want for love
Won't want for love
Won't want for love
Won't want for love
The Decemberists’s song “Won’t Want For Love” is a beautifully poetic and metaphorical portrayal of the experience of longing for romantic love. The singer in the song pleads with nature, represented by gentle leaves, Columbine flowers, mistlethrush birds, and willow branches, to guide her in her pursuit of love. She describes the woods blowing thick and fast around her, representing the chaos and uncertainty of the journey. Despite the tumultuous environment, the singer’s desire for love remains unquelled, as she states that she “won’t want for love” despite feeling overwhelmed at times.
The use of natural imagery in the song is a metaphor for the singer’s emotional journey. The leaves, flowers, birds, and branches symbolize different aspects of the world around her that can help or hinder her in her quest for love. The use of personification, such as “let your branches bow to cradle us,” adds an element of tenderness and intimacy to the lyrics. The repetition of the refrain emphasizes the singer’s unwavering desire for love, no matter the challenges she faces along the way. The use of second-person language, referring to “you” and “my own true love,” creates a sense of intimacy and direct address.
Overall, the song “Won’t Want For Love” is a beautifully crafted poetic expression of longing and desire for romantic love. The use of natural imagery and metaphor creates a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the emotional resonance of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Gentle leaves, gentle leaves
Please array a path for me
The woods are blowing thick and fast around
As I wander through a forest that's becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, I appeal to the leaves around me to help guide me.
Columbine, Columbine
Please alert this love of mine
Let him know his Margaret comes along
En route to meet my lover, I request the help of the flowers to deliver a message to him, informing him of my arrival.
And all this stirring inside my belly
Won't quell my want for love
And I may swoon from all this swaying
But I won't want for love
Despite feeling an overwhelming amount of anxiety and nervousness, I know that nothing can diminish my love and desire for my partner.
Mistlethrush, Mistlethrush
Lay me down in the underbrush
My naked feet grow weary with the dusk
As the sun begins to set and my journey comes to an end, I ask the birds to help me find a place to rest, as my feet are sore and I am physically exhausted.
Willow Boughs, Willow Boughs,
Make a bed to lay me down
Let your branches bow to cradle us
As I settle down and prepare to spend the night with my lover, I ask the willow trees to provide us with a comfortable place to lay and to create a serene atmosphere around us.
Oh, my own true love
Oh, my own true love
Can you hear me, love?
Can you hear me, love?
As I finally reach my destination and reunite with my partner, I express my love for him and ask if he can hear me, as a means of confirming his reciprocation of my feelings.
Won't want for love
Won't want for love
Won't want for love
In the presence of my lover, I feel complete and fulfilled, and I know that I will never be without love as long as we are together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind