The Decemberists — Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
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Length: 4:14
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''Soldier'':
Heart-carved tree trunk, Yankee bayonet
A sweetheart left behind
''Girl'':
Far from the hills of the sea-swaled Carolinas
That's where my true love lies
Ah ah ah...
''Soldier'':
Look for me when the sun-bright swallow
Sings upon the birch bough high
''Girl'':
But you are in the ground with the wolves and the weevils
All a-chew on your bones so dry
Ah ah ah...
''Both'':
But when the sun breaks
To no more bullets in Battle Creek
Then will you make a grave
For I will be home then I will be home then
I will be home then, I will be home then, then
''Girl'':
When I was a girl how the hills of Oconee
Made a seam to hem me in
''Soldier'':
There at the fair, when our eyes caught, careless,
Got my heart right pierced by a pin
Ah ah ah...
''Soldier'':
But oh, did you see all the dead of Manassas
All the bellies and the bones and the bile?
''Girl'':
No, I lingered here with the blankets barren
And my own belly big with child
Ah ah ah...
''Both'':
But when the sun breaks
To no more bullets in Battle Creek
Then will you make a grave
For I will be home then I will be home then
I will be home then, I will be home then
''Soldier'':
Stems and bones and stone walls too
''Both'':
Could keep me from you
''Soldier'':
This skein and skin is all too few
''Both'':
To keep me from you
''Both'':
But oh my love, though our bodies may be parted
Though our skin may not touch skin
Look for me with the sun-bright sparrow
I will come on the breath of the wind
Ah ah ah...
Heart-carved tree trunk, Yankee bayonet
A sweetheart left behind
''Girl'':
Far from the hills of the sea-swaled Carolinas
That's where my true love lies
Ah ah ah...
''Soldier'':
Look for me when the sun-bright swallow
Sings upon the birch bough high
''Girl'':
But you are in the ground with the wolves and the weevils
All a-chew on your bones so dry
Ah ah ah...
''Both'':
But when the sun breaks
To no more bullets in Battle Creek
Then will you make a grave
For I will be home then I will be home then
I will be home then, I will be home then, then
''Girl'':
When I was a girl how the hills of Oconee
Made a seam to hem me in
''Soldier'':
There at the fair, when our eyes caught, careless,
Got my heart right pierced by a pin
Ah ah ah...
''Soldier'':
But oh, did you see all the dead of Manassas
All the bellies and the bones and the bile?
''Girl'':
No, I lingered here with the blankets barren
And my own belly big with child
Ah ah ah...
''Both'':
But when the sun breaks
To no more bullets in Battle Creek
Then will you make a grave
For I will be home then I will be home then
I will be home then, I will be home then
''Soldier'':
Stems and bones and stone walls too
''Both'':
Could keep me from you
''Soldier'':
This skein and skin is all too few
''Both'':
To keep me from you
''Both'':
But oh my love, though our bodies may be parted
Though our skin may not touch skin
Look for me with the sun-bright sparrow
I will come on the breath of the wind
Ah ah ah...
Comments (55)add comment
One of the best selections to the RP playlist.
That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it.
buddy0407 wrote:
I'll go you one further. This song by any definition sucks.
your opinion, by any definition, sucks. . .
bokey wrote:
OK,I'm convinced .These guys are excellent songwriters,instrumentalists and vocalists.
Yes, I agree on everything but vocal. Nonetheless, the vocals fit, and the songwriting and instrumentals are fantastic. Even if you don't like the music, you have to at least love the stories the Decemberists tell of (like taking revenge in the belly of a whale in a "The Mariner's Revenge Song"). Solid 7 for the song and an 8 for the group.
suddenchad wrote:
One of my favorite albums of the year. Love the Decemberists.
I'm so tired of the standard litany of the critics here at RP:
1) If it sounds remotely like anyone else, it by definition sucks.
2) If it doesn't fit within the confines of my particular, narrow, perfectionist musical tastes, it by definition sucks.
The close-mindedness around here is astounding.
I'll go you one further. This song by any definition sucks.
OK,I'm convinced . These guys are excellent songwriters,instrumentalists and vocalists.
This song is the only one so far that makes me push mute until it'ts over. I'm not sure if it's the corny lyrics, lame music, off-key singing, or faux 60's folk. Whatever it is, it makes me nauseous.
Making my morning, thanks Bill. The band will be on tour soon. See them Live!
queenofthenerds wrote:
I am not a big fan of them but I like this song
I am not a big fan of them, and I don't like this song.
Sounds like a combination of The Cranberries and Midnight Oil ;)
just bought this CD and it's GREAT. only a few snoozers, but really enjoyable overall.
I am not a big fan of them but I like this song
smackiepipe wrote:
Sounds like Herman's Hermits after Herman had taken a cheese grater to the inside of his thighs and then sat down in a skillet of hot turpentine.
Very "ob ob ob" observant of you...
Can't get it out of my head!!!!!!!
And that's good.
The Decemberist brighten every day. One of the best CDs of 2006
![clap](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_clap.gif)
![music](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_music.gif)
![whistle](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_whistle.gif)
![clap](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_clap.gif)
This song is growing on me as it nears the end. Interesting.
8. Hmmm, surprised that this song isn't doing well on here. Personally, I like cranewife3 better, but it doesn't matter--this is strong songwriting. Always chill, you could find it on vh1, but with solid emotional build, sometimes to the point of transcendence. Seemingly effortlessly. Something I could recommend to my sister-in-law. Not a genre I listen to often, and perhaps not a great great band, but quality is appreciated.
And on Capitol now, huh? Yeah, this is my pick for next huge band, in that barenakedladies kinda way.
sarah_mae wrote:
Anyone else hearing Laura Veirs in there? Anyway, I like this album better than the previous one.
Oh! google tells me Laura Veirs is in that one. Nice.
That's because it is Laura Veirs. Good Call!
Doh! I should read more.....
Anyone else hearing Laura Veirs in there? Anyway, I like this album better than the previous one.
Oh! google tells me Laura Veirs is in that one. Nice.
suddenchad wrote:
Did you not see the relentless ganging up on the band below my post?
Deservedly so.
jjafri wrote:
Yeah!!
Reminds me of Lindisfarne.
![music](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_music.gif)
![dancing banana](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/dancingbanana.gif)
Reminds me of Lindisfarne.
Land_Shark wrote:
Perhaps you didn't recognize my tongue in cheek response to your impassioned defense of this band. Do me a favor, try not to get offended when others don't like a band you happen to love. For the record, I am a Decemberists fan and think this is a very fine song.
And your purpose in doing this was...?
I don't mind when someone disagrees with my taste. God knows, I disagree with a lot of people's taste here, but only chime in to defend the bands I like, not attack those I don't. Did you not see the relentless ganging up on the band below my post?
suddenchad wrote:
Case in point.
Perhaps you didn't recognize my tongue in cheek response to your impassioned defense of this band. Do me a favor, try not to get offended when others don't like a band you happen to love. For the record, I am a Decemberists fan and think this is a very fine song.
Land_Shark wrote:
It sucks.
Case in point.
suddenchad wrote:
One of my favorite albums of the year. Love the Decemberists.
I'm so tired of the standard litany of the critics here at RP:
1) If it sounds remotely like anyone else, it by definition sucks.
2) If it doesn't fit within the confines of my particular, narrow, perfectionist musical tastes, it by definition sucks.
The close-mindedness around here is astounding.
It sucks.
One of my favorite albums of the year. Love the Decemberists.
I'm so tired of the standard litany of the critics here at RP:
1) If it sounds remotely like anyone else, it by definition sucks.
2) If it doesn't fit within the confines of my particular, narrow, perfectionist musical tastes, it by definition sucks.
The close-mindedness around here is astounding.
Bought this album and I like it
Wow. I love this song. Guess I know who I won't be inviting to makeout with me at the next Decemberists concert. :D
wretchedly wretched.
WTH? psuedo-intellectual art rock... substandard.
thats it...I'm putting a yankee bayonet to my ears if I hear this drivel again.
Stingray wrote: not quite!!
ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho - pppffffff.....!!!!!
STINGRAY!
Stingray!
Do you like anything?
What kind of person has to put an exclamation point after his name anyway.
wally42!
![yawn](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_yawn.gif)
smackiepipe wrote:
Sounds like Herman's Hermits after Herman had taken a cheese grater to the inside of his thighs and then sat down in a skillet of hot turpentine.
![roflol](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_roflol.gif)
![high five](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/high-five.gif)
fredriley wrote:
ROTFLMAO!!
Actually, I quite like it. I thought it was REM at first until yer woman's voice kicked in. Jolly-sounding and toe-tapping, but pretty poignant and brutal lyrics.
Good observation. That is what I love about this band.
![lol](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_lol.gif)
nope, didn't like it.
I love this band! Poo on you nay-sayers. They have done somthing really fresh with this recording. The Crane Wife is an excellant piece of work. Its music that really needs to listened to. Not just heard.
This is a great tune! Much better when heard in the context of the entire song cycle.
They are worth all the hype.
smackiepipe wrote:
Actually, I quite like it. I thought it was REM at first until yer woman's voice kicked in. Jolly-sounding and toe-tapping, but pretty poignant and brutal lyrics.
Sounds like Herman's Hermits after Herman had taken a cheese grater to the inside of his thighs and then sat down in a skillet of hot turpentine.
ROTFLMAO!! ![lol](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_lol.gif)
good lord make it go away!!! Cast thee out! (and I was so looking forward to a good decemberists song)
smackiepipe wrote:
Sounds like Herman's Hermits after Herman had taken a cheese grater to the inside of his thighs and then sat down in a skillet of hot turpentine.
EWWWW! OWWWWW! Anyway... definataly a quirky tune.
Sounds like Herman's Hermits after Herman had taken a cheese grater to the inside of his thighs and then sat down in a skillet of hot turpentine.
MOMMY MAKE IT STOP!!!!
With all the hype this band has gotten you'd think they could put out something better than this...yick. The off-key "ah, ah, ah's" drive me bonkers....a 5 to be generous.
There's something about Civil War ballads done like this . . . the poignant lyrics and breezy style are interesting together.
![no](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_no.gif)
![puke](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_sick.gif)
![no](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_no.gif)
AlienRelic wrote:
But it's close.....
It sucks pretty bad
meloman wrote:
Could we have a bit less twee pop please?!
yeah. belle and sebastian are bad enough. these ones make my teeth ache.
islander wrote:
It doesn't suck as bad as the vast veranda song.
But it's close.....
Love the saccharine naivete of the pre-chorus juxtaposed to the lyrical content.
That little vocal thing that finishes the first chorus (1:30ish) keeps reminding me of the end of a Shins song I can't place.
steeler wrote:
Sounds like Sufjan. I don't like Sufjan.
I agree, but I like Sufjan :)
Could we have a bit less twee pop please?!
WTF?
How cheery. This guy must have started taking his Prozac.
Sounds like Sufjan. I don't like Sufjan.
It doesn't suck as bad as the vast veranda song.