In Praise of ... The Decemberists

Ah, I do love The Decemberists - even if the one time we saw them live, the lead singer suffered from Wolverhampton Curry Tummy. I'm well looking forward to getting my mitts on their new album "The King is Dead"- especially since there's a bit of REM involvement to bring some extra goodiness to the proceedings.

There is something bleak, quirky, weird and plain old odd about the narratives of the Colin Meloy and co: Take for example "Sixteen Military Wives"



("O Valencia" is also pretty great, tho embedding is disabled on this story song)

I can't help it - I just love their work. The Decemberists are one of those bands I kinda stumbled across and then got really into and I can't help but keep coming back to enjoy them. I've often found myself wandering the office singing "The Sporting Life" for example, with its delightful narrative lyrics.

I fell on the playing field
The work of an errant heel
The din of the crowd and the loud commotion
Went deafening silence and stopped emotion
The season was almost done
We managed it 12 to 1
So far I had known no humiliation
In front of my friends and close relations

There's my father looking on
And there's my girlfriend arm in arm
With the captain of the other team
And all of this is clear to me
They condescend and fix on me a frown
How they love the sporting life

And father had had such hopes
For a son who would take the ropes
And fulfill all his old athletic aspirations
But apparently now there's some complications
But while I am lying here
Trying to fight the tears
I'll prove to the crowd that I come out stronger
Though I think I might lie here a little longer

There's my coach he's looking down
The disappointment in his knitted brow
I should've known
He thinks again
I never should have put him in
He turns and loads the lemonade away
And breathes in deep
The sporting life
The sporting life
The sporting life
How he loves...

There's my father looking on
And there's my girlfriend arm in arm
With the captain of the other team
And all of this is clear to me
They condescend and fix on me a frown
How they love the sporting life

Anyway, in other examples there's a very charming live version of "The Mariner's Revenge Song" worth watching, though this has a classic Decemberists grim narrative!



And there's a lot to be said for this amateur theatre production of the narrative!



But if you want REAL nasty narratives, try The Rake's Song which is proper wicked - but a great tale nonetheless!