The Decemberists

We went to see the Decemberists last night at the Orpheum, and it kind of goes without saying it was an awesome show. I'm not a music reviewer, but I wanted to share this.

I've always looked back to the Vietnam era and wondered why we don't have as big of a cultural, artistic resistance being expressed. Said most simply, why was the anti-war music so much better back then? Does anyone remember that John Mayer song that came out about wanting the war to end? Yeah. We are a nation of pansies, that's what that song expressed to me. There wasn't any anger, aggression, the threat to end the war that you'd hear back in the day. We sounded like the Wet Noodle Generation of singer songwriters. I'm sure John Mayer would agree, to be honest. I honest to goodness believe that the best thing he could do for himself is cover Phil Collins' greatest hits acoustically, because that would be the whip. Not write anti-war songs.

I know I just pissed off a bunch of people. I'm sorry. I'm not hating on John Mayer. Well, I am. But just a little. But I'll bet he'll live.

Anyhoo, we went to the Decemberists concert last night, and they performed one of their biggest songs, Sons and Daughters. I'll paste the lyrics below, but the lead singer, Colin Meloy, said that he wrote the song 2.5 years ago when the world was a different place. And he said that now, with the election results in, he feels like the song has taken on new meaning. He said that instead of sounding like a song working against the notion, the song had taken on the meaning of renewed faith and progress. Then, he dragged a ton of people onstage to sing the final refrain: "Hear all the bombs fade away."

The reason why I'm posting this is because it's Friday, and you deserve to rock out. And I want you to just look at the happiness on these peoples' faces - they're dancing, for crying out loud.



The full lyrics to the song, which you should absolutely download, are as follows. Have a great weekend.

When we arrive
Sons & daughters
We'll make our homes on the water
We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon now

These currents pull us 'cross the border
Steady your boats
Arms to shoulder
'till tides will pull
our hull aground
Making this cold harbour now home

Take up your arm
Sons and daughters
We will arise from the bunkers
By land, by sea, by dirigible
We'll leave our tracks untraceable now

When we arrive
Sons and daughters
We'll make our homes on the water
We'll build our walls aluminum
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon now
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon now)

When we arrive
Sons and daughters
We'll make our homes on the water
We'll build our walls aluminum
(Sons and daughters)
We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon
(We'll make our homes on the water)
We'll make our homes on the water
(When we build our walls of aluminum)
(We'll fill our mouths with cinnamon)

Here all the bombs fade away (x20)