Maybe my favorite Decemberists song. I always assumed it was about comforting someone after a funeral (given the dust/stone/bones/decay/chapel imagery.)
My favorite interpretation of the '$53 bucks' line by far was from an old message board discussing the song:
"The first Halo game by Bungie (now Mircrosoft) was released on November 15th, 2001; while Castaways and Cutouts was released on May 21, 2002. The game had a suggested retail price of around $50. But with tax, it came to be around $53."
Not to suggest Carson do additional labor but it would be a hoot to see her illustrated interpretation of the hot dog pier fire photo as you describe it here.
Thanks as always for sharing all this detail, it makes listening to these annotated songs feel brand new again and makes me appreciate them all the more.
It is strangely comforting to read about your own sad, sad times while I am experiencing my own sad, sad times, where I am infuriatingly broke and stuck in a state I can no longer afford.
This is one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing the annotation. I always love to learn the little stories behind these songs.
I would also live to hear the story of how you and Carson got together someday. It sounds like a fun and romantic story.
I LOVED this, getting read the background and messages behind the lyrics. It's fun to hear about your beginnings with Carson. Please share more of these! Thank you!
This may be one of my favorite songs - not just of the Decemberists canon, but of all time. Because I am also so very sad, all the time, but this song always makes me feel a little better.
So much lovely stuff in these memories. Makes me cherish every silly, stubborn, wonderful, awful moment my wife and I have shared with each other over the years. Thanks again Colin and Carson.
The hot dog 🌭 story is A++ content. Thank you; omg totally felt that morose young and broke feel from this before; totally identify with the whole besties making each other feel better relationship ; always appreciate a callback to chicken chains .
Such a beautiful song!!!! Probably my favorite!!! So many of your songs have that, "Excuse me, I'm going to take you right over here... someplace you could've NEVER EXPECTED!!!" That's what spun my head when I heard the first Decemberists song..The Soldiering Life.. wait?? WHAT?? WHERE???
My husband (whom you and Carson have only just recently met!) proposed to me one afternoon with this song playing in our living room; we’d had our first kiss in 2001, not so long after this song was written. This song means so much to us, and we are so grateful to you for it.
Aw jeez ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Maybe my favorite Decemberists song. I always assumed it was about comforting someone after a funeral (given the dust/stone/bones/decay/chapel imagery.)
My favorite interpretation of the '$53 bucks' line by far was from an old message board discussing the song:
"The first Halo game by Bungie (now Mircrosoft) was released on November 15th, 2001; while Castaways and Cutouts was released on May 21, 2002. The game had a suggested retail price of around $50. But with tax, it came to be around $53."
Please, Colin, tell me this is somehow cannon.
Not to suggest Carson do additional labor but it would be a hoot to see her illustrated interpretation of the hot dog pier fire photo as you describe it here.
Thanks as always for sharing all this detail, it makes listening to these annotated songs feel brand new again and makes me appreciate them all the more.
Wait
Wait
The song as about you both pining for OTHER PEOPLE????
My whole world just fell apart 💔
I love vinegar/curl. It's slant, but only just a titch. They really do almost rhyme! Great post! 11/10
It is strangely comforting to read about your own sad, sad times while I am experiencing my own sad, sad times, where I am infuriatingly broke and stuck in a state I can no longer afford.
This is one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing the annotation. I always love to learn the little stories behind these songs.
I would also live to hear the story of how you and Carson got together someday. It sounds like a fun and romantic story.
Ooooh , SECOND on the story of how Colarson.... Carlin.... the two of you got together!
Home with a fever, I will now think of chicken ghosts singing “Marley and Marley.”
But the Muppet Christmas Carol version, right?
The one and only.
I used to sing the line as "sweet Autumn green-eyed girl", before I knew better.
I did, too!
Same! :)
Good mondegreen
I LOVED this, getting read the background and messages behind the lyrics. It's fun to hear about your beginnings with Carson. Please share more of these! Thank you!
This may be one of my favorite songs - not just of the Decemberists canon, but of all time. Because I am also so very sad, all the time, but this song always makes me feel a little better.
So much lovely stuff in these memories. Makes me cherish every silly, stubborn, wonderful, awful moment my wife and I have shared with each other over the years. Thanks again Colin and Carson.
The hot dog 🌭 story is A++ content. Thank you; omg totally felt that morose young and broke feel from this before; totally identify with the whole besties making each other feel better relationship ; always appreciate a callback to chicken chains .
Such a beautiful song!!!! Probably my favorite!!! So many of your songs have that, "Excuse me, I'm going to take you right over here... someplace you could've NEVER EXPECTED!!!" That's what spun my head when I heard the first Decemberists song..The Soldiering Life.. wait?? WHAT?? WHERE???
The Human Jukebox! https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/nativeson/article/Grimes-Poznikov-the-Automatic-Human-Jukebox-13304291.php
One of my favorite songs of all time!!
My husband (whom you and Carson have only just recently met!) proposed to me one afternoon with this song playing in our living room; we’d had our first kiss in 2001, not so long after this song was written. This song means so much to us, and we are so grateful to you for it.