Lost Songs: To The Lighthouse

Leg day in 2001

This one was written in the dawning months of 2001, when the first stones of what would be The Decemberists were still being assembled. I was mainly playing solo shows then, occasionally playing out with groups of musicians that tended to be more or less in flux. I was writing a lot, though, and it shows in the pages of my notebook — I was not being particularly picky about what made it on to the page, and often finishing things that didn’t necessarily scream out for finishing. I was working out my songwriting muscle, doing my daily reps. This one, “To The Lighthouse,” might be called that day’s seven minute workout. I only ever played it live once — to my recollection — in a set at the Meow Meow, the long-gone all-ages club in Southeast Portland. It never really flew, this one. With that caveat, please enjoy: