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The Decemberists — Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
Album: The Crane Wife
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 196









Released: 2006
Length: 4:14
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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...
Comments (55)add comment
One of the best selections to the RP playlist. That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it.
Posted 17 years ago by FluorideFreeMN    [ Reply ]
buddy0407 wrote:
I'll go you one further. This song by any definition sucks.
your opinion, by any definition, sucks. . .
Posted 17 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by Mindscrape    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by buddy0407    [ Reply ]
OK,I'm convinced . These guys are excellent songwriters,instrumentalists and vocalists.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by buddy0407    [ Reply ]
Making my morning, thanks Bill. The band will be on tour soon. See them Live!
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a combination of The Cranberries and Midnight Oil ;)
Posted 17 years ago by matchball    [ Reply ]
just bought this CD and it's GREAT. only a few snoozers, but really enjoyable overall.
Posted 17 years ago by phillips    [ Reply ]
I am not a big fan of them but I like this song
Posted 17 years ago by queenofthenerds    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 17 years ago by kaviksdad    [ Reply ]
Can't get it out of my head!!!!!!! And that's good.
Posted 17 years ago by Smoove_D    [ Reply ]
The Decemberist brighten every day. One of the best CDs of 2006
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
This song is growing on me as it nears the end. Interesting.
Posted 17 years ago by shakylegs    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by supergroverx    [ Reply ]
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.....
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by sarah_mae    [ Reply ]
suddenchad wrote:
Did you not see the relentless ganging up on the band below my post?
Deservedly so.
Posted 17 years ago by redtex    [ Reply ]
jjafri wrote:
Reminds me of Lindisfarne.
Yeah!!
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of Lindisfarne.
Posted 17 years ago by jjafri    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by Land_Shark    [ Reply ]
Land_Shark wrote:
It sucks.
Case in point.
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by Land_Shark    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
Bought this album and I like it
Posted 17 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Wow. I love this song. Guess I know who I won't be inviting to makeout with me at the next Decemberists concert. :D
Posted 17 years ago by not-a-fish    [ Reply ]
wretchedly wretched.
Posted 17 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
WTH? psuedo-intellectual art rock... substandard.
Posted 17 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
thats it...I'm putting a yankee bayonet to my ears if I hear this drivel again.
Posted 17 years ago by teeyodi    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
nope, didn't like it.
Posted 17 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
not quite!! ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho - pppffffff.....!!!!! STINGRAY!
Posted 17 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
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.
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.
Posted 17 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
good lord make it go away!!! Cast thee out! (and I was so looking forward to a good decemberists song)
Posted 17 years ago by teeyodi    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by smackiepipe    [ Reply ]
MOMMY MAKE IT STOP!!!!
Posted 18 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by Bocephus    [ Reply ]
There's something about Civil War ballads done like this . . . the poignant lyrics and breezy style are interesting together.
Posted 18 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
AlienRelic wrote:
But it's close.....
It sucks pretty bad
Posted 18 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
meloman wrote:
Could we have a bit less twee pop please?!
yeah. belle and sebastian are bad enough. these ones make my teeth ache.
Posted 18 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
islander wrote:
It doesn't suck as bad as the vast veranda song.
But it's close.....
Posted 18 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by nshifley    [ Reply ]
steeler wrote:
Sounds like Sufjan. I don't like Sufjan.
I agree, but I like Sufjan :)
Posted 18 years ago by amandy    [ Reply ]
Could we have a bit less twee pop please?!
Posted 18 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
WTF?
Posted 18 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
How cheery. This guy must have started taking his Prozac.
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Sufjan. I don't like Sufjan.
Posted 18 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
It doesn't suck as bad as the vast veranda song.
Posted 18 years ago by islander    [ Reply ]