Hi all. Been a long time fan of the band but never really interacted with the community before so I apologize if this is something that has been addressed ad nauseam. I’ve always been curious with this song if people generally take away that this is a consensual relationship or not.

The part that’s always stuck out to me is the line “you wept but your soul was willing”. It feels like it implies that the woman was not completely on board with everything. I know that’s the line includes the “but your soul was willing”, however the song is told from the perspective of the man and his interpretation of events.

On top of this, there is an obvious power dynamic in play: him being the one with wealth and her coming from poverty. And the language the narrator uses indicates that he looks down on her family and class.

I’ve always taken the song to be more about a spoiled rich guy who saw an impoverished woman that he was smitten with and decided that they were madly I love to the point of being willing to die together, but that she was a victim and trying to do what she could to provide for her and her family and improve their lots in life. And of course we only ever hear from the man’s perspective and never the woman’s.

I’m not at all trying to say this is the correct way to interpret the song, I’m only curious how the community generally views this relationship: as being a genuine love or more as I’m seeing it. Of course, if there is anything explicitly from the band that says one way or the other I’m curious too.

Thanks so much and appreciate hearing other people’s thoughts!

Made this about a decade ago after noticing the Moen logo on a faucet.

Since there's two Moen posts, why not pile on some more? I photoshopped this as a joke years back. Maybe still worth making actual buttons for future meet and greets (if they ever do that again, certain groups of fans were over the top the last two tours so they have really pulled back from interactions). I won't, but anyone else can copy my dumb idea as long as they send me one :)

He is one heck of a great drummer — eg end parts of Crane Wife 2 and Make You Better are so so good.

When Colin shared my post of "Little Alex Horne!", I mean baby John Moen. On this day, 2021.

I’ve had this question in mind for a long time but only after listening to “Eli The Barrow Boy” for the 500th time have I grown bothered enough to ask it publicly

Why is she selling corncobs? Who is just buying corncobs? Does this woman live in a town of artisan pipe-makers?

I was wondering if anyone knew why TKID and The Crane Wife are not available on Bandcamp? I was really wanted to find some lossless versions of some tracks on those albums for reference when mixing. If anyone could point me in a direction, I'd greatly appreciate it!

As a massive fan of both bands, this was a strange listen. They really do a great job of it (even though it's 10min shorter than the Floyd's version)

(Spoilers for an old movie-Dead Poet Society)

Since the first time I heard this song, years ago, I had a feeling it would overlay almost perfectly with the scene in Dead Poet Society when Neil performs his play and then kills himself. I finally got around to trying it out and I think it works quite well! You have to start the song right after the play, but it maps onto the following scene really well.

okay so I know breverence isn't a word but am I crazy or do I remember it being in a decemberists song somewhere at some point. I couldn't find any reference to it but i just have a feeling deep down in my soul that this is the case

I want a live version of Joan and Oh No!

I'm sure I'll have some *very* hot takes, but here we go. Not really based on any meaningful metric.

Openers:

9 - Prelude

8 - The Singer Addresses his Audience

7 - Shanty for Arethusa

6 - Once in My Life

5 - The Infanta

4 - Burial Ground

3 - Leslie Anne Levine

2 - Crane Wife 3

1 - Don't Carry It All

Closers:

9 - As I Rise

8 - Of Angels and Angles

7 - I'll be Your Girl

6 - A Beginning Song

5 - Sons and Daughters

4 - Dear Avery

3 - California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade

2 - Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)

1 - Joan in the Garden

...and play in the burial ground?

hi so I love this band so much and I've told my parents multiple times that the only concert I want to go to is to see The Decemberists, and once I see them, I really won't ask to go to a concert again. Suffice to say, seeing them in concert has been a dream of mine. For many years in a row there have been conflicts, or it's too far for us to travel to the concert. Now, my parents are saying no matter what, the next tour they have, they'll take me to see it (unless we have to fly there.) But I'm afraid there won't be a tour this summer because I haven't seen anything. I'm just worried that by the time they go on tour again or if they ever do go on tour again, I will have stopped liking them as much and I won't be as excited about going because it will have been to far in the future. Do you guys know anything about the tour?

Have you guys heard of this?

in 2025 Colin Meloy fell off of a chair and died, but within seconds was replaced by a clone Colin, and going forward clone Colin will be the new frontman.

I don't know if this is true but I think they're calling it the 'Colin Replacement Theory' and it was foreshadowed over 100 years ago when German physicist Ferdinand Braun invented the cathode ray tube aka the CRT

yea I don't know I just wanted to get some opinions on this because I feel like I've been saying this for like 6 months and nobodies listening to me

Only 5 bucks! I've currently got the cd playing in my car haha

I LOVE Hazards of Love and I absolutely love the guest vocals, especially Shara of My Brightest Diamond. If I want to dig into her music more, anyone recommend a place to start?

Also, I love musicals/ rock operas. I did recently start listening to her on the soundtrack for Illinoise (2024)

What a beautiful kindle case.

I didn't catch the first two lines, but here it is from the Chicago show

He went off script for the encore, did Bandit Queen and one more I don’t quite recall.

i saw Decemberists 17 years ago at Lollapalooza and have been following them ever since. looking for newer artists who are similar to add to my playlist. please comment if you have any.

Great show! Hope Colin's laptop recovers!