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The Decemberists — Rise To Me
Album: The King Is Dead
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1365









Released: 2011
Length: 4:54
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Big mountain, wide river
There's an ancient pull
These tree trunks, these stream beds
Leave our bellies full

They sing out:
I am going to stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down
I am going to stand my ground
You rise to me and I'll blow you down

Hey Henry can you hear me?
Let me see those eyes
This distance between us
Can seem a mountain size

But boy:
You are going to stand your ground
They rise to you, you blow them down
Let me see you stand your ground
If they rise to you, you blow them down

My darling, my sweetheart
I am in your sway
To cold climes comes springtime
So let me hear you say

My love:
I am going to stand my ground
They rise to me and I'll blow them down
I am going to stand my ground
They rise to me and I'll blow them down
Comments (115)add comment
This gets me every time:

My darling, my sweetheart
I am in your sway
To cold climes comes springtime

Hey Henry can you hear me?
Let me see those eyes
This distance between us
Can seem a mountain size

- Very appropriate lyrics for a parent (or anyone) working on the best way to communicate with their child who is on the autism spectrum.
 Aud wrote:

I can't get into this band, his voice is so depressing....


You're really going to suffer if ever you hear The National.
if only there was a "NPT" button (Never Play This)...

to each their own.
always nice to hear a pedal steel and a harp

always
Lots of overthinking on this thread! Chill, enjoy. Even if it's not your normal cup of tea.
Love this song 
 khardog145 wrote:
Isn't this about his baby boy?  I thought I read or heard that somewhere.  So sweet and beautiful.   Obviously not a baby anymore, but still a wonderful song for fathers and the rest of us.
 

This song is indeed about his son who is autistic. 
I can't get into this band, his voice is so depressing....
Otis - STAND YOUR GROUND! hahaha
Isn't this about his baby boy?  I thought I read or heard that somewhere.  So sweet and beautiful.   Obviously not a baby anymore, but still a wonderful song for fathers and the rest of us.
Thank you RP for introducing me to this splendid band!
This is a nice song
 stevendejong wrote:
Love this. Simply perfect. There.
 
I read a long way down to find this, but I absolutely agree, friend.
Brutal. What are they, big fans of December? What da...
STFU, already!
 caatgrrrl wrote:
I so love colin and his voice
 
 
Me too! I can see why it drives some people nuts, but I like it.
 Hannio wrote:

Me too, but in very small doses.  I usually have had enough before the song ends. 

 
I usually have had enough when the song begins. 
Really enjoyed that, must be listening to another song to  other commentors
I didn't know Elmer Fudd was a singer...  =/
bleh 
 WonderLizard wrote:

Well, Fred, you got one on me. All this time I thought Stingy was German.

 
Didn't click on Fred's link, did you?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Revolution_of_1918%E2%80%931919

 


 minimole wrote:
The singer can't sing. This is an awesome testament to the power of auto-tune (YouTube some of their live stuff if you don't believe me).

Just sayin ...

 
It's understandable not liking this guy's voice (I am generally irritated by it), but he does not use auto-tune.   You actually sit through YouTube videos of a band you dislike?
 caatgrrrl wrote:
I so love colin and his voice
 
 
Me too, but in very small doses.  I usually have had enough before the song ends. 
 caatgrrrl wrote:
I so love colin and his voice
 
 
I couldn't disagree more, this is mind numbing.  PSD!
I so love colin and his voice
 
Or Gram Parsons...


 
emmidad wrote:
I'm not a big fan but like this song. Sounds very Neil Youngish.

 


 zivko wrote:
emotional inspiration...Great slide guitar....what not to like

 
their pathetic excuse for lyrics and that "voice"
emotional inspiration...Great slide guitar....what not to like
Love this. Simply perfect. There.
3 to 2
 FluorideFreeMN wrote:


Agreed...this album didn't grab me like their earlier work.  Felt like a ho-hum producer type of person took their sound and made it boring and generic.
 
I love this album. I consider it to be new American folk music.


 egsstaff wrote:
we should hear more from The Crane Wife!!
 

Agreed...this album didn't grab me like their earlier work.  Felt like a ho-hum producer type of person took their sound and made it boring and generic.
 minimole wrote:
The singer can't sing. This is an awesome testament to the power of auto-tune (YouTube some of their live stuff if you don't believe me).

Just sayin ...
 

i've seen them live quite a few times, and colin can carry the hell out of a tune.  therefore, you have no idea what you're talking about   {#Cowboy}
 lily34 wrote:
this band blows. every song sounds the same and depresses the living shit out of me. but hey. you all have fun!
 
This comment cracks me up. lily34 you are great!
The singer can't sing. This is an awesome testament to the power of auto-tune (YouTube some of their live stuff if you don't believe me).

Just sayin ...
 fredriley wrote:

Well, Novembrists could be used to refer to an important part of your country's history, the 1918-19 revolution. Octobrists was commonly used for Bolshevik revolutionaries in Russia after the October Revolution. According to Wikipedia, the band name "refers to the Decembrist revolt, an 1825 revolt in Imperial Russia that Meloy views as an attempted communist revolution".

That was a public information message. We now return you to your normal programming.
 
Well, Fred, you got one on me. All this time I thought Stingy was German.
we should hear more from The Crane Wife!!
this band blows. every song sounds the same and depresses the living shit out of me. but hey. you all have fun!
 Stingray wrote:
And what are Mayists and Octoberists anyway...?
 
Well, Novembrists could be used to refer to an important part of your country's history, the 1918-19 revolution. Octobrists was commonly used for Bolshevik revolutionaries in Russia after the October Revolution. According to Wikipedia, the band name "refers to the Decembrist revolt, an 1825 revolt in Imperial Russia that Meloy views as an attempted communist revolution".

That was a public information message. We now return you to your normal programming.
Great album!!  {#Bananajam}

The Beardman with their crochet-pullovers and uncombed hair!

DISLIKE THEM!

And what are Mayists and Octoberists anyway...?

 

 

Go DANDY WARHOLS, GO!


 MattB099 wrote:
I am becoming a big fan of these guys, I cannot understand why they are only a 6.6 but hey we don't all get moved by the same stuff I guess.

I'm giving an 8 myself but could nudge it to a 9. 
 
Same here Matt.  This is my favorite track of the album - excellent!
This song already brought a tear to my eye upon first hearing it.  After learning the inspiration, I cannot help but sniffle at my desk.  Fortunately, real emotion is so foreign to the cubicle farm that everyone just thinks I'm sick.
When first I heard "Decemberists," I was enthralled. On subsequent hearings, I became less and less charmed, to now where I just hear the same song—more or less—over again. And my ratings have declined, as well. I still enjoy hearing them but they're just so-so for me now. Amazing what RP can do for one's music appreciation!
These are fine musicians and Colin Meloy as a writer is unparalleled.  I enjoy them and for one will miss them on hiatus. 
I am becoming a big fan of these guys, I cannot understand why they are only a 6.6 but hey we don't all get moved by the same stuff I guess.

I'm giving an 8 myself but could nudge it to a 9. 
What do ya know, Country Music that doesn't suck.  I'm not a big country music fan, but this is pretty good.
Bill seems to like these guys a lot....  I have to say they are a bit hot and cold for me. It's OK...giving this a 6
 BillG wrote:
 neuticle wrote:
STOP WHINING !!

 Gotta assume that if you think he's "whining" here, you just didn't listen very carefully to this sweet & soulful song.


 
 Hey there MR RP, got to say I've listened plenty, you play this song enough (friendly jab jab jab ) ..maybe if we heard a wider range of their songs this band might not be so irritating...must say I love the station, just not the repetition 


Beautiful.
 BillG wrote:
 neuticle wrote:
STOP WHINING !!

 Gotta assume that if you think he's "whining" here, you just didn't listen very carefully to this sweet & soulful song.


 

If Bill is responding (first time, I see this) we can assume that he is personally hurt, if somebody does not
like this, indeed, whining favourites!

How did Keith Richards say in an interview, last year?
"A true band of assholes"

I full-heartedly agree!

Their choice of name alone tells it all!

 neuticle wrote:
STOP WHINING !!

 Gotta assume that if you think he's "whining" here, you just didn't listen very carefully to this sweet & soulful song.


 peter_james_bond wrote:
Love the pedal steel in this tune. {#Music}
 
Yessir!

Love the pedal steel in this tune. {#Music}
STOP WHINING !!
Channeling Neil? Me Gusta. {#Cowboy}
 nalle wrote:
This is a great album, buy and enjoy!
 
Agreed!
 ick wrote:

Well, you are always welcome to go listen elsewhere.  Quit complaining and change the channel already if you're so unhappy.

 
Funny, I don't remember anyone making you the station owner. AFAIK you're just another punter like the rest of us, so you've no moral right to tell folk to p1ss off just because they make comments you don't like, and I dare say Bill & Becky wouldn't be right chuffed if a paying punter left because of you. You don't like a comment, either comment back or just skip over it.

I'm not a big fan but like this song. Sounds very Neil Youngish.
 ick wrote:

Well, you are always welcome to go listen elsewhere.  Quit complaining and change the channel already if you're so unhappy.

 

Orrrrrrr, I could mute when they come on, and unmute when something I like comes on. Then go into song comment and give my honest opinion of the song which is precisely what song comments is for. However, I do appreciate your concern!{#Wave}
You either love 'em or hate 'em -

{#Heartkiss}
This is a great album, buy and enjoy!
I was a huge fan of The Decemberists for the last couple albums, but this one just doesn't grab me the way the last few has.  It isn't bad at all, there just isn't anything about most of the songs that really gets my attention. 
Just checked in to RP in the midst of this song, now i know this will be a great day!!
Not so much that this isn't good, it's just that I grew up listening to a lot of C & W artists doing it better
Really quite likeable. Remarkable considering this is from the "vast veranda" guys.

This group seems to be growing on me, like a big dark blemish on my rear. Is it time to see a specialist about it? The jury's still out. Hey Decemberists haters, console yourself with the knowledge that you could be listening to The National instead.
 GT66 wrote:
Another note, Colin has said Henry has trouble looking people in the eye. Anything to do with the line, "Hey Henry, can you hear me? Let me see those eyes."?
Very likely. Almost anyone on the autistic spectrum — even Asperger's — has trouble looking people in the eye.

 cirruss wrote:
The Decembrists: the bane of my RP listening experience.
 
That's a shame you feel that way. I can only surmise then that I, too, would ruin your personal experience, if we knew each other. Fortunately, we do not, and as the yang to your ying, I must proclaim that I enjoy all of The Decemberists' music, especially when played on RP.
 GT66 wrote:
An interesting entry from SongMeanings

"hvalencia
01-29-2011

Rated +1
This is one of my favorite songs by The Decemberists. Colin has recently opened up and said that his son was diagnosed with autism and that this song was dedicated to him. He said it was written about his and Carson's challenges.
Another note, Colin has said Henry has trouble looking people in the eye. Anything to do with the line, "Hey Henry, can you hear me? Let me see those eyes."?

@kevogre - "It is an anthem for fatherhood." Very well put. I couldn't agree more."

 


 
This tidbit just makes a great song even greater. 

A lot of H8rs for this one.  There is no accounting for taste.

When did they turn country/western? {#Cowboy}

{#Yawn} .......... {#Sleep}
The Decembrists: the bane of my RP listening experience.

I miss the crazy imagery of their older stuff. Without the pirates, prostitute and pretension, this seems meagre fare.

"And here in Spain I am a Spaniard
I will be buried with my marionettes
Countess and courtesan
Have fallen beneath my tender hand
When their husbands were not around
But you, my soiled teenage girlfriend
Or are you furrowed like a lioness
And we are vagabonds
We travel without seatbelts on
We live this close to death"
Amazing! Anything with a pedal steel gets an instant 7, but seeing as this is my favorite song of this album, i crank it up to a 9. I love the harmony between the singers and the pedal steel... {#Hearteyes}
Looking foward to seeing them in Raleigh NC next month....
After the excellent Fairport Convention track earlier this afternoon, this is thin and watery fare. Cred to the alt.folk bands for 'regenerating' old folk songs and sounds for a new generation, but for the real thing that generation could do worse than go back to the pioneers of folk rock, such as FP and Steeleye Span. The Decemberists are ok and are probably the best of the Nu-nu-folk bunch, but Colin Melloy's voice can grate after a while, and it certainly does to these ears in this song.

An interesting entry from SongMeanings

"hvalencia
01-29-2011

Rated +1
This is one of my favorite songs by The Decemberists. Colin has recently opened up and said that his son was diagnosed with autism and that this song was dedicated to him. He said it was written about his and Carson's challenges.
Another note, Colin has said Henry has trouble looking people in the eye. Anything to do with the line, "Hey Henry, can you hear me? Let me see those eyes."?

@kevogre - "It is an anthem for fatherhood." Very well put. I couldn't agree more."

 


 sirdroseph wrote:


There is only one cure homeslice, not to ever have the misfortune of hearing this band again!{#Snooty}
 
Well, you are always welcome to go listen elsewhere.  Quit complaining and change the channel already if you're so unhappy.

I have always liked these guys, but it seems that this latest album is much deeper than some of their past ones.
I like this. Nice (and real) c/w sound and thoughtful lyrics.
I am over this group.
Affected and boring.
Time to get some coffee.
 coyotexxx2 wrote:


I bet your band is much better.  Upload!  {#Moon}
 

Oh no, my band sucks too! Funny thing though, I do not have a fan base or make any money off of producing music. I make my money doing something else which I kick ass at therefore no guilt for getting praise for doing something I suck at like this band.
 sirdroseph wrote:


Well, look at the bright side, at least we have a new (I know they have been around since 2001, but they are the "new" Indie darlings of the moment) band to hate and feel perplexed as to why people like them so much. Kinda makes you feel superior, you know like some of us have better taste in music than others.{#Yes} Hey, I am just being real!{#Lol} Seriously though, this band sux.

 

I bet your band is much better.  Upload!  {#Moon}
 sirdroseph wrote:


Only it would've sounded good. I am sorry, I can't help it, it is just downright perplexing that they have had a recording contract and fan base, just astounding!{#Stupid}
 
To each his/her own, each march to a different drum, etc, etc.  I too am amazed at pretty much all the singers/bands that are played on commercial radio, but not here. The fact they (those on commercial radio) are actually paid to spew out the garbage that they do, with prerecorded music tracks, etc., is purely astonishing.  But, it only shows where many people are. Lights are on, but no one is home. Welcome to America. 

I usually feel that the singer is getting in the way of me enjoying the music of The Decemberists.  This tune is different... I actually appreciate the singing to some degree, and my overall impression is quite good.  I hope the rest of the album is as good.
 p2h2d2 wrote:
I like these guys.  The Flying Burrito Brothers or Poco could have recorded this tune.

 

Only it would've sounded good. I am sorry, I can't help it, it is just downright perplexing that they have had a recording contract and fan base, just astounding!{#Stupid}
I like these guys, in the tradition of The Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco. 


 h8rhater wrote:

There you people go hatin' again.  Maybe you can find a pill for that rage.

 

There is only one cure homeslice, not to ever have the misfortune of hearing this band again!{#Snooty}
 h8rhater wrote:

There you people go hatin' again.  Maybe you can find a pill for that rage.

 

Well, what you hate, you hate. It's fair enough. I also think this track is pretty poor, and it annoys me.  Plus, and it's been pointed out on RP before, they misspell 'Decembrists'.


 sirdroseph wrote:
I love country and western, hillbilly, slide guitars and honky tonk but I HATE The Decemberists!!!{#Arghhh}
 
There you people go hatin' again.  Maybe you can find a pill for that rage.

The chord progression reminds me of the Indigo Girls/Rod Stewart (whoever originally wrote it?) song "I Don't Wanna Talk About It."
Anyone else hear that?
I love country and western, hillbilly, slide guitars and honky tonk but I HATE The Decemberists!!!{#Arghhh}
 cohifi wrote:
Harmonica AND Slide Guitar....what else do you need?......
 
A cowbell? 

. . . the Decemberists. . . making me look forward to spring.  

I basically like this, but I feel like I might be getting a subtle whiff of the evil, hated Auto-Tune, which would be kinda depressing.
 fredriley wrote:

...but that wave will eventually crash and break...

 
And what will remain after that crash and break? Yes exactly, that "too much" Country you were talking about... And i'm glad it will!

 freeone1 wrote:
anything with a slide steel, steals my heart. 
 
Couldn't agree more!! Such an amazing instrument!!

A really wonderful album.
 freeone1 wrote:
anything with a slide steel, steals my heart. 
 
Anything with a sit-down horizontal guitar makes me fear C&W. As another poster wrote, too much country, too little alt. The Decemberists are on the crest of the Nu-Nu-Folk (aka Folk Rock) wave right now, with Mumford & Sons and others of the like, but that wave will eventually crash and break and in a few years' time they'll be forgotten outside their fan base. Not that they're bad, and kudos to them for sticking at it for so long and for their success, but they are getting a bit over-exposed lately. Even the non-music Press is giving them full-page spreads.

Love this CD from start to finish, but this is my absolute favorite!  :)
Harmonica AND Slide Guitar....what else do you need?......
A fine album start to finish in my opinion.
 jchrise wrote:
Oh god, so totally tired of the Decemberists. Will they go away in January?
 

Well, look at the bright side, at least we have a new (I know they have been around since 2001, but they are the "new" Indie darlings of the moment) band to hate and feel perplexed as to why people like them so much. Kinda makes you feel superior, you know like some of us have better taste in music than others.{#Yes} Hey, I am just being real!{#Lol} Seriously though, this band sux.

 jchrise wrote:
Oh god, so totally tired of the Decemberists. Will they go away in January?
 

Yeah, I'm wondering and hoping the same thing.
A great album from start to finish!
 jchrise wrote:
Oh god, so totally tired of the Decemberists. Will they go away in January?
 
I hope not! 

Love the lap steele and harmonica... another Decemberist Album for my collection!
Oh god, so totally tired of the Decemberists. Will they go away in January?
If you watch the studiocam every so often, you may spot Bill G. dancing around the studio with castinets to this one.
SNORING!
Too much country, not enough alt.
anything with a slide steel, steals my heart. 
A little different for them, I like it!