The Decemberists — Make You Better
Album: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful WorldAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 786
Length: 5:02
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I want you, thin fingers
I wanted you, thin fingernails
And when you bend backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
I'll love you in springtime
I lost you when summer came
And when you pulled backwards
I wanted to, I needed to
Oh-oh, to make me better
Oh-oh, to make me better
But we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around to make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day you met her
But it'd make you better
It'd make you better
I sung you your twinges
I suffered you your tattletales
And when you broke sideways
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
Oh-oh, to make me better
But we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around and make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day that you met her
And it'd make you better
Did it make you better?
And all I wanted was a sliver to call mine
And all I wanted was a shimmer in your shine
To make me bright
Cause we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around and make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day you met her
But it'd make you better
It'd make you better
I wanted you, thin fingernails
And when you bend backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
I'll love you in springtime
I lost you when summer came
And when you pulled backwards
I wanted to, I needed to
Oh-oh, to make me better
Oh-oh, to make me better
But we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around to make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day you met her
But it'd make you better
It'd make you better
I sung you your twinges
I suffered you your tattletales
And when you broke sideways
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
Oh-oh, to make me better
But we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around and make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day that you met her
And it'd make you better
Did it make you better?
And all I wanted was a sliver to call mine
And all I wanted was a shimmer in your shine
To make me bright
Cause we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around and make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day you met her
But it'd make you better
It'd make you better
Comments (31)add comment
Love the harmonies there at the end.
I kinda like the Decemberists, but listening to them for longer than 15 minutes, to me, becomes musical monotony. Kind of a one trick pony - from someone that has only purchased one of their albums. When a band shows one set of flavors, time after time, it doesn't take me long to get bored. But that's just me. Good band, just not overly versatile.
Not their best - but the chorus lift is just friggin awesome! Gets me every time - in a good way!
Cannon wrote:
No. It is good.
No, it is bad.
No. It is good.
No, it is bad.
hayduke2 wrote:
No. It is good.
wow is this bad
No. It is good.
Punkysoup wrote:
This one is fantastic to listen to cranked up on good quality headphones. The sonic arc of the song, instrumentation and production is so well put together. 8
I think this song is INCREDIBLE. It gets me every time. 
This one is fantastic to listen to cranked up on good quality headphones. The sonic arc of the song, instrumentation and production is so well put together. 8
I think this song is INCREDIBLE. It gets me every time.
hayduke2 wrote:
Colin Meloy identifies the object of his affections as a female by her discrete physical features, which tells listeners that he has had his eyes on a certain woman.
I'll love you in springtime
I lost you when summer came
And when you pulled backwards
I wanted to, I needed to
Oh-oh, to make me better
yes
8
I want you, thin fingers
I wanted you, thin fingernails
And when you bend backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
really
1
I wanted you, thin fingernails
And when you bend backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
really
1
Colin Meloy identifies the object of his affections as a female by her discrete physical features, which tells listeners that he has had his eyes on a certain woman.
I'll love you in springtime
I lost you when summer came
And when you pulled backwards
I wanted to, I needed to
Oh-oh, to make me better
yes
8
coding_to_music wrote:
Indeed! I didn't know they make videos anymore, let alone such great stuff.
Indeed! I didn't know they make videos anymore, let alone such great stuff.
A seven, low for The Decemberists.
wow is this bad
A notch or two above their typical fare. This one has more dynamics and less of that voice.
Nice remedy to the usual sniveling "please make miserable me a better man" songs.
So yes, it made me better (a little).
So yes, it made me better (a little).
odopop wrote:
Very clever and good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb8oUbMrydk
Check out the official video, hilarious.
Very clever and good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb8oUbMrydk
Check out the official video, hilarious.
ecojot wrote:
That also makes up 90% of The Ramones songs. That said, The Decemberists are in no ways similar to The Ramones.
Extremely pedestrian 3 chords.
That also makes up 90% of The Ramones songs. That said, The Decemberists are in no ways similar to The Ramones.
ecojot wrote:
I guess you weren't actually listening; there are more than three chords (at least six or seven), even what sounds like a minor ninth (an extended chord, not a "pedestrian" one), in the bridge. Not that it matters; the vast majority of rock songs have little more than three chords. Their choice of chords isn't what often irks me about this band.
Extremely pedestrian 3 chords.
I guess you weren't actually listening; there are more than three chords (at least six or seven), even what sounds like a minor ninth (an extended chord, not a "pedestrian" one), in the bridge. Not that it matters; the vast majority of rock songs have little more than three chords. Their choice of chords isn't what often irks me about this band.
This band are winning me over. His awkward vocals can sometimes get in the way, but perhaps that is his natural accent ( I have yet to hear him speak). I can feel a purchase coming on.
yea ok
ecojot wrote:
So was "Louie, Louie."
Extremely pedestrian 3 chords.
So was "Louie, Louie."
I want you, thin fingers
I wanted you, thin fingernails
And when you bend backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
really
1
I wanted you, thin fingernails
And when you bend backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better
really
1
Extremely pedestrian 3 chords.
They're back! Love this.
song is ok, but the voice grates on my auditory system
sounds like Neko Case in background vocals...
This hits ALL the right spots!
love love love - well worth the almost 4 year wait! Lake song is also a bloody masterpiece
best one yet from the new album
Yeah, I'm liking this.
New? Nice.
Extremely pedestrian 3 chords.
Ok smarty pants, what three chords then?
As someone who can discern intervals and chordal structure I can assure you there's a lot more going on structurally than you flippantly claim (or I'm guessing you'd be capable of yourself).