The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Here's a hymn to welcome in the day
Heralding a summer's early sway
And all the bulbs all comin' in
To begin
The thrushes' bleeding battle with the wrens
Disrupts my reverie again
Pegging clothing on the line
Training jasmine how to vine
Up the arbor to your door
And more
Standing on the landing with the war
You shouldered all the night before
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
A barony of ivy in the trees
Expanding out its empire by degrees
And all the branches burst abloom
In the boom
Heaven sent this cardinal maroon
To decorate our living room
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And years from now when this old light
Isn't ambling anymore
Will I bring myself to write
"I give my best to Springville Hill"
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And summer comes to Springville Hill
Heralding a summer's early sway
And all the bulbs all comin' in
To begin
The thrushes' bleeding battle with the wrens
Disrupts my reverie again
Pegging clothing on the line
Training jasmine how to vine
Up the arbor to your door
And more
Standing on the landing with the war
You shouldered all the night before
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
A barony of ivy in the trees
Expanding out its empire by degrees
And all the branches burst abloom
In the boom
Heaven sent this cardinal maroon
To decorate our living room
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And years from now when this old light
Isn't ambling anymore
Will I bring myself to write
"I give my best to Springville Hill"
But once upon it
The yellow bonnets
Garland all the lawn
You were waking
Day was breaking
A panoply of song
And summer comes to Springville Hill
And summer comes to Springville Hill
Lyrics submitted by WriterOfFictions, edited by slytwisty
June Hymn Lyrics as written by Colin Meloy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Official lyrics from the Decemberists site:
June Hymn Here’s a hymn to welcome in the day Heralding a summer’s early sway And all the bulbs all coming in To begin The thrushes bleating battle with the wrens Disrupts my reverie again
Pegging clothing on the line Training jasmine how to vine Up the arbor to your door And more You’re standing on the landing with the war You shouldered all the night before
And once upon it The yellow bonnets Garland all the lawn And you were waking And day was breaking A panoply of song And summer comes to Springville Hill
A barony of ivy in the trees Expanding out its empire by degrees And all the branches burst to bloom In the boom Heaven sent this cardinal maroon To decorate our living room
Chorus
And years from now when this old light Isn’t ambling anymore Will I bring myself to write “I give my best to Springville Hill”
Chorus
This song touches me deeply for some reason. The music is very poignant and beautiful, with a touch of sadness in it. It goes straight to the heart, with the very literate and loving lyrics. The question I have is about the lines <br /> You're standing on the landing<br /> With the war you shouldered all the night before<br /> <br /> and And all the branches burst to bloom<br /> In the boom<br /> <br /> Is this a reference to one of the lovers being involved in a war? It would certainly intensify the meaning of the innocent beauty of nature and the closeness of the lovers and their basking in the innocent glory of the moment. I am not that familiar with the whole album that this comes from, and I am aware that the Decemberists write songs that are connected by a story or theme. Could anyone comment on the context of the song within the album? It is most lovely and hard to get out of my mind.
While it may have something to do with the fact that "This is Why We Fight" comes right after this song, I don't believe it's a literal war. Perhaps a war with oneself or one's demons.<br /> Perhaps the person spent the night awake wrestling with his demons, and while he feels he is on his way to overcoming him, he is sleep deprived, which is clearly visible to anyone who looks while he stands on his porch. He feels confident though, because he's just stepped out into a beautiful morning in a beautiful town. The beginning of summer gives him hope for a new beginning.