It's Decoration Day
And I've a mind to roll a stone on his grave
But what would he say
"Keeping me down, boy, won't keep you away"

It's Decoration Day
And I knew the Hill Boys would put him away
But my Daddy wasn't afraid
He said "We'd fight till the last Lawson's last living day"

I never knew how it all got started
A problem with Holland before we were born
And I don't know the name of that boy we tied down
And beat 'til he just couldn't walk anymore

But I know the caliber in daddy's chest
And I know what Holland Hill drives
The state let him go, but I guess it was best
'Cause nobody needs all us Lawson's alive

Daddy said one of the boys had come by
The lumber man's favorite son
He said "Beat him real good, but don't dare let him die
And if you see Holland Hill run"

Now I said, "They ain't give us trouble before
That we ain't brought down on ourselves"
But a chain on my back and my ear to the floor
And I'll send all the Hill Boys to hell
I'll send all the Hill Boys to hell

It's Decoration Day
And I've got a family in Mobile Bay
And they've never seen my daddy's grave
But that don't bother me, it ain't marked anyway

'Cause I got dead brothers in Lauderdale South
And I got dead brothers in East Tennessee
My Daddy got shot right in front of his house
He had no one to fall on but me

It's Decoration Day
And I've a mind to go spit on his grave
If I was a Hill, I'd have put him away
And I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day


Lyrics submitted by TonyRo2, edited by AlexSupertramp, wobbly33

Decoration Day Lyrics as written by Jason Isbell

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Decoration Day song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

26 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    BRILLIANT FUCKING SONG....Can't BELIEVE no one's commented on it. I just love....especially the guitars at the end. The way Isbell sings this one is perfect.

    Kate2121on February 14, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.