In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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
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
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This is a great song. I think its meaning is pretty straight forward, but powerful.
This song is about a son who is caught in a feud belonging to his father. He doesn't even know why he is fighting with the other family(Hill), its just something that has been going on since before he was even born.
The father basically influences his children to take part in this feud, to the point of beating the boys in the other family(Hill boys).
In the end the feud between these families brings nothing but the death of the Lawson father by the hands of the Hill boys), and his other sons(dead brother in Lauderdale south). In the end the son has nothing but resentment for his father, when he thinks about him, instead of celebrating his life, he would rather spit on his grave