This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Two, three, four
The Shankill butchers ride tonight
You better shut your windows tight
They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives
And taking all their whiskey by the pint
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you awake
They used to be just like me and you
They used to be sweet little boys
But something went horribly askew
Now killing is their only source of joy
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you awake
The Shankill butchers on the rise
They're waiting until the dead of nights
They're picking at their fingers with their knives
And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you
The Shankill butchers wanna cut you
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you, awake
Awake
Awake
Awake
The Shankill butchers ride tonight
You better shut your windows tight
They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives
And taking all their whiskey by the pint
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you awake
They used to be just like me and you
They used to be sweet little boys
But something went horribly askew
Now killing is their only source of joy
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you awake
The Shankill butchers on the rise
They're waiting until the dead of nights
They're picking at their fingers with their knives
And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you
The Shankill butchers wanna cut you
The Shankill butchers wanna catch you, awake
Awake
Awake
Awake
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The Shankill Butchers were a splinter group of the UVR (Ulster Volunteer Force) in Belfast who'd beat and sometimes kill Catholics (who had little to no connection to the IRA or nationalist movement) who they'd captured at night on the streets. They were at large in the sixties and seventies.
this song is scary...
and frickin awesome.
I love the Decemberists' demented wives' tales and bedtime stories. (For another one, see A Cautionary Tale from Castaways and Cutouts.)
It sounds as if this song was recorded in a similiar fashion to the Death Cab song "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" in that the singing and acoustic guitar part were recorded simultaneously in one take. It's particularly effective in that it makes the songs more sincere and, in this case, a lot more creepy. Mr. Walla seems to like that method.
Mayhaps the team will have some good music to back it...
I'm pretty sure it's "wanna catch you awake" not "cut you away," until the end where he's all like, "wanna catch you, wanna cut you, wanna catch you awake awake awake."
Though it could depend on what version you heard, in which case we're all right!
I heard them do this about a week ago. I really like it. Very... Decemberisty
guys in ireland who used to go around killing catholics, so says colin on npr
pumkinhed, I'm guessing the lyrics are quite dependent on the melody, somewhat like Of Angels and Angles. They're OK lyrics on their own but the combination is what makes the song so good.
the whole thing apparently turned into a bedtime story that Irish Catholic parents would impart to their kids before tucking them in at night, that's still told today. sweet dreams!
Wow - I didn't know the Decmeberists wrote a song about these guys. Random.
Anyway, the Shankill Butchers were a bunch of scumbag murdering c**** from Belfast, most of whom are now burning in hell (or are on their way). Yay!
The movie Resurrection Man is about them