"And I believe
California succumbed to the fault line"
The first part of the song is about the theory that the next big earthquake will snap the San Andrea's fault line and send California to the sea.
"We heaved relief
As scores of innocents died"
The singer of this song clearly doesn't like Californians.
"And the Andalusian tribes
Setting the lay of Nebraska alight
'Til all the remains is the arms of the angel"
Then it says that after California slips into the ocean, Mexico is going to attack Nebraska until there is no American left in the midwest.
Petty green = cash?
Not sure who the queen is. Maybe a politician?
Basically the premise of the song is a guy dreaming of Mexico conquering America while a conservative politician lady is trying to fix things, but the public doesn't give a damn about the entire situation... Or at least that's what I got out of it...
Absolutely my (first) fave off the new album. The lead guitar is clearly Peter Buck. The main chord sounds like the chord in Talk About the Passion - just a bit faster tempo.
Absolutely my (first) fave off the new album. The lead guitar is clearly Peter Buck. The main chord sounds like the chord in Talk About the Passion - just a bit faster tempo.
decent first stab at this. i had some similar initial inclinations, BUT
decent first stab at this. i had some similar initial inclinations, BUT
Andalusia is in Spain, not Mexico.
Though the Spanish did colonize Mexico it was 300+ years before the Chinese Queen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi
The Panamanian Child could be John McCain - though somehow I doubt it.
"Build a civilization below ground" - this song is most def about anarchy in some (dis)order. Whether it be an earthquake...
The Panamanian Child could be John McCain - though somehow I doubt it.
"Build a civilization below ground" - this song is most def about anarchy in some (dis)order. Whether it be an earthquake - or I think possibly an imported Mexican drug war across the US southern border, "Calamity" is a political synonym for anarchy.
Could this be about a dream one had in the 1850s? Just after Mexican-American War?
Look at that. Andalusia IS in Spain... Well that's embarrassing.
Look at that. Andalusia IS in Spain... Well that's embarrassing.
ANYHOW
ANYHOW
This song, as well as others of Meloy's, seem to have references from conflicting eras, places, etc. (Let's not count "My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist". Well all know that was done purely in fun.) It tends to make interpretation difficult. He's probably reading these boards and laughing to himself about how we just don't get it.
This song, as well as others of Meloy's, seem to have references from conflicting eras, places, etc. (Let's not count "My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist". Well all know that was done purely in fun.) It tends to make interpretation difficult. He's probably reading these boards and laughing to himself about how we just don't get it.
"And I believe
California succumbed to the fault line"
"And I believe
California succumbed to the fault line"
"The first part of the song is about the theory that the next big earthquake will snap the San Andrea's fault line and send California to the sea."
"The first part of the song is about the theory that the next big earthquake will snap the San Andrea's fault line and send California to the sea."
Er, California will never fall into the ocean. The San Andreas fault (which, I assume is the 'fault line' the Decemberists are describing considering it's the fault that gets the most attention in California, plus it also the largest fault in the state) is a transform fault with a strike-slip motion: http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/fixit/ch2/sld003.htm...
Er, California will never fall into the ocean. The San Andreas fault (which, I assume is the 'fault line' the Decemberists are describing considering it's the fault that gets the most attention in California, plus it also the largest fault in the state) is a transform fault with a strike-slip motion: http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/fixit/ch2/sld003.htm
California will someday be were Alaska presently is on the globe due to the fault's movement, but this will only occur over millions of years. It's a common misconception California will break off from the continent and fall into the ocean. That's seismically and geologically impossible.
I think the "succumbed to the fault line" part just means that, in the song, the San Andreas generated a major earthquake that killed a lot of people, considering many large cities sit right on top of the fault (such as Palm Springs). In reality, if and when the fault produces a large earthquake a lot of people will probably die, sadly.
"We heaved relief
As scores of innocents died"
I don't know what one could be relived about when thousands of people are killed in a natural disaster. Seems a bit callous to me, but I'm probably missing something.
Maybe they're referring to the relief of knowing the large earthquake finally happened (there's a lot of hype around it in the California media. Just google 'the Big One earthquake'), and that there won't be another like it in California for another 300 years or so?
The line is actually "Hetty Green," not "Petty green," referring to the first woman whose investments significantly impacted Wall Street. "Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab" is an apt description of the Hetty Green, who was notorious for being well-off but extremely stingy.
The line is actually "Hetty Green," not "Petty green," referring to the first woman whose investments significantly impacted Wall Street. "Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab" is an apt description of the Hetty Green, who was notorious for being well-off but extremely stingy.
@oksure: Yes, California will never fall into the ocean, but that line does probably refer to the belief that it would happen. Don't you remember Lex Luthor's plan in the first Superman movie?
@oksure: Yes, California will never fall into the ocean, but that line does probably refer to the belief that it would happen. Don't you remember Lex Luthor's plan in the first Superman movie?
The bits about living underground remeind me of the Omega Man.
The bits about living underground remeind me of the Omega Man.
Let's keep in mind that the very first line is "HAD A DREAM". So stop fact-checking and Wikipediaing. It doesn't matter. The song is about a dream about an apocalyptic war.
So I thought the sigh of relief when people died because of the fault lines was because people everyone were going to die anyway, but more brutally. Except for the people who build an underground civilization.
Let's keep in mind that the very first line is "HAD A DREAM". So stop fact-checking and Wikipediaing. It doesn't matter. The song is about a dream about an apocalyptic war.
So I thought the sigh of relief when people died because of the fault lines was because people everyone were going to die anyway, but more brutally. Except for the people who build an underground civilization.
Basically this song is a silly guess at how the world will end, with lots of clever references thrown in, but nothing to take too seriously. I can't find any deeper...
Basically this song is a silly guess at how the world will end, with lots of clever references thrown in, but nothing to take too seriously. I can't find any deeper meaning than that.
"When I was writing 'Calamity Song,' Sarah Palin was talking about how everybody was going to move to Alaska when the end times come." — Colin Meloy, Decemberists frontman
"When I was writing 'Calamity Song,' Sarah Palin was talking about how everybody was going to move to Alaska when the end times come." — Colin Meloy, Decemberists frontman
Apparently this song was inspired by one of the crazy ramblings Sarah Palin graced us with during the 2008 presidential campaign. While there are a few references to the the then-upcoming election, the lyrics mostly have fun with the concept of the "end times," as eagerly awaited by Christian fundamentalists like Sarah Palin.
Apparently this song was inspired by one of the crazy ramblings Sarah Palin graced us with during the 2008 presidential campaign. While there are a few references to the the then-upcoming election, the lyrics mostly have fun with the concept of the "end times," as eagerly awaited by Christian fundamentalists like Sarah Palin.
Colin Meloy is, of course, a firmly left-wing progressive (anti-war, gay rights, healthcare reform, etc.)...
Colin Meloy is, of course, a firmly left-wing progressive (anti-war, gay rights, healthcare reform, etc.) Naturally, he supported and campaigned for Democratic candidate Barack Obama in 2008.
Some explanations and elucidations:
"California succumbed to the fault line" = The natural disasters of the "end times" evidently include massive earthquakes along the San Andreas fault in California.
"And the Andalusian tribes / Setting the lay of Nebraska alight" = "Andalusian" refers to southern Spain, usually in reference to the Vandals, a barbarian tribe that once occupied that region. In the context of the song, the "Andalusian tribes" are likely roving gangs of desperate and violent savages, roaming, burning, and pillaging across the wasteland in the aftermath of the apocalypse.
"Hetty Green" = An early 20th-century businesswoman known for her greed and stinginess
"Hetty Green / Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab / You know what I mean" = Sarah Palin (Queen of pro-rich [supply-side economics] folksy [bonhomie] bone-grey dullness [bone-drab])
"And the Panamanian child" = John McCain (Born at a US Army base in Panama)
"Stands at the Dowager Empress's side" = Cindy McCain (Always wears heavy make-up and elaborate clothing, like a Dowager Empress.
"And I believe California succumbed to the fault line"
The first part of the song is about the theory that the next big earthquake will snap the San Andrea's fault line and send California to the sea.
"We heaved relief As scores of innocents died"
The singer of this song clearly doesn't like Californians.
"And the Andalusian tribes Setting the lay of Nebraska alight 'Til all the remains is the arms of the angel"
Then it says that after California slips into the ocean, Mexico is going to attack Nebraska until there is no American left in the midwest.
Petty green = cash?
Not sure who the queen is. Maybe a politician?
Basically the premise of the song is a guy dreaming of Mexico conquering America while a conservative politician lady is trying to fix things, but the public doesn't give a damn about the entire situation... Or at least that's what I got out of it...
Absolutely my (first) fave off the new album. The lead guitar is clearly Peter Buck. The main chord sounds like the chord in Talk About the Passion - just a bit faster tempo.
Absolutely my (first) fave off the new album. The lead guitar is clearly Peter Buck. The main chord sounds like the chord in Talk About the Passion - just a bit faster tempo.
decent first stab at this. i had some similar initial inclinations, BUT
decent first stab at this. i had some similar initial inclinations, BUT
Andalusia is in Spain, not Mexico. Though the Spanish did colonize Mexico it was 300+ years before the Chinese Queen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi The Panamanian Child could be John McCain - though somehow I doubt it. "Build a civilization below ground" - this song is most def about anarchy in some (dis)order. Whether it be an earthquake...
>
Could this be about a dream one had in the 1850s? Just after Mexican-American War?
Look at that. Andalusia IS in Spain... Well that's embarrassing.
Look at that. Andalusia IS in Spain... Well that's embarrassing.
ANYHOW
ANYHOW
This song, as well as others of Meloy's, seem to have references from conflicting eras, places, etc. (Let's not count "My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist". Well all know that was done purely in fun.) It tends to make interpretation difficult. He's probably reading these boards and laughing to himself about how we just don't get it.
This song, as well as others of Meloy's, seem to have references from conflicting eras, places, etc. (Let's not count "My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist". Well all know that was done purely in fun.) It tends to make interpretation difficult. He's probably reading these boards and laughing to himself about how we just don't get it.
"And I believe California succumbed to the fault line"
"And I believe California succumbed to the fault line"
"The first part of the song is about the theory that the next big earthquake will snap the San Andrea's fault line and send California to the sea."
"The first part of the song is about the theory that the next big earthquake will snap the San Andrea's fault line and send California to the sea."
Er, California will never fall into the ocean. The San Andreas fault (which, I assume is the 'fault line' the Decemberists are describing considering it's the fault that gets the most attention in California, plus it also the largest fault in the state) is a transform fault with a strike-slip motion: http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/fixit/ch2/sld003.htm...
Er, California will never fall into the ocean. The San Andreas fault (which, I assume is the 'fault line' the Decemberists are describing considering it's the fault that gets the most attention in California, plus it also the largest fault in the state) is a transform fault with a strike-slip motion: http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/fixit/ch2/sld003.htm
California will someday be were Alaska presently is on the globe due to the fault's movement, but this will only occur over millions of years. It's a common misconception California will break off from the continent and fall into the ocean. That's seismically and geologically impossible.
I think the "succumbed to the fault line" part just means that, in the song, the San Andreas generated a major earthquake that killed a lot of people, considering many large cities sit right on top of the fault (such as Palm Springs). In reality, if and when the fault produces a large earthquake a lot of people will probably die, sadly.
"We heaved relief As scores of innocents died"
I don't know what one could be relived about when thousands of people are killed in a natural disaster. Seems a bit callous to me, but I'm probably missing something. Maybe they're referring to the relief of knowing the large earthquake finally happened (there's a lot of hype around it in the California media. Just google 'the Big One earthquake'), and that there won't be another like it in California for another 300 years or so?
The line is actually "Hetty Green," not "Petty green," referring to the first woman whose investments significantly impacted Wall Street. "Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab" is an apt description of the Hetty Green, who was notorious for being well-off but extremely stingy.
The line is actually "Hetty Green," not "Petty green," referring to the first woman whose investments significantly impacted Wall Street. "Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab" is an apt description of the Hetty Green, who was notorious for being well-off but extremely stingy.
@oksure: Yes, California will never fall into the ocean, but that line does probably refer to the belief that it would happen. Don't you remember Lex Luthor's plan in the first Superman movie?
@oksure: Yes, California will never fall into the ocean, but that line does probably refer to the belief that it would happen. Don't you remember Lex Luthor's plan in the first Superman movie?
The bits about living underground remeind me of the Omega Man.
The bits about living underground remeind me of the Omega Man.
Let's keep in mind that the very first line is "HAD A DREAM". So stop fact-checking and Wikipediaing. It doesn't matter. The song is about a dream about an apocalyptic war. So I thought the sigh of relief when people died because of the fault lines was because people everyone were going to die anyway, but more brutally. Except for the people who build an underground civilization.
Let's keep in mind that the very first line is "HAD A DREAM". So stop fact-checking and Wikipediaing. It doesn't matter. The song is about a dream about an apocalyptic war. So I thought the sigh of relief when people died because of the fault lines was because people everyone were going to die anyway, but more brutally. Except for the people who build an underground civilization.
Basically this song is a silly guess at how the world will end, with lots of clever references thrown in, but nothing to take too seriously. I can't find any deeper...
Basically this song is a silly guess at how the world will end, with lots of clever references thrown in, but nothing to take too seriously. I can't find any deeper meaning than that.
Tinneal, I think you had it right about Mexico. I think he's saying Mexican people are "tribes" of Spain in a sort of lost tribes of Israel way.
Tinneal, I think you had it right about Mexico. I think he's saying Mexican people are "tribes" of Spain in a sort of lost tribes of Israel way.
"When I was writing 'Calamity Song,' Sarah Palin was talking about how everybody was going to move to Alaska when the end times come." — Colin Meloy, Decemberists frontman
"When I was writing 'Calamity Song,' Sarah Palin was talking about how everybody was going to move to Alaska when the end times come." — Colin Meloy, Decemberists frontman
Apparently this song was inspired by one of the crazy ramblings Sarah Palin graced us with during the 2008 presidential campaign. While there are a few references to the the then-upcoming election, the lyrics mostly have fun with the concept of the "end times," as eagerly awaited by Christian fundamentalists like Sarah Palin.
Apparently this song was inspired by one of the crazy ramblings Sarah Palin graced us with during the 2008 presidential campaign. While there are a few references to the the then-upcoming election, the lyrics mostly have fun with the concept of the "end times," as eagerly awaited by Christian fundamentalists like Sarah Palin.
Colin Meloy is, of course, a firmly left-wing progressive (anti-war, gay rights, healthcare reform, etc.)...
Colin Meloy is, of course, a firmly left-wing progressive (anti-war, gay rights, healthcare reform, etc.) Naturally, he supported and campaigned for Democratic candidate Barack Obama in 2008.
Some explanations and elucidations:
"California succumbed to the fault line" = The natural disasters of the "end times" evidently include massive earthquakes along the San Andreas fault in California.
"And the Andalusian tribes / Setting the lay of Nebraska alight" = "Andalusian" refers to southern Spain, usually in reference to the Vandals, a barbarian tribe that once occupied that region. In the context of the song, the "Andalusian tribes" are likely roving gangs of desperate and violent savages, roaming, burning, and pillaging across the wasteland in the aftermath of the apocalypse.
"Hetty Green" = An early 20th-century businesswoman known for her greed and stinginess "Hetty Green / Queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab / You know what I mean" = Sarah Palin (Queen of pro-rich [supply-side economics] folksy [bonhomie] bone-grey dullness [bone-drab])
"And the Panamanian child" = John McCain (Born at a US Army base in Panama)
"Stands at the Dowager Empress's side" = Cindy McCain (Always wears heavy make-up and elaborate clothing, like a Dowager Empress.