According to the Decemberists' website, the last verse is:
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”
The meaning changes dramatically if you take these as the correct lyrics. At first, with the reference to a 'lie', I thought the song might be a continuation of the January hymn, with the protagonist having given himself over to the delusion of having his love with him (perhaps explaining why she never shows up directly in the song), with 'rye' meaning whiskey (his refuge when the delusion no longer holds).
But with the new lyrics... well, the song becomes much less twisted. :)
According to the Decemberists' website, the last verse is:
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”
The meaning changes dramatically if you take these as the correct lyrics. At first, with the reference to a 'lie', I thought the song might be a continuation of the January hymn, with the protagonist having given himself over to the delusion of having his love with him (perhaps explaining why she never shows up directly in the song), with 'rye' meaning whiskey (his refuge when the delusion no longer holds).
But with the new lyrics... well, the song becomes much less twisted. :)