California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade Lyrics

Take a long drive with me
On california one, california one

And the road a-winding goes
From golden gate to roaring cliff-side
And the light is softly low as our hearts become sweetly untied
Neath the sun of california one

Take a long dram with me
Of california wine
Of california wine
Take a long dram with me
Of california wine
Of california wine

And the wine, it tastes so sweet
As we lay our eyes to wander
And the sky, it stretches deep
Will we rest our heads to slumber
Neath the vines
Of california wine;
Neath the sun
Of california one?

Annabelle lies, sleeps with quiet eyes
On this sea-drift sun
What can you do?
And if I said, O it's in your head
On this sea-drift sun
What can you do?

We're calling all bed wetters and ambulance chasers
Poor picker-pockets, bring 'em in
Come join the youth and beauty brigade

We're lining up the light-loafere'd
And the bored bench warmers
Castaways and cutouts, fill it up
Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Nothing will stand in our way

I figured I had paid my debt to society
By paying my overdue fines at the mulnoma county library, at the library
They said 'son, go join up
Go join the youth and beauty brigade'

Nothing will stand in our way
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Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

The part with the girl speaking is from the movie Archangel by the brilliant Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin.

The movie is set during the middle of the Russian Revolution, which is also connected to The Decemberists name, as the revolters were called Decembrists since the attempted uprising took place during December.

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

The December Revolution occured about 90 years before the Bolshevik Revolution which that movie is about. The Decemberists (or "Decembrists" as I'd always seen it written before hearing about this band) were attempting to bring in Western European political ideals, while the Bolsheviks attempted and succeeded in bringing about a Communist Revolution.

Someone call the nerdstore. They're all out of me.

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

The December Revolution occured about 90 years before the Bolshevik Revolution which that movie is about. The Decemberists (or "Decembrists" as I'd always seen it written before hearing about this band) were attempting to bring in Western European political ideals, while the Bolsheviks attempted and succeeded in bringing about a Communist Revolution.

Someone call the nerdstore. They're all out of me.

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

The December Revolution occured about 90 years before the Bolshevik Revolution which that movie is about. The Decemberists (or "Decembrists" as I'd always seen it written before hearing about this band) were attempting to bring in Western European political ideals, while the Bolsheviks attempted and succeeded in bringing about a Communist Revolution.

Someone call the nerdstore. They're all out of me.

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

I love both halves of this song (or both songs). Awesome first riff, sleepy/rebellious vocals, beautiful acoustic bass... This is just an excellent song.

Part one is about, basically, a road trip through California and the state itself. Slow, pleasant, calm. Like a dream, it swirls and flows.

Part two is the rallying cry for all the young misfits and short-changed losers of the world, including the duo of the previous song. Faster paced, but a nice continuation.

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

youth and beauty brigade part is missing.

but i love how the two songs are one, its the best to fall asleep to.

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

This song is definitely beautiful, it's good driving music. It's good lying on the trampoline(substitute grass if no trampoline is available) and looking at the stars music. It's good being in love music. It's just good... Anyway :)

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

"i've heard of ghosts, good ghosts who wander the battle fields at night guiding soldiers out of danger you can see them almost everywhere (?) always warning of stray bullets and ? ...if i was such a ghost, i would stay so close to you, you could feel my breath on your cheek"

this is my favorite part of the whole song. does anyone know what the lines in the ? are? lasd;fkj. decemberists effing rock.

I agree! I love that part! I don't know what she's saying either, dammit.

Not Valid

I believe it's "I've heard of ghosts, good ghosts who wander the battle fields at night guiding soldiers out of danger. You can see their omens everywhere always warning of stray bullets and lurking animals. ...if I were such a ghost, I would stay so close to you, you could feel my breath on your cheek."

Not Valid
Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

What on earth are you talking about, nightingale?

Cover art for California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade lyrics by Decemberists, The

...can be interpreted as the peregrination of the first initiates into the Youth and Beauty Brigade to volunteer. The song gently molds into a short sound clip from Archangel by Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin. "I've heard of ghosts," the woman whispers. "Good ghosts who wander the battlefields at night, guiding soldiers out of danger....If I was such a ghost I would stay so close to you, you could feel my breath on your cheek." Her words are reassurance, much like the answer to another castaway's question "Where do the ducks go in the winter?"

In a final call to arms, "Youth and Beauty Brigade" upstarts and is firmly aimed at all the delinquents and deadbeats, the ne'er-do-wells and untouchables--"fill it up" Meloy sings. A sound summation of the previous nine yarns that ran the gamut of derelictism.

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