
Heart-carved tree trunk, Yankee bayonet
A sweetheart left behind
''Girl'':
Far from the hills of the sea-swaled Carolinas
That's where my true love lies
Ah ah ah...
''Soldier'':
Look for me when the sun-bright swallow
Sings upon the birch bough high
''Girl'':
But you are in the ground with the wolves and the weevils
All a-chew on your bones so dry
Ah ah ah...
''Both'':
But when the sun breaks
To no more bullets in Battle Creek
Then will you make a grave
For I will be home then I will be home then
I will be home then, I will be home then, then
''Girl'':
When I was a girl how the hills of Oconee
Made a seam to hem me in
''Soldier'':
There at the fair, when our eyes caught, careless,
Got my heart right pierced by a pin
Ah ah ah...
''Soldier'':
But oh, did you see all the dead of Manassas
All the bellies and the bones and the bile?
''Girl'':
No, I lingered here with the blankets barren
And my own belly big with child
Ah ah ah...
''Both'':
But when the sun breaks
To no more bullets in Battle Creek
Then will you make a grave
For I will be home then I will be home then
I will be home then, I will be home then
''Soldier'':
Stems and bones and stone walls too
''Both'':
Could keep me from you
''Soldier'':
This skein and skin is all too few
''Both'':
To keep me from you
''Both'':
But oh my love, though our bodies may be parted
Though our skin may not touch skin
Look for me with the sun-bright sparrow
I will come on the breath of the wind
Ah ah ah...

The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000. The band consists of Colin Meloy (lead vocals, guitar, principal songwriter), Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (piano, keyboards, accordion, backing vocals), Nate Query (bass), and John Moen (drums).
The band has released eight studio albums, to date, with their lyrics often focusing on historical incidents and folklore. Audience participation is a part of their live performances, typically during encores. The band stages whimsical reenactments of sea battles and other centuries-old events, typically of regional interest, or acts out songs with members of the crowd.
In 2011, the track "Down by the Water" from their album, The King Is Dead, was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 54th Grammy Awards.