In the pretty twining light
I may have gone too far
I may have gone too much, too long.
I'm a dull and witless boy
In the after-bars
Think I was sullied by a dream
In the killing jar
You and me at war, at arms
All falling in embrace
Tell me why you lied
And what it is you do to keep your eyes
All shiny
A tawny gypsy girl
Sleeping blanketed by stars
Beneath the tilt-a-whirl
Where we were coyly caught alone
All fumbling with your blouse
Tell me why you lied
And what it is you do to keep your eyes
All shiny
In the roller coaster din
By the parachutes in saddle shoes you break your shin
But I have never seen two eyes so shiny
And the sullen beery swine
Try to tangle you in sullen beery balls of twine
Have they ever seen two eyes so shiny?
The boys in denim vests
Smoking cigarettes between
Their bootblack fingertips
Sweetly tipsy by the half-light
The light and the half-light
Tell me why you lied
And what it is you do to keep your eyes
All shiny
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.
