Drive-By Truckers — Decoration Day
Album: Decoration DayAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 275
Length: 5:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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It's Decoration Day
And I've a mind to roll a stone on his grave
But what would he say?
"Keepin' me down, boy, won't keep you away."
It's Decoration Day
And I knew the Hill boys would put him away
But my Daddy wasn't afraid
He said we'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I never knew how it all got started
A problem with Holland before we were born
And I don't know the name of the boy we tied down
And beat til he just couldn't walk anymore
But I know the caliber in Daddy's chest
I know what Holland Hill drives
The state let him go, but I guess it was best
Cause nobody needs all us Lawsons alive
Daddy said one of the boys had come back
The lumber man's favorite son
He said "Beat him real good, but don't dare let him die
And if you see Holland Hill, run."
Well I said, "They ain't give us trouble before
That we ain't brought down on ourselves."
But a chain on my back and my ear to the floor
And I'll send all the Hill boys to Hell
I'll send all the Hill boys to Hell
It's Decoration Day
And I got a family in Mobile Bay
And they've never seen my Daddy's grave
But that don't bother me, it ain't marked anyway
Cause I got dead brothers in Lauderdale South
And I got dead brothers in East Tennessee
And my Daddy got shot right in front of his house
And had no one to fall on but me
It's Decoration Day
And I've a mind to go spit on his grave
If I was a Hill I'd have put him away
And I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
And I've a mind to roll a stone on his grave
But what would he say?
"Keepin' me down, boy, won't keep you away."
It's Decoration Day
And I knew the Hill boys would put him away
But my Daddy wasn't afraid
He said we'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I never knew how it all got started
A problem with Holland before we were born
And I don't know the name of the boy we tied down
And beat til he just couldn't walk anymore
But I know the caliber in Daddy's chest
I know what Holland Hill drives
The state let him go, but I guess it was best
Cause nobody needs all us Lawsons alive
Daddy said one of the boys had come back
The lumber man's favorite son
He said "Beat him real good, but don't dare let him die
And if you see Holland Hill, run."
Well I said, "They ain't give us trouble before
That we ain't brought down on ourselves."
But a chain on my back and my ear to the floor
And I'll send all the Hill boys to Hell
I'll send all the Hill boys to Hell
It's Decoration Day
And I got a family in Mobile Bay
And they've never seen my Daddy's grave
But that don't bother me, it ain't marked anyway
Cause I got dead brothers in Lauderdale South
And I got dead brothers in East Tennessee
And my Daddy got shot right in front of his house
And had no one to fall on but me
It's Decoration Day
And I've a mind to go spit on his grave
If I was a Hill I'd have put him away
And I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
I'd fight 'til the last Lawson's last living day
Comments (13)add comment
It's a song of regret about falling in line with a futile family dispute for which you have no heart...
I love a good story song and the lyrics to this song are simply brilliant.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think Jason Isbell might be the best (non-hip-hop) lyricist of the 21st century.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think Jason Isbell might be the best (non-hip-hop) lyricist of the 21st century.
Stop killing those cats.
jahgirl8 wrote:
Are you suggesting that this song has some kind of "honoring the military" theme?
If you think so, you'd better read the lyrics. It's a Hatfield's and McCoy's type story. Nothing to do with service.
By the way, I'm 50. Never served. I love these guys, especially this song, which is the first song of theirs i ever heard and that lead to a love of DBT and Jason Isbell.
MattRudely wrote:
Wholly unremarkable.
But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
prob not your kind of music or musicians. or perhaps their honoring of military turns you off. you probably didn't serve but who knows? if you had, though, I doubt you'd be critical.But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
Are you suggesting that this song has some kind of "honoring the military" theme?
If you think so, you'd better read the lyrics. It's a Hatfield's and McCoy's type story. Nothing to do with service.
By the way, I'm 50. Never served. I love these guys, especially this song, which is the first song of theirs i ever heard and that lead to a love of DBT and Jason Isbell.
I do love this song, but it is so much powerful live! Bill, find us a live version instead.
5.9 rating. SMDH.
I hate to use the word "pretentious" to define the RP listeners. But damn. This is an incredible song.
I hate to use the word "pretentious" to define the RP listeners. But damn. This is an incredible song.
Heir of Skinner?
jahgirl8 wrote:
I don't think it's about military service. I think it's about a long-running family feud.
Not exactly an uplifting little ditty, but hey.
c.
MattRudely wrote:
Wholly unremarkable.
But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
prob not your kind of music or musicians. or perhaps their honoring of military turns you off. you probably didn't serve but who knows? if you had, though, I doubt you'd be critical.But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
I don't think it's about military service. I think it's about a long-running family feud.
Not exactly an uplifting little ditty, but hey.
c.
MattRudely wrote:
Wholly unremarkable.
But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
prob not your kind of music or musicians. or perhaps their honoring of military turns you off. you probably didn't serve but who knows? if you had, though, I doubt you'd be critical.But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
Stoked to hear this cut on RP for the first time! Jason wrote some awesome tunes for DBT.
Hey R&B, how about giving Danko/Manuel a chance?
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Hey R&B, how about giving Danko/Manuel a chance?
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Way to go Bill....I finally hear Jason with DBT......
Wholly unremarkable.
But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
But I remarked because it's the second remark! Wooo!
I am 50.
First!