Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)

The Decemberists - Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) Lyrics

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Oct 3, 2006
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Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) Music Video

Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) Lyrics

Heart-carved tree trunk, Yankee bayonet
A sweetheart left behind
Far from the hills of the sea-swelled Carolinas
That's where my true love lies

Look for me when the sun-bright swallow
Sings upon the birch bough high
But you are in the ground with the wolves and the weevils
All a'chew on your bones so dry

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

When I was a girl
How the hills of Oconee made a seam to hem me in
There at the fair when our eyes caught, careless
Got my heart right pierced by a pin

But oh, did you see all the dead of Manassas?
All the bellies and the bones and the bile
No, I lingered here with the blankets barren
And my own belly big with a child

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

Stems and bones and stone walls too
Could keep me from you
The skein of skin is all too few
To keep me from you

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

Writer(s): Colin Meloy
Copyright(s): Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who wrote the lyrics for 'Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)'?

    The lyrics for 'Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)' were written by Colin Meloy, the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of The Decemberists.

  2. What historical event is depicted in the song 'Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)'?

    'Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)' depicts a soldier's experience during the American Civil War, specifically focusing on the Battle of Manassas. The song tells the story of a soldier's wife who witnesses her husband's death in battle.

  3. Who produced The Decemberists' album 'The Crane Wife' which includes 'Yankee Bayonet'?

    'The Crane Wife,' which features 'Yankee Bayonet,' was produced by Tucker Martine and Chris Walla. It is The Decemberists' fourth album and their first release under Capitol Records.

  4. What other themes are explored in The Decemberists' album 'The Crane Wife'?

    'The Crane Wife' explores various themes including Japanese folklore, Shakespearean influences, and historical events such as the Siege of Leningrad and the Shankill Butchers. The album contains two main song cycles: 'The Crane Wife' based on a Japanese folk tale, and 'The Island,' inspired by Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest.'

  5. How was 'The Crane Wife' received by critics?

    'The Crane Wife' received widespread critical acclaim. It earned an 84% positive rating on Metacritic and was praised for its progressive rock influences. It was named the best album of 2006 by National Public Radio listeners and ranked highly on several year-end lists from publications like Pitchfork and PopMatters.

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