The Decemberists - Eli, The Barrow Boy (from Picaresque)

[@poke_my_starfish780]

This song makes me cry. Every time.

[@nickrandles1102]

Yeah it’s terrible lol

[@JaymeforJesus]

This song brings back memories of me early years in Duluth in my group home.

[@enzogarcia1028]

The Decemberists are my band's inspiration and I thank them so much for their beautiful music.

[@alfredjames4530]

What’s your band name?

[@enzogarcia1028]

Well my band broke up but i still make music

[@alfredjames4530]

@Enzo Garcia Official good for you, for still pushing on

[@TheSpookychick]

I love how there are no dislikes. It shows how much people can appreciate these guys. :) Honestly, I don't think there's a single Decemberist song I don't like.

[@sinamardg4576]

there is 3 but i love this song so much

[@nickrandles1102]

You jinxed it, there’s now 17.

[@talthan]

I can dislike it ...if it will make you feel better

[@Bonikial]

@@nickrandles1102 dont worry, dislikes dont exist any more.

[@sleepymongoose6663]

"Eli, The Barrow Boy" Eli, the barrowboy, you're the old town Sells coal and marigolds and he cries out all down the day Below the tamarac she is crying Corn cobs and candlewax for the buying, all down the day Would I could afford to buy my love a fine robe Made of gold and silk arabian thread She is dead and gone and lying in a pine grove And I must push my barrow all the day And I must push my barrow all the day Eli, the barrowboy, when they found him Dressed all in corduroy, he had drowned in the river down the way They laid his body down in a churchyard But still when the moon is out, with his pushcart, he calls down the day Would I could afford to buy my love a fine gown Made of gold and silk arabian thread But I am dead and gone and lying in a church ground But still I push my barrow all the day Still I push my barrow all the day

[@saultheblueofficial]

My favourite song 👍🏻

[@apiemikey]

I was 18 or 19,in college, in the fall. I snuck into my girlfriend's dorm. They knocked that building down now

[@3ggztr3m3b33tz]

I can't help but wonder at the line "They found him in the river/dressed in corduroy." I don't know very much at all about clothing, but I wonder if that fabric has a certain meaning within the song. Perhaps that of someone with little means? It could just as likely be a line put in for the sake of preserving the rhythm but it just seems so oddly specific.

[@s.hirsack4170]

corduroy is a heavy material to begin with. Doubly so if its wet.

[@3ggztr3m3b33tz]

@@s.hirsack4170 Which could be evidence for him having killed himself (purposely making it harder to float).

[@essimathews9056]

@@3ggztr3m3b33tz If it was believed to be suicide, he probably wouldn't have been buried in a church-yard back in the days of barrow-boys.

[@3ggztr3m3b33tz]

@@essimathews9056 That is a valid point. I guess it might depend on where he is.

[@travisjordan1528]

@@essimathews9056 In modern day too for some places, but I definitely think thr corduroy is just a reference to the times he lived in.

[@kakashi392]

But we are dead & gone, Both lying under..ground Still I push my barrow all the day, I wonder if she has a barrow of.. her own.

[@foretdecouchage]

the new album is really good but imma be yelling out the old hits at the show ✌️✌️