The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
This song is reported on SongMeanings.com to be about when Decemberists' lead singer’s wife (then girlfriend) Carson Ellis' father died and they went to Grace Cathedral Hill in San Francisco for the funeral which was on New Years Day.
Grace Cathedral hill
All wrapped in bones of setting sun
All dust and stone and moribund
I paid twenty-five cents to light
A little white candle
For a New Year's Day
I sat and watched it burn away
Then turned and weaved
Through slow decay
We were both a little hungry
So we went to get hot dog
Down to Hyde Street Pier
The light was slight and disappeared
The air it stunk of fish and beer
We heard a Superman trumpet
Play the national anthem
And the world may be long for you
But'll never belong to you
But on a motorbike
When all the city lights
Blind your eyes tonight
Are you feeling better now?
Some way to greet the year:
Your eyes all bright and
Brim with tears
The pilgrims, pills, and tourists here
Will sink fifty-three bucks to buy
A brand new halo
Sweet on a green-eyed girl
All fiery Irish clip and curl
All brine and piss and vinegar
I paid twenty-five cents to light
A little white candle
And the world may be long for you
But'll never belong to you
But on a motorbike
When all the city lights
Blind your eyes tonight
Are you feeling better now?
Grace Cathedral Hill was written by Colin Meloy.
Grace Cathedral Hill was produced by The Decemberists.
The Decemberists released Grace Cathedral Hill on Tue May 21 2002.