The Bagman's Gambit - The Decemberists

[twowishesleft]

I would just like all of the folks screaming about Death Cab to know that the Decemberists have said they love Death Cab's music. And they have very similar sounds. Just saying.

[ryantheking12]

Genius. This is probably their best song.

[tommytsunamify]

to those arguing who is better i'll finish this

THE DECEMBERISTS ARE FAR MORE BETTER THAN DEATH CAB.

[stdane96]

@tommytsunamify while i agree with you fully, your grammar is atrocious and is a complete disgrace

[kbray003]

I wish this were a book

[aridchimp]

It hurts to choose..."Plans" is amazing. Both bands tell amazing stories, and in my opinion, it isn't wrong to compare them. This is just my personal preference.

[Garble1592]

2 people were caught

[daveydaveb]

This became my favourite Decemberists song after seeing them in Leeds back in March this year. I loved it before then but it's something else live. For me, it's a striking story of a man that falls for the wrong woman but his heart rules his head even though she's a spy and uses him to obtain government secrets. Compelling and brilliant work from the masterful Meloy.

[aridchimp]

best song on the album, this is why they are better than DCFC

[nintend0fr33k]

@aridchimp I agree, a thousand times better.

[blllllllllleugh]

@aridchimp Are we really comparing The Decemberists and Death Cab For Cutie?

[xxZeroZonexx]

Dude, I've been a fan of this band and this album for a while now and I'm just now noticing that there are two cloaked figures in the background... I shit brix.

[IrTehNo0b96]

It's about a guy and girl cuz immediately after he says the bathroom part it says we kissed so sweetly

[brombdaddy]

@IrTehNo0b96 - He actually says "How HE kissed so sweetly." In a bathroom stall of the National Mall. It's about a male spy who seduces a male government worker to get documents and microfilm too. Weird story, but a great song.

[valhallasboombang]

@brombdaddy sry to disappoint you, but i listened to the riff a couple of times and did some research for the lyrics on their site, and it's 'we kissed so sweetly'... but then again, that doesn't change the fact that the song is awesome:D

[Garble1592]

@brombdaddy lol as cool as that would be... its "we" not "he" it says so on their website :/

[Crumplepunch]

@brombdaddy I'm pretty sure it's "How WE kissed so sweetly" which would make sense, because the rest of the song is in first person and addressed to the spy.

[Irishqueen88]

2 people are plainclothes cops

[DangerAaron21]

What I interpret from this amazing song is the story of a man who becomes enthralled by a woman, who uses him for espionage. And he bails her out of being captured, and tails stories of her. If I'm wrong, someone else is welcome to tell me their point of view. :) Regardless of whether I'm right or not, Decemberists are an awesome band.

[jordankusak1]

@DangerAaron21 I think you're mostly right, however I don't think it's about a man and woman. At 1:20 he sings, "In a bathroom stall off the National Mall" which always seemed odd to me that a man and woman would meet there, if someone came in it would look very suspicious. Just a thought though :)

[Skinnyoompalumpa]

@jordankusak1

You never screwed in a bathroom?

[jordankusak1]

@DangerAaron21 I think you're mostly right, however I don't think it's about a man and woman. At 1:20 he sings, "In a bathroom stall off the National Mall" which always seemed odd to me that a man and woman would meet there, if someone came in it would look very suspicious. Just a thought though :)

[sethbaumgardner]

@TheFrozenLads

This is my favorite Decemberists album

[fizzgigify]

this kinda makes me think of 1984. but I don't remember exactly how that story goes...

[guardianlink12345]

Ben Gibbard sings at least two octaves higher than the common man could ever manage. Colin Meloy sort of just maintains the tone he uses in this song throughout the majority of their songs..

yet it never gets old...

i love this band

[xyzpdq1122]

Love the line "At the gate of the embassy...", I always belt that out in the car, crescendoing until the violin solo.

[GruftiBanane]

@xyzpdq1122 Same here :D

[BDIDDY2526]

i seriously come to tears during most of ur songs........

[boiledcurtains]

misstokiwartooth <-- XD

[misstokiwartooth]

TheFrozenLads, if you like the sound of this album, you would probably LOVE death cab for cutie. same singer. i got their first album for my 10th birthday. XD

[ibm525]

Not the same singer.

[p8ntballrhalofan]

@misstokiwartooth

lol...same singer....rofl...

[TheCruddyBug]

@misstokiwartooth

LOL

[Theodorkable]

@misstokiwartooth Same....singer? ROFL.

[Izzycainjay]

@misstokiwartooth No, it is not the same singer. Colin Meloy is the singer in the Decemberists. Ben Gibbard is the singer in DCFC.

[HJManson]

@Izzycainjay who are DCFC?



[Izzycainjay]

@HJManson Death Cab For Cutie

I was lazy and didn't want to type it out :P

[ABetterYesterday]

@misstokiwartooth That is the funniest thing I've ever read. XD

[ledx0x0head]

The Decemberists must be the most intelligent groups of all time. Every single one of their songs is moving, and extremely well composed; bound to echo through your mind hours after you listen to it.

[hazzle34]

I'd like to have a tryst in the greenery.

[TheFrozenLads]

from the stuff i've listened to here on youtube, this is an incredibly haunting album.

[nintend0fr33k]

@TheFrozenLads It really is. All of their albums have a haunting air. They're simply amazing.

[txag2011]

The note change during the cacophony gives me ridiculous goosebumps :o

[blondeboy91]

this song reminds me of the book "1984"

[secretsfullofsaucers]

yeah i get that feeling too, a bit of catch 22 as well, no they'll never catch me now!

[tomaspianovi]

try listening to Muse's "The Resistance"

[tomaspianovi]

; )

[teganyavo]

best song.

[Ieatbabyseals]

Awe inspiring

[SirchHanom]

5:24-6:28

Getting a "Day in the Life" kinda vibe from the orchestra swell there....

[bboooppeerr]

what is the song about????????

[glasses92]

whatever it means to you is what it's about

[solomonkane]

Spies and the hazards of loving a spy

[Ieatbabyseals]

It's about being in love with a spie in the nineteen fifties

[deutoronic]

is it supposed to be gay? or is he singing from a female perspective?

[Ieatbabyseals]

The spy is a girl. Girls can be spies too. In fact they make much better spies. Lots of spies were women.

[xyzpdq1122]

@Ieatbabyseals Like Sarah on Chuck!

[allymack27]

this song gives me goosebumps.

[morphasesystem]

Agreed, awesome song!

Only just found this band - some great stuff. Just the sound i like; nice male voice, acoustic guitars, and the perfect contrast of complexity and interest.

Have to buy this album now!

[Hepzabah]

If you like this, listen to the album "Hazards of Love." (you have to listen to the whole thing at once as it is a rock opera) But oh my goodness! AMAZING! Plus, it features the voices of Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Becky Stark(Lavender Diamond)

[xAsbRAA]

great song

[marshamk]

the picture painted by this song is incredible....particularly for someone who works for the federal gubmint

[ForwardN2Unknown]

Only in the song.