the Decemberists - the rakes song - (10 of 17)

[Npowell01]

Guys, "rake", as used in this song, is an archaic term for an immoral or dissolute person. The internet told me. I accessed her brain by pressing ctrl+T and typing the magic G word. Honest.

[UnDeadGamers]

Mariner's Revenge from the perspective of the Rake?

[wazthatme]

EverymanHYBRID

[shadowjumper11]

These songs are really good in my opinion. It all seems like a story, so is it for/from a movie or a book?

[bibliophile927]

@shadowjumper11 nope...but they wanted all the songs to tell a story, so I guess the songs are itself the story...mad good too

[bibliophile927]

@shadowjumper11 nope...but they wanted all the songs to tell a story, so I guess the songs are itself the story...mad good too

[grungeisdull]

This may sound weird, but I love the inflections of his voice when he starts singing about how he killed his kids...? It adds so much to the character, it always makes me picture him sort of smirking/laughing like it's all a joke. That all may have sounded weird.

[petegalvs]

Alright, alright, alright, this song is sooooo fucking creepy!

[Chernobylkinsman]

It saddens me that people don't know what a rake is in this context.

[mrice102888]

@Chernobylkinsman Ever seen that episode of Jeopardy where the guy that always won all the time (I forgot his name) got a question and he answered whore, but the answer was actually rake?

[AlmostWorthless]

@mrice102888 He answered "hoe." The thing was something like "This gardening tool also means a pleasure seeker of loose morals." Technically, the guy was right.

[Bonbondoodle]

I don't see the appeal...

[Kumajirou13]

Damn, I've listened to the whole album about *checks browser history* 5 times now, and I've figured out, I REALLY hate the Rake... but his voice is awesome, and he sounds great in duets. DAMN YOU MR. RAKE.

[NeptuneMS385]

EverymanHYBRID bought me here, and I LOVE it!

[QuadraticParadise]

She used him to clean up the leaves in the front lawn ONCE too often...

[SolenmSerpent]

I was like, "Aw, this is a lovely son--- whoa, what the fuck? What did he just say? That crazy bastard! WHERE'S MY GUN."

[n3xus100]

these people need to go to prison

[inufreak525]

@n3xus100 You know this album is a concept album, right? As in, it tells a story. As in, this is sung by a character, not as the lead singer of the band.

[PotatoDonki]

I played this song for my mom, and she said "Okay, why are we writing songs like this?". Now I'm fairly sure my parents think I'm a psychopath because this is one of my favorite songs on the album, and I play it all the time. :/

[Paralissa]

Even though this song is dark as hell, it's fucking catchy.

[ZeroCreativityName]

It's funny because when I see that there are three people that dislike this, I imagine the spirits of each of his kids he killed coming on youtube and disliking.

[Moose6960]

I remember seeing the Decemberists perform this at Bumbershoot, Colin Meloy announced it by saying "This is a song about infanticide!"

Little did I know how amazing not only the individual song was, but also the entire album, as well.

[zestytoaster]

I understand that the whole album is a concept, but if i had to pick one song to stand alone as the best on the album, it's this one.

[BlahLab]

this is probably my favorite song on the album

not for the murder, but because the music is sooo good, and the story is so intricate. it gives us a good picture of the type of person this guy is

also, the ALRIGHTS sound like they're being sung by his kids at the end of the song

[zeppelinfan52]

i think their ok but to be completly honest they kinda freak me the fuck out haha

[renegadebutterknife]

Three people really like kids, I guess.

[mattyhodg1]

This whole album is a gift from baby Jesus himself

[LtSykes]

ALLRIGHT! ALLRIGHT! ALL RIGHT!

[zaynazebra]

Should I be worried that I love this song as much as I do? :)

[dinosaurseatchicken]

This is positively my favourite Decemberists song of all time....I can not stop listening to it!

[brknspacebar]

CHeck out my cover on my channel.

[mcfreakluvsabby2]

H.G smile

[mikeyb39]

should have the put the rakes song art for this song instead of hazards of love :p

[NeverHighStoner]

It's really creepy when you realize that background vocals in the "alright" chorus kick in once the kids are born, but stick around after they've all been murdered. Fantastic song, fantastic album.

[hungsolow123]

@NeverHighStoner Yep, fantastic use of lyrics to get the atmosphere right. The rake couldn't care less one way or the other. I can't help but wonder if the song was inspired by some news story the lyricist came across...

[Abzelgyte]

Actually, The Decemberists usually draw a lot of their lyrics and song choices from old tales, English and American. It could still very well be that he saw it on the news though.

[lebowskirulz]

this song is fucking creepy, but sooo good

[Aleqs666]

I saw these guys live at the Cain's Ballroom last Sunday, it was amazing!

[xplodRegenerate]

Alright: 36 times!

This song has a cool sound, but lyrics... yeah... they're creepy.  Remember the album Castaways and Cutouts? This is what it reminds me of.

[OtterOfTheRiverWye]

LOVE this song! Probably my favorite from their new album ^^ Gotta love the rake:

"I expect that you'd think that I should be haunted, but it never really bothers me" XD

[notamunk42]

LOVE THIS SONG!creppy but its so gooood!

[caroline008]

how many times does he say "alright" in this song? haha

[Puppydragon1]

Let's see...

6

6

9

6

Ok I give up, like 30 times.

[makirechan]

Oh God, I love this song so much!

Then I remember that he killed his children, and it makes me feel the slightest bit guilty for being such a rake fan. Still awesome though!

[oOmozOo]

the one and only decemberists-headbang-song xD

[Kowzorz]

You've obviously not heard the rest of the album.

[bloodynyphm]

I thought he was literally a rake...

[roadProject]

lol xD

[heartcrux]

LMFAO

[bloodynyphm]

If that's true then his wife is a what?

[TheFlowerGirl13]

@bloodynyphm A "rake" is a term for a promiscuous man.

[ThinksWithPortals]

@TheFlowerGirl13 they probably already know that since it was posted a year ago

[TheFlowerGirl13]

@ThinksWithPortals hahah I can pay attention, apparently.

[ajsindri2]

@bloodynyphm well he is, just not the kind that would help you with your yard work...

[Ginyustyle]

I must say, I'm not a fan of the Decemberists, but I do love the constant Weezer riff they're using. It's taking me back to 1994 oh good times!

[caroline008]

i love this song...... it's just so creepy.

[legallyblnde60]

This is one reason why I love The Decemberists, they pull off irony well.

[Nicolette233]

I love this song but its kinda twisted that he killed his children but they come back later to haunt him. The first one I think he poisoned, second he drowned, and third burned. Isn't that a horrible way to die?

[uhleeseeuh]

i kinda love this song...

[ShanivorousAnt]

Me too, I feel kinda bad about it, too. >.> It's so well done.

[panicwithmindfreak]

i was just listening to this the otehr day, then came here after frank iero said so, and it's just funny to hear it again

[BlakkDuv]

They both die in the river kids.

[zingamaroo]

ok, so the rake killed his kids before he kidnaps margaret? and he kidnaps her because the queen wants him to? and then he tries to cross the river, and william gives up his life so margaret can get across safely, then margaret gets raped in captivity, and somehow (the queen?) william comes back to life and they live happily ever after. did i get that right??

[jheftorium]

William begs the river to let him cross, on the condition that it can take his life on the return trip. After the rescue (made possible by the ghosts of the rake's murdered children), William and Margaret say their wedding vows as the river sweeps their boat under and drowns them. It's not a "happily ever after" type story.

[zingamaroo]

oh jeez they died at the end after they got married? Was margaret still pregnant when she drowned?

[jheftorium]

Actually, I think she gave birth cause she and William are singing about a baby in "lovely night". I don't know what happens to the kid, presumably he's an orphan. I'm betting the queen takes him in as she did William so that she can torment his girlfriends when he grows up. And thus the cycle of life continues.

[Sermarfil]

I have been trying to sort this out myself. I like your theory.

[DrInfinity21]

Jheftorium's got it right. What's confusing me is the symbolism of the story. There's definitely a theme of abusive parents as well as the theme of man vs. nature. There's a bad parent character aligned to each side. You'd assume that Will and Marge, being a marriage of both sides, would be the good parents, but it's never established. Also, does anyone have any idea about what the drowning is supposed to represent?

[tuneman0069]

first song i've enjoyed out of 10 so far. this is oldschool decemberists. the other 9 songs have been really disappointing. Coming from someone who anticipated this album sooo much and loved thier earlier stuff. soo sad.

[lithium2370]

i started listening to them and idk its wat ur into i like this album the best out of there others..

[Raevmu]

I find this song to be slightly hilarious, and I know that's bad XD

[Phantarch]

Not at all, this was supposed to be a comedic song. Seriously OTT evil, a bit like the method of execution mentioned by the mariner's ghoul of a mother in The Mariner's Revenge Song: "Find him, bind him, tie him to a pole, and break his fingers to splinters, drag him to a ole until he wakes up, naked, clawing at the ceiling of his grave." Yes this song is meant to be comedic in how diabolical it is.

[HybridSiren24]

For some reason, I just adore the line:

"When her womb started spilling out babies!"

[aura723]

Oh god! D:

I was seeing this as a Rock Opera, one story and stuff. Is this still Margret and the Fawn guy? D:

[lithium2370]

rock opera... i say folk led zeplin or folk rock

[bma1986]

Everyone thinks music in the key of E with 4-note licks are "Led Zeppelin-inspired."

[lithium2370]

ok?

[dutsmcloaf]

this song is introducing the "rake" to the story

[Llucygirl2345]

well it is called the HAZARDS of love

[T0talFaveL0adKid]

...apathy towards the live's his his own spawn.

meh.

Sorry, I love the Decemberist's, but this one just rubs me wrong.

[nekoshahal]

You're not supposed to like him. You're supposed to detest the man. And laugh for in the Hazards of Love 3 he gets whats coming to him.

[T0talFaveL0adKid]

Ehh, somehow, the killing of children does not appeal to my gentler side like many of this bands other songs do (though not all of them obvisouly,).

Why the poor children? Other than this is a horrible man in the story, why should the Decemberists take such a dark direction? I mean, 'Mariners Revenge' song was at least about avenging wrongs (quite gruesomely, but still.). I can't even say this was about insanity, it's about laziness and selfishness. Not anything of a tortured soul but just...

[PatchworkGirlofOZ]

I expect it's mainly to fitfully show just how awful a person this rake is. He's no loveable jaunty misfit, he's a horrible, callous villain not to be admired. It also helps establish a genuine fear for Margret's saftery when he abducts her later.

Plus, it's sort of helped that at least the Rake gets his in the end.

As far as being dark, though, really the whole thing is pretty dark.

(Though, I still have yet to hear a song that tops Odalisque as far as darkness goes, Yikes.)

[DrInfinity21]

I actually agree with Loadkid, not because this turns my stomach so much, but because it feels gratuitous and unnecessary. I know this is being a little harsh, but it kind of feels like, "okay, this is the Decemberists, let's get some child abuse and rape going here, we don't wanna let the fans down." I love the decemberists and I don't feel this way about any of their older stuff, so I'm kind of hoping someone will think of a reason for this character that I missed and prove me wrong.

[mattyrm]

Drinfinity you totally missed the point, the rest of the songs are about a couple in love and then the bad guy turns up and he is supposed to be vermin! Its not meant to offend anyone. The song even SOUNDS evil and he practically spits the word "pests!" i love the way the tune gets more maniacal as it goes along, i think its fantastic and sets the mood exactly so people know your supposed to hate this guy!

[ProjectCobalt]

I'm pretty sure that this sort of thing is my biggest complaint about the album. Since Meloy does the voice of about four characters, it's difficult to decipher exactly -who- is supposed to speaking.

I mean, I know it's call "The Rake's Song", but I couldn't help wondering if this was some revelation about William when first I listened to it.

If you pick up the album, the booklet helps in understanding the lyrics a lot. Although sometimes that might feel like too much work...

[DrInfinity21]

I appreciate the insight, but I'm fully aware that this guy is a villain. The reason that this song is fun (and I enjoy it too) is that it indulges the darkest part of you. The villain is the protagonist. You can't help but put yourself in his shoes and you enjoy it. As I said, so do I, and that's not my criticism of the song. My criticism is that I don't see where it fits into the themes of the album's story, so where A Cautionary Tale is just hilarious and fun, this seems gratuitous

[giraffesarereal]

carl jung would approve.

[tascs5]

you have to listen to all the songs over and over again and it's a story. the rake stole margaret. the rake song is them telling you his story and how evil he is. in my opinion this song is genius ( i'm a horror photographer's daughter so you can tell my mind is genetically morbid 8D)

[DrInfinity21]

:) you know I don't have a problem with your morbidity.

But okay, I know that the album is a story and I'm just trying to make sense of it. There's a big theme of man vs. nature, with william being caught between both, and different characters aligning to different sides, but ultimately, as far as I can see, the theme comes to nothing. Their (man made) ship crashes and they're taken by the water (nature)? It all seems like just a bunch of wacky things that happened. Hope I'm missing something.

[tascs5]

the song is sad :(

[alecme]

Well. I thought it was a tale of marriage gone wrong hence hazardes of love

[DrInfinity21]

Yeah, for sure, but the relationship doesn't go wrong because of love, it basically goes wrong because of a random serial rapist and an evil mother. On the other hand, William does ultimately lose his life because of love, wanting to save Margaret.

[alecme]

no no not at all it happens becuase of the babies. he even said "Until her womb start spilling out babies only then did i reckon my cuase" its sounds like discontent with the family he has. and then he starts ranting about the kids he has

[DrInfinity21]

Oh okay, I misunderstood. I thought you were talking about the story of the whole album, not just the song. Yeah, it fits in the basic way of 'love leads to suffering' I don't think the Rake loved anyone, but Hazards pt 3 makes it clear that his kids loved him. I still feel like I want something more though. I dunno.

[alecme]

oh no the story of the album is pretty fucked up (my style) in this song it sounded he got pretty close to love. You gotta love the style of this album

[Tweek2050]

Guys.. K'mon this is is *not* the first time The Decemberists have wrote songs about grizzly events and people. Here:

The Mariner's Revenge Song

(A boy spends his whole life working towards killing the man who ruined his life in a most violent manner)

Culling Of the fold

(Likely based on Catholics killing protestants Or vice versa)

We Both Go Down Together

(rich boy rapes a parent woman then pushes her off his balcony as he knows his parents can never know of it.)

[Tweek2050]

Eli, the barrow boy

(Peasant boy losses his love and then proceeds to drowned himself only to find that he can't pass on and must wheel around his barrow forever)

O Valencia

(A couple decides to run off together for valencia's brother to case them down trying to kill the unnamed lead male and inadvertently shoot and kill his sister in the process)

Theres many many many more.

They write some pretty dark songs guys, If it bother you perhaps you should find another band

[jcotterm]

that's a pretty brutal interpretation of we both go down together.... she wasn't raped ("she wept but her soul was willing") and they both jumped off the balcony (he didn't push her..."we wept but our souls were flying")... The way you put it isn't the image the lyrics build in anyone's head that i know...

[bloodynyphm]

I thought the song sounded happy. Someone further up said it got all maniacal but I think it's just kinda jamming. The scary one is when his children come back to haunt him and the girl who was drowned start singing and the scary violin starts up. Maybe it's just me but there are a lot more brutal things out there and I think this song does a pretty good job getting the character across. In my head he's a very nasty looking rake.

[kasumiheyes]

Could you point at the song you mention?

[bloodynyphm]

Sure. Hazards of Love 3 (revenge) I cringe just thinking about that damn violin...

[Bookbirdflyaway]

@bloodynyphm but wouldn't he have to be good looking if he was a rake?

[paulvenom9]

Read about them in Rolling Stone

[classicryan]

Very dark, but catchy!

[MandaLovesTexting]

Yet another amazing song by The Decemberists

[discord20]

This one might be my favorite.

[AmadeusCho]

Second favorite song on the album. Heavy and dark. I love it.

[towelie21]

Sinister.

[SiN3MATIC]

But awesome!

[PatchworkGirlofOZ]

Because it's so sinister.

And because the more people there are singing with you, the more fun the "allrights" are.