The Decemberists: California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade

From the 2002 Decemberists album Castaways and Cutouts

Take a long drive with me
On California One
On California One
Take a long drive with me
On California One
On California One

And the road a-winding goes
From golden gate to roaring cliff-side
And the light is softly low
As our hearts become sweetly untied
Beneath the sun of California One

Take a long dram with me
Of California wine
Of California wine
Take a long dram with me
Of California wine
Of California wine

And the wine, it tastes so sweet
As we lay our eyes to wander
And the sky, it stretches deep
But will we rest our heads to slumber
Beneath the vines
Of California wine
Beneath the sun
of California One?

Annabelle lies, sleeps with quiet eyes
On this sea-drift sun
What can you do?
And if I said, O it's in your head
On this sea-drift sun
What can you do?

(I've heard of ghosts,
Good ghosts who wander the battlefield at night,
Guiding soldiers out of danger.
You can see their omens everywhere,
Omens warning of stray bullets and lurking enemies.
If I were such a ghost,
I would stay so close to you
You could feel my breath on your cheek.)

We're calling all bed wetters
And ambulance chasers
Poor pick-pockets, bring 'em in
Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Come join the youth and beauty brigade

We're lining up the light-loafered
And the bored bench warmers
Castaways and cutouts, fill it up
Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Come join the youth and beauty brigade

Nothing will stand in our way

I figured I had paid my debt to society
By paying my overdue fines
At the Multnomah County library, at the library
They said "Son, go join up
Go join the youth and beauty brigade"

Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Come join the youth and beauty brigade
Nothing will stand in our way

• Category

  Music

[simonwiddowson]

I recorded this and I can tell you it was a pleasure

[lajollascott]

...that is too cool! Thanks for helping to make the world a better place.

[Lauren Dracoules]

This song makes me miss home so much! Thank you Decemberists for writing this and helping take me home.

[Natasha Dye]

so hot well melt ur popsicle

[Natasha Dye]

california bitches

[john wrath]

I just moved to California and i would like very much to join this "Youth and Beauty Brigade", but they probably won't accept me as I am ugly as sin.

[MrKobayashi24]

The beginning sounds alot like Don't Let Me Down by The Beatles (that's neither a bad thing nor does it matter much if it's inspired by it or not, I just noticed it). Great song in any case.

[Woodlandsarms]

theres a code in the fact that he says Better wetters this band clearly came out of the woods and are going back when their done saving my life

seriously when he said "Are You feeling better now" I felt it was him asking me how I felt about buying the cd and it was intense

[Woodlandsarms]

hands down- this band is out of hand

at first I was like no way is there a band thats more modest mouse than modest mouse

All I want to do now is find a shirt that says decemberists Youth and beauty brigade

I'm joining asap