Album: The Crane Wife (2006)

License This Song 

• With all the grain of Babylon
  To cultivate, to make us strong
  And hidden here behind the walls
  Are shoulders wide and timber on
  'Til the war came
  'Til the war came
  
  A terrible autonomy
  Has grafted onto you and me
  Our trust put in the government
  They told their lies as heaven-sent
  'Til the war came
  'Til the war came
  
  And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
  And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
  And they're picking out our eyes by coal and candlelight
  When the war came, the war came hard
  
  We made our oath to Vavilov
  We'd not betray the solanum
  The acres of asteraceae
  To our own pangs of starvation
  When the war came
  When the war came
  
  And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
  And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
  And they're picking out our eyes by coal and candlelight
  When the war came, the war came hard
  
  With all the grain of Babylon
  With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
  With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
  With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
  With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
  With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
  With all the grain of Babylon (with all the grain of Babylon)
  With all the grain of Babylon Writer/s: Colin Meloy
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

• LegatoI used to think this was about WW1 especially with the lyrics "They're picking allies" and "with the poison cannonballs." Both of these seem to be misheard to me though cause the lyrics most people consider correct by an overwhelming margin say they actually say "they're picking out our eyes" and "with the poise of a cannonball". I still don't think that necessarily means its not about ww1, but it seems much more vague and not specific to ww1 imagery. I dont know if this is about Leningrad like mentioned above, but I imagine if Colin Meloy said thats what it is about then I must oblige. Im curious if he said something on the matter. I would think he would have somewhere at some point.
• Mark from Austin, TxI love The Decemberists and this song, but...um...it kinda sounds exactly like Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. The first time I heard it, I thought they were covering Zeppelin. Another song on the album, The Perfect Crime, sounds almost exactly like Life During Wartime by the Talking Heads. (Mainly the riff at the beginning.)
• Rustin from Waco, Tx"The last great book I read was Hunger by Elise Blackwell. It's about the siege of Leningrad in World War II, and there was a botanical institute. During the siege, which lasted a long time, the entire population were starving, but all of the botanists in the institute swore themselves to protect the catalog of seeds and plants and things, from not only a starving population, but also from themselves. It's pretty amazing. I actually ended up writing "When the War Came", a song on the new record, about that." - Colin Meloy
  

More Songfacts:

Tubular Bells (Part 1)Mike Oldfield

The Exorcist theme music is a portion of "Tubular Bells," a 25-minute song released by 19-year-old Mike Oldfield.

Radio Free EuropeR.E.M.

Michael Stipe hadn't finished the lyrics when R.E.M. recorded "Radio Free Europe." He calls the vocal "complete babbling."

99 ProblemsJay-Z

Jay-Z's version of "99 Problems" is a cover of a 1993 song by Ice-T with the lyrics changed to be about Jay's rise to fame.

Blowin' In The WindBob Dylan

Thanks to a Newsweek article, there was a long-standing rumor that Bob Dylan stole the song "Blowin' In The Wind."

Jet City WomanQueensrÿche

The setting for the Queensrÿche song "Jet City Woman" is Seattle, the "jet city."

Come Out And PlayThe Offspring

The line, "Gotta keep 'em separated" in "Come Out And Play" by The Offspring came to lead singer Dexter Holland when he was a medical student and needed to keep bacteria samples away from each other.

Editor's Picks

Jonathan Edwards - "Sunshine"They're Playing My Song

"How much does it cost? I'll buy it?" Another songwriter told Jonathan to change these lyrics. Good thing he ignored this advice.

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."