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:

TitaniumDavid Guetta

Sia Furler wrote "Titanium" and wanted to give the tune to Katy Perry. She turned it down, so David Guetta recorded it instead using Sia's original demo guide vocal. It became a big hit, especially in the UK, where it went to #1.

Mrs. RobinsonSimon & Garfunkel

The Simon & Garfunkel song "Mrs. Robinson" was originally called "Mrs. Roosevelt," most likely after First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The title was changed when it was considered for use in the film The Graduate, where Anne Bancroft's character is Mrs. Robinson.

Electric AvenueEddy Grant

The "Electric Avenue" in the Eddy Grant song is a real street. It got its name because it was the first street in London with electric lights.

Detroit Rock CityKiss

Kiss sing about "movin' fast on 95" in "Detroit Rock City," but I-95 doesn't go through Detroit (I-75 does) so they published the lyric as "Movin' fast, doin' 95."

Hungry HeartBruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen originally wrote "Hungry Heart" for The Ramones, but decided to keep it for himself on the advice of his producer and manager, Jon Landau.

Santa Claus Is Coming To TownEddie Cantor

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" was first recorded in 1934 by Eddie Cantor, but in 1962 it was one of the first hits for The Four Seasons, who became one of the most popular groups of that decade.

Editor's Picks

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.