The Island Lyrics

by The Decemberists

1. Come and See

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricenter.com/e77523-the_decemberists~the_island_lyrics.html ]
There's an island hidden in the sound
Lapping currents lay your boat aground
Affix your barb and bayonet, the curlews carve their arabesques
And sorrow fills the silence all around
Come and see

There's a harbor lost within the reeds
A jetty caught in overhanging trees
Among the bones of cormorants, no boot mark here, nor fingerprints
The rivers roll down to a soundless sea
Come and see
Come and see

The tides all come and go, witnessed by no waking eye
The willows mark the wind
And all we know for sure amidst this fading light
We'll not go home again
Come and see
Come and see

In the lowlands, nestled in the heath
A briar cradle rocks it's babe to sleep
Its contents watched by Sycorax and Patagon in parallax
A foretold rumbling sounds below the deep
Come and see
Come and see

The tides all come and go, witnessed by no waking eye
The willows mark the wind
And all we know for sure amidst this fading light
We'll not go home again
Come and see
Come and see

2. The Landlord's Daughter

As I was a-ramble down by the water
I spied in sable the landlord's daughter

Produced my pistol then my saber
Said "Make no whistle or thou will be murdered"
La-ha-ha, la-ha-ha

She cursed, she shivered she cried for mercy
"My gold and silver if thou will release me"
Oh, la-ha-ha, la-ha-ha, la-oh-oh

I'll take no gold, miss, I'll take no silver
But I'll take those sweet lips and thou will deliver
Oh, la-ha-ha, la-ha-ha

3. You'll Not Feel the Drowning

I will dress your eyelids with dimes upon your eyes
Lay you close to water, green your grave will rise

Go to sleep now, little ugly
Go to sleep now, you little fool
Forty winking in the belfry
You'll not feel the drowning
You'll not feel the drowning

Forget you once had sweethearts they've forgotten you
Think you not on parents they've forgotten too

Go to sleep now, little ugly
Go to sleep now, you little fool
Forty-winking in the belfry
You'll not feel the drowning
You'll not feel the drowning

Go to sleep now, little ugly
Go to sleep now, you little fool
Forty-winking in the belfry
You'll not feel the drowning
You'll not feel the drowning

Hear you now the captain heave his sorrow'd cry
The weight upon your eyelids is dimes laid on your eyes