Listen to the "Picaresque" album by The Decembrists - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pKych6V7ydbdZXU.html

When I first saw this video I had no idea that that was actually Colin, I assumed it was an actor hired because he looked almost too dorky to be real. For some reason I always imagined Colin being some dashingly handsome Lost Generation-esque poet who spent his days sipping absinthe in cafes and polishing his collection of brass astrolabes.

I love the decemberists and I actually go to that school, Cleveland High School, it is really cool to watch this

2021 and still loving this. Not just the song, but also the Wes Anderson- ness of the vid. Ok I'm off to watch Rushmore

This was filmed in my freshman english teacher's classroom. he bragged about that a couple times during the year. cool guy

Love how they basically make a mini musical in each of their songs

I love this song and the message bug, I can't help thinking of what Colin said in an interview (I'm paraphrasing): "The problem with writing a political song is you end up having to be interviewed by Janeane Garofalo"

yah I like wes anderson movies too

Posted in 2006. This is part of KZfaq prehistory.

I keep randomly expecting frank Iero to pop out of a locker, scaring someone

i feel like this is the theme song for something.... and if im just making that up, it SHOULD be the theme song for something haha

It looks like the set up for Wes Anderson's next movie

Open up the song's lyrics in another window and watch this video again. There's a lot of significance you don't get from just one or the other. The song is about how the U.S. conducts its foreign policy at home. There are 16 military wives and 17 company men. 5 of the company men die at war, their deaths marked only by the letters of a sergeant home to those 5 wives. (The chorus is about how the U.S. essentially de-facto rules the world and can't ever say no to war, meanwhile the infotainment-centric mainstream media puts their fingers in their ears about these atrocities. It's important to note the significance of the chorus being repeated after each verse.) 15 celebrity minds, spoiled by their fortune, talk a big talk about a solution to the crisis. Despite their "moderate liberal" mindset, they can't be bothered to put in the real work needed. 18 academy chairs (probably referring to the United Nations), only 7 of which care about the world at large, meaninglessly laud the words of 5 "humble" celebrity minds instead of putting in the real work needed to solve the crisis themselves. 14 cannibal kings (probably referring to warlords, tyrants, and the ultra-rich) reap the greatest benefits from the suffering, happy in the impotence of the 15 celebrity minds and 16 military wives.

verses: E, D, A, E bridge: A, B, Db, D, A lead-in to chorus: held out B chorus: A, E, A, E, B>>>Db, A, E (ladeedadeeda) i think that's about it. everything else is just these chords in some order. enjoy guys =) PS: root A major throughout

A milquetoast fence-sitter sent me here.

Who else came from Timcast? 👇🏾

Two years ago I hated this song. What the hell was wrong with me? I've come back to it today and it's easily in my top 20 songs of all time!

The Decemberists are fantastic. Another excellent Portland band. We recently filmed Typhoon live at Brighton Music Hall in Boston. Amazing show.

THIS VIDEO IS FUCKING BRILLIANT

I went to high school here where they shot this. Pretty funny

3:10 is 2006-era Colin Meloy interacting with himself from the present

I'm probably in the minority here but "Molly" is freaking adorable.

Rushmore: perhaps one of the best movies made

This is a superb example of how to bring a group of ordinary people together and make something wonderful through music. Gareth's programme brings whole communities together, where new friendships develop and support abounds for those feeling alone. Well done military wives, knocks spots off anything x factor produce and it's for good cause.

yeah this song is so good i don't have words. i really love these guys for their alternative folk indie sound and i adore hazards of love. i need to listen to more of their full albums.

I'm going to this school. The fact that the Decemberists were there just makes it 100% more awesome!

I haven't listened to The Decembrists since I saw them at the Milwaukee theater a few years ago xD I forgot how amazing their music was.

I know I need to hear more, but "On the Bus Mall" is still my favorite song of theirs.

I hope I'm not the only fan of these guys who knows that Colin Meloy is a best-selling author.

My funeral better be that well choreographed.

ive spent like 5 years looking for this. what a classic.

Many of my formative years were spent listing to They Might Be Giants. I love songs with meaning. TY for the subtitles, Great Show! Great Song!

this has got to be the greatest music video known to man.

I noticed that Death Cab For Cutie's bassist Nick Harmer makes an appearance at 3:30 (he apparently also co-produced the video!). I wanted to check Wikipedia just to be sure, and I found out from there that Death Cab's former guitarist Chris Walla also makes a cameo (Walla actually co-produced Picaresque as well as The Crane Wife). I checked the video again to see which character he played, and I think he's Jack the news reporter but I couldn't tell at first because of the fake moustache, lol.

I first came across this song in 2010. It just randomly popped into my head so here I am.

OH MY GOD. IS IRELAND PIGTAILS PORTLANDIA'S SPARKLE PONY?! MIND IS BLOWN

This is one of my favorite videos - not only because its true to the way things are between countries and its funny, but because the concept is so cool.

The little man rises up once again. You have to love it.

My favorite music video.Ever.

There are so many wonderful things in this video, I can't pick my favorite.

Maybe a better resolution in 2022 KRS. Still wow I remember downloading this video and playing it on repeat while I waited for my Picaresque cd to arrive at Sanity Music in Oz in 05.

A quote from the writers of Avatar: The Last Airbender, "America you are the fire nation and we will keep making these shows until you understand that"

I love that John Roderick is in this! All the Great Shows.

The best narrative music video ever. Ever!

Reminds me of Army by Ben Folds Five…love this much

I thought this was they might be giants, it gives off those vibes, 10/10 Carl got his revenge

Just discovered this band, amazing!

i feel like the director is a huge fan of rushmore...

This may be the most fantastic music video I've ever seen. I can only hope that my school's United Nations is like this.

Good concept...love this

Love this song. Love this band.

TP sent me

this song has such a good message

i just heard this on the radio and i fell in love instantly i search the video and its got 283,000 views and its been up since 2006 i feel bad for those other people not watching

Omigod!!!!!! This video was filmed at my high school, Cleveland in SE Portland!

im obsessed with this song

its truly the best music video ever amazingly fantastic!!! :] !!

Here from tim

I loooove this!

The decemberists r f---ing awesum! I luv you guys & ur songs! ROCK ON

Republic a Korea is pretty cute.

Love it.

Brilliant!

Saw this at Ceader Point, and instantly fell in love with it.

This is Still Frick n Awesome Man

love this video

probably my faorite music video and song

i looked up this video because it was filmed at my high school. didn't really expect to like the music, but now it's on my ipod!

Nice use of imagery from the movie Rushmore. I love this band - they're fantastic. Reminds me a lot of Neutral Milk Hotel.

Very catchy song for sure.

I saw a poster asking to join the Model UN club at my school, and my mind immediately went to this. I completely forgot about this band for the longest time. La di da di da

Love this still. Oh, and the Hazards of Love album is just genius....

Subtle.

Heard this song at Dorney Park and fell in love

I thought this was a Wes Anderson movie for a moment. o.O

That sounds really Beatles like and I love it

awesome

Thanks, Tim!

we're doin it again

this video was filmed at my highschool.... :D

Cool :D So did I, my dad was in a band with the drummer.

I adore the symbolism behind this. Also a great video!

THIS STILL MAKES ME LAUGH

Congratulations.

Still brilliant!

can't believe this was 6 years ago.

This really is amazing quality for being made in 2006.

You can’t tell me the actor playing Jack isn’t Jerma

why does this only have 200,000 views?

Point of information, I found this awesome!

Amen to that.

I like these guys

Is it weird that the first thing I thought after watching this was that was Death Cab For Cutie's lead singers side project

Funny how this music video has more views than the official one posted by the decemberists

Holy shit.

This song is pretty nostalgic for me.

so good song huh

woooooooooooooo hes from Helena, Montana and he speaked at our graduation!!

when i was 8 i contributed to at least 25% of these views

They definitely coat everything in salt, not sugar! and yet, it's so good! art does not have to be cheerful, it just had to be true.