You slept in your overalls
After the wrecking ball
Bereft you of house and home
And left you with sweet fuck-all
So we got in your car
With our kickabout hearts
And we hollared out 'sweet clementine'

Tell your mom to marry us
A candle to carry us
With cans on our bicycle fenders
So sweet and hilarious
And we'll find us a home
Built of packaging foam
That will be there 'til after we die

And, I'll play the clarinet
Use clamshells for castinets
We play with our bags on our shoulders
My sweet lady lioness
And I watch as you sleep
So indelibly deep
An I hum to you sweet clementine



Lyrics submitted by Hunter

Track duration: 04:07

"Clementine" as written by Steven P. Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Clementine song meanings
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29 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I'm kinda sad that such a beautiful song gets so little recognition, even amongst Decemberists fans.
    Flag alejandramoson October 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song hits hard in me. The author seems to be talking about events and burdens around him and a loved one that they need to escape to get their lives in order to fulfill their love. As for me, I see it as more of a metaphorical 'wrecking ball' - one person left and lost. The other person singing the song is their only limb left, their comfort, their love. He is saving her, and of course he loves just the sight of her sleeping.

    It reminds me of finding someone who would be able to just risk it, take off, stay home, move to mexico, build a life, wreck a life, as long as they have the other person. The real passion of life and incorporating that into a relationship. 'bags on our shoulders'

    Yet this line, which is my favorite, makes it ever so innocent "Tell your mom to marry us, a candle to carry us. With cans on our bicycle fenders.. so sweet and hilarious."

    Makes me want to be young, love young, and die young.
    Flag WriteITon November 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Indelibly" means something that cannot be removed. The last lyric might be about the singer's love dying.
    This song is so sad, and so beautiful.
    Flag Porcupineconeon April 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yeah the whole thing is lovely
    i'd say my favourite parts are "..that will be there till after we die" and the ending "and i watch as you sleep" part
    aiaiai cant stand how sweet it is. it's beyond beautiful!! and i hate cheesy sweet songs. for some reason i adore this one.
    Flag luey_babyon February 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:MyBloodBeatsDark, i totally agree. it indeed sounds a lot like The Park. :]
    i'm trying to find my favorite lines, but i just can't pick. the whole thing is so pretty and sweet.
    i love the themes of poverty/love/childhood.
    Flag blue.painted.tearson November 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is such a sweet song, it kinda sounds like The Park by Feist.
    Flag MyBloodBeatsDarkon September 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"A candle to carry us"

    Has anyone read Gaiman's Stardust? Theres this big thing about this candle that transports people to whereever they choose. Perhaps symbolism to get the lovers where they want to be, physically or emotionally?
    Flag LadyLegbaon June 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I sometimes think of this as two childhood sweethearts, with its innocent and childlike themes.
    Beautiful, nonetheless.
    Flag xroseparadeon May 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is the best love song ever written. When I hear Colin sing, "And I watch as you sleep / So indelibly deep / And I hum to you, 'Sweet Clementine,'" I cannot stop myself from crying. Not only are the lyrics amazing, the music fits so perfectly. One of the very minor things that makes this so incredible is the way it was recorded. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the recording is slightly different in some way. It's almost like a muffled type of sound, but not really. Am I the only person that hears this?
    Flag Sons & Daughterson November 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:oh wow. just, wow.
    Flag shut up hannah.on November 04, 2007   Link

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