The Decemberists – The Engine Driver

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  General Comment:I really see this song being about someone who no matter how hard they try or what they do they just can't get over someone they love but they just don't love them back. Ex girlfriend, friend who doesn't see them the same way ect. But the whole thing is just this beautiful metophore.

  Flag gogetterkodaon January 05, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:I think that one thing people are missing is that the main voice is a "writer of fictions." I think all these other perspectives are various stories he's written. They're all different characters he's created trying to forget about this love.
  
  I also think that he broke up with her and yet still can't forget about her, thus "if you don't love me, let me go." Though this could also be her breaking up with him and he's telling his memory of her to leave him alone.

  Flag Mahouon June 23, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:This song is obviously about having sex with aliens

  Flagged glaupieon January 05, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Absolutely wonderful song. I think the song is about how he loves a girl, but no matter who/what he becomes (hence the different characters), he will never be good enough for her, which was why, even as a wealthy money lender, he still felt 'tortured'. My two cents.

  Flag speccy94on May 31, 2010   Link

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  My Interpretation:I don't see this as a song from different voices. I think of it more as the inner struggle when you're in love with someone and you don't know their feelings.
  
  "And I am a writer, writer of fictions,
  I am the heart that you call home,
  And I've written pages upon pages,
  Trying to rid you from my bones,
  My bones,
  My bones."
  You're trying to get rid of your feelings by pursuing someone else.
  
  And then the other thought, that occurs a lot, "If you don't love me let me go." The thought that if it's true love, the person should love you back.
  *shrug* That's my take.
  
  

  Flag GabyGraveon May 12, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I feel as if it's about a writer trying to get over this girl.
  He keeps writing these stories and pouring himself into these different characters
  and no matter who he becomes he still doesn't get the girl.

  Flag ATadBitEerieon March 14, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I get chills from the opening bars of this song till the very end. To me, it's about a guy who's trying on different hats. Inside, he's all these different people and he's just trying to find his true self. This is the song that left me hopelessly in love with The Decemberists. It's perfect in every way.

  Flag AmericanGhoston February 17, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I think it's about feeling hopelessly stuck. All of the characters described are bound in their places in life for one reason or another. The way the finality of it is presented feels miserable. Then he describes himself as hopelessly in love with someone who's just leading him on. Stuck, but in a different sense. Miserable none the less. Gorgeous song. It gives me chills every time.

  Flag rnw0701on February 11, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I thought the song was more addressed to the writers muse/genius. I saw the other professions as metaphors for various aspects of the writers life. The engine drive seems to express what it feels like to not be able to sit down and write for a long time, possibly on a road or something. The lineman to me represented both real life and family expectations. Not every situation or relative excepts writing as a legitimate career. The money lender is obvious to me. Fiction and money don't always go together so writers are forced in freelancing or other "side" jobs that become all of their income until their big break.
  
  I think this makes the "heart you call home" and "all that you have home" make even more sense. The muse can only live through the writer.
  
  It seems as though the writer isn't doing that well with his/her work, the muse isn't giving him the love he needs to succeed, get published, and make it in the world of fiction. Thus, he wants to either make it soon or give up the struggle.
  
  But then, I'm a writer.

  Flag ThisCharadeon December 15, 2009   Link

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  My Opinion:To me, this song is about the characters I write about, to "rid them from my bones"; I've had times where I had something in my head that HAD to be written or I would never get to sleep or do whatever needed to be done. And I may rid them from my bones, but my heart will always be their home.

  Flag Kitronaon September 12, 2009   Link

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