The Decemberists – O Valencia!

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You belong to the gang
And you say you can't break away
But I'm here with my hands on my heart

Our families can't agree
I'm your brother's sworn enemy
But I'll shout out my love to the stars

So wait for the stone on your window, your window
Wait by the car and we'll go, we'll go

When first we laid eyes
I swore to no compromise
Until I felt my caress on your skin

Well, how soon we were betrayed
Your sister gave us away
And your father came all unhinged

So wait for the stone on your window, your window
Wait by the car and we'll go, we'll go

Oh, Valencia
With your blood still warm on the ground
Valencia
And I swear to the stars
I'll burn this whole city down

All I heard was a shout
Of your brother calling me out
And you ran like a fool to my side

Well the shot, it hit hard
And your frame went limp in my arms
And an oath of love was your dying cry

So wait for the stone on your window, your window
Wait by the car and we'll, go we'll go

Oh, Valencia
With your blood still warm on the ground
Valencia
And I'll burn this whole city down
Valencia
With your blood getting cold on the ground
Valencia
And I swear to the stars
I'll burn this whole city down

Send "O Valencia!" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by constant

Track duration: 03:48


O Valencia! song meanings
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79 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I think that like all of the other songs in the Crane Wife, there is a story based on something that existed. Like Vavilov or the shankill butchers. Even if it was not historical like the Crane Wife story, but it was based on a real tale.
    So i guess this gang dispute is something likely to had happened. Thous my question is have this real ex ganged member kept his vow to burn the whole city down? And is there recorded history of anything similiar, someone burning a town because of inner gang problems? It had to be something famous not any trivial gang dispute.
    Flag brenero3on June 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know some people have mentioned that the narrator may be a girl, but I find that unlikely because of the line "I'm your brother's sworn enemy." Therefore its hard to imagine the brother's sworn enemy would be a girl, especially since this is a feud amongst the entire family. And remember, its the same brother who does the shooting, so I'm quite sure the narrator is male.
    Flag brokenshipon June 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:girlfrombarcelona: that movie is great. good observation. the whole gang thing fits in there very well.
    Flag imsogoingcrazyon June 12, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm thinking:
    DEFINITELY Romeo & Juliet
    MAYBE West Side Story, there are many aspects that fit that
    MAYBE the R&J with Leonardo DiCaprio? Anybody see that? Where it takes place in modern day but with the Shakespearean dialogue?
    Flag girlfrombarcelonaon February 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me this is a love story between the singer and the place. It's almost like he's never experienced a real love like this, but he loves this place. So he imagines it's like his lover...

    I don't know if that makes sense at all.
    Just something to think about.
    Flag roxanneredlighton November 21, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is supposed to be an urban Romeo and Juliet kind of song.

    "Valencia" is the said Juliet, and the singer is Romeo. Valencia takes a bullet for him, where he declares he will burn down the city..
    Flag AubrieAubergineon June 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:DEFINATELY Romeo and Juliet as opposed to just gang warfare, especially with lines like "wait for the stone on your window."
    Flag TimeBunnyon May 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I'm going with Romeo and Juliet. The rival gangs are the Capulets and Montagues. The brother's sworn enemy line could refer to Juliet's cousin Tybalt, who challenged Romeo to a duel. Wait for the stone on your window and wait by the car and we'll go could be a reference to the balcony scene, in which Romeo and Juliet plan to run off and get married. This last part is a stretch but "I'll shout out my love to the stars" could be referring to Romeo and Juliet being described as star crossed lovers. Also of course it ends tragically with death. Who knows what it's really about, but this is what I'm hearing.
    Flag Kyle414on April 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The Decemberists are just fkn amazing, no matter how you look at it. Like, when I first heard this song I liked the way it sounded, upbeat, kind of. But I was taking a nine-hour car trip and I really HEARD the lyrics, and it made me cry. (As did all the of the Crane Wife songs.) I think the part I love the most is "Well the shot, it hit hard. And your frame went limp in my arms. And an oath of love was your dying cry." Just typing it makes me tear up. I'm blown away by this band.
    Flag fatallygorgeous24on April 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:youtube.com/…

    i go by the video that the decemberists themselves made i believe
    Flag vincesegeron February 07, 2009   Link

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