Lyric discussion by rassequin 

It's never established whether or not it is a "brother" or "sister" of the rival gang member who is killed. Just something to think about.

Well, I saw the video and it's the singer's girlfriend who's shot. They're staying at a place called Hotel Valencia, though it could also be the town they're in.

I agree with you. Another Decemberists song with possible homosexual meaning (see Billy Liar and The Soldiering Life, and maybe....even The Mariner's Revenge...lolz). But yeah, the lyrics in the last line of the second stanza are dead wrong. They should be "He shouts out my love", not "I'll shout out my love". The version on my iPod and the one on Google's LaLa player both say "he shouts".

I agree with you. Another Decemberists song with possible homosexual meaning (see Billy Liar and The Soldiering Life, and maybe....even The Mariner's Revenge...lolz). But yeah, the lyrics in the last line of the second stanza are dead wrong. They should be "He shouts out my love", not "I'll shout out my love". The version on my iPod and the one on Google's LaLa player both say "he shouts".

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