Anti-Summersong

This track finds Decemberists vocalist Colin Meloy referring to previous Decemberists songs including the band's 2006 tune Summersong. "When I brought 'Anti-Summersong' in, Jenny [Conlee, accordion and keyboards] was like: 'That's your retirement song, your f--k-you-world song.' There have been many times I've wanted to do that, but I keep getting drawn back in," Meloy told The Guardian. "It was a humorous way of making fun of myself: I'm not going on just to sing another Summersong, but here I am doing it on a record. You're torn between throwing it all away and never wanting to give it up."

Asked about the connection between "Summersong" and "Anti-summersong" during a Reddit AMA, Colin Meloy replied: "I don't think it means to cancel out 'Summersong' at all. I'm still quite attached that song. I think it was a sort of jab at myself and my songwriting at a time when I needed to do that." He continued: "I'd also always loved Morrissey's refrain from the end of 'Disappointed' where he sings: 'This is the last song I will ever sing. No, I've changed my mind again...' There's something really therapeutic, I find, in making fun of yourself." Meloy added: "It's also not just a response to the song 'Summersong,' but to all of the endless summersongs I've thrown into the world: 'June Hymn,' 'July, July!' etc etc. Like me saying to myself: jeez, man, get off it!"