aRTIST
The Decemberists Lyrics

My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist
My mother was a skilled performer who performed high above the ground- in Paris.

In pre-war Paris
Paris was a place of tension, conflict and uncertainty as it was before the war.

Smuggling bombs for the underground.
My mother was involved in the secret transportation of explosives to the Resistance fighters during the war.

And she met my father
My parents met in Aix-en-Provence as part of their separate missions.

At a fete in Aix-en-Provence.
They met at a lively celebration in the town.

He was disguised as a Russian cadet
My father was not actually a Russian cadet, but was acting as one as part of his own mission.

In the employ of the Axis.
He was affiliated with the Axis powers, who were in power in Europe during the war.

And there in the half-light
They began their relationship in the quiet, dim light of the night.

Of the provincial midnight
They were in a small town when they met, among the midnight reverie of the locals.

To a lone concertina
The only music was a sad concertina, which painted the background of their encounter.

They drank in cantinas
They drank in small taverns, enjoying the moment and each other's company.

And toasted to Edith Piaf
They raised their glasses in honor of the famous French singer Edith Piaf, whose music and life stirred their hearts.

And the fall of the Reich.
They celebrated the end of the oppressive Nazi regime and the beginning of a new future.

My sister was born in a hovel in Burgundy
My sister was born in a small, rundown house in Burgundy.

And left for the cattle
She left the farm to work with the livestock.

But later was found by a communist
She was later discovered by someone who shared her beliefs and ultimately became friends with her.

Who'd deserted his ranks
He abandoned his military duties.

To follow his dream
He was pursuing his own passion and goals, regardless of the sacrifices he had to make.

To start up a punk rock band in South Carolina.
He wanted to create and play music as part of a punk band in South Carolina.

I get letters sometimes.
I get mail from my sister on occasion, in which she reports her own adventures.

They bought a plantation
My sister and her partner purchased a large farm, often used to grow tobacco.

She weeds the tobacco
She is in charge of removing the unwanted plants from among the tobacco plants.

He offends the nation
Her partner, though trying to make a living as best he can, often makes enemies with those in authority or positions of power.

And they write, "Don't be a stranger, why'hear."
They write to me and encourage me to keep in touch with them more often.

"Sincerely, your sister."
The letter concludes with my sibling's affectionate note.

So my parents had me
Although my parents weren't always in my life, they did conceive me.

To the disgust of the prostitutes
The people who saw this happen, mainly prostitutes, were not happy about it.

On a bed in a brothel.
I was conceived on a bed in a brothel, as it were.

Surprisingly raised with tender care
Despite my shaky origins, my parents did their best to raise me with love and care.

'Til the money got tight
Due to the high cost of living and other expenses, they were unable to keep up with supporting me financially.

And they bet me away
They were forced to give me up in a bet.

To a blind brigadier in a game
A game occurred and a blind commanding officer ended up 'winning' me.

Of high stakes canasta.
The game was costly and filled with high stakes.

But he made me a sailor
Despite everything, the officer provided me with a career path where I became a seafarer.

On his brigadier ship fleet.
I served on board a fleet of his ships.

I know every yardarm
I am very experienced and skilled at understanding and working with the architecture of the ships.

From main mast to jib sheet.
I understand how the ropes and sails of the ship work and interact with each other.

But sometimes I long to be landlocked
Sometimes I wish I could live on land instead of on the sea.

And to work in a bakery.
Having a job in a bakery would be a way for me to make a living on the ground, one that is grounded and stable.