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The Decemberists – Midlist Author (2018) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
The Decemberists
Traveling On
Midlist Author

TRACK

The Decemberists

Midlist Author

Release date: 14th December 2018

From Traveling OnTrack 43:57

Spotify Apple Music More on The Decemberists

Lyrics

Midlist Author

Fell upon a Tuesday when I had just got down to work
And everything went grey
So I caught a bus Wednesday, thought a vacation well-deserved
And all my edges frayed

Address your letters to:
Midlist author
You're never the best but you're never the worst
Why even bother?
You'll never be last but you'll never be first
Have another taste of fame when they mispronounce your name
When they mispronounce your name

Strolled along the seaside amid all the vulgar dreary crowd
And a boy cries for his dog
Stolen by a riptide his mother explains he surely drowned
As he weeps upon a log

And all my readers sing, oh:
Midlist author
You're never the best but you're never the worst
Why even bother?
You'll never be last but you'll never be first
Maybe one more glass of wine will make everything seem fine
Maybe everything will seem fine
And nobody's taking chances
Did all those dwindling advances get you down
They get you down

Shuffling homeward, I check the receiver on the phone
No messages returned
So I started up a new thing,
Something about the sea, a boy, and his dog
And these were the first words

Dedication TK, oh
Midlist author, you're never the best but you're never the worst
Why even bother?
You'll never be last but you'll never be first
Maybe novel 22 will make them all remember you

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

Track details

From Traveling On

3:572018

Listen

Album

The Decemberists

14th December 2018

Track number

4

Release year

2018

1Down on the Knuckle
3:58
2I Will Not Say Your Name
6:43
3Tripping Along (Full Band Version)
3:43
4Midlist Author
3:57

More from The Decemberists

Albums & EPs

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the Garden - EP

Joan in the Garden - EP

I’ll Be Your Girl

I’ll Be Your Girl

florasongs

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The King Is Dead

The King Is Dead

The Perfect Crime #2

The Perfect Crime #2

The Crane Wife

Picaresqueties

Explore

More tracks by The Decemberists

All I Want Is YouAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Oh No!As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the GardenAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The Black MariaAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The ReapersAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Don't Go to the WoodsAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

William FitzwilliamAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Long White VeilAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Never SatisfiedAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Born to the MorningAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Tell Me What's on Your MindAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

America Made MeAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Burial GroundAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

Joan in the GardenJoan in the Garden - EP

Down on the KnuckleTraveling On

Traveling OnTraveling On

Tripping Along (Full Band Version)Traveling On

I Will Not Say Your NameTraveling On

We All Die YoungI’ll Be Your Girl

Everything Is AwfulI’ll Be Your Girl

SeveredI’ll Be Your Girl

Sucker's PrayerI’ll Be Your Girl

Your GhostI’ll Be Your Girl

Once in My LifeI’ll Be Your Girl

Rusalka, Rusalka / The Wild RushesI’ll Be Your Girl

StarwatcherI’ll Be Your Girl

Tripping AlongI’ll Be Your Girl

I'll Be Your GirlI’ll Be Your Girl

Cutting StoneI’ll Be Your Girl

Ben Franklin's Song

Ben Franklin's Song

Wonderful Christmastime / Jesus Christ

Riverswimflorasongs

Statesideflorasongs

Why Would I Now?florasongs

Fits & Startsflorasongs

The Harrow and the Hauntedflorasongs

A Beginning SongWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Lake SongWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Easy Come, Easy GoWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Cavalry CaptainWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

12/17/12What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

The Singer Addresses His AudienceWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

The Wrong YearWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

PhilomenaWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Anti-SummersongWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Carolina LowWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Better Not Wake the BabyWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Till the Water's All Long GoneWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

MistralWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Make You BetterWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Oceanside (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

We Both Go Down Together (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

I Was Meant for the Stage (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The Bagman's Gambit (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Grace Cathedral (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Leslie Ann Devine (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The Crane Wife 1, 2 and 3 (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The Rake's Song (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Billy Liar (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Down By the Water (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Rise to Me (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Calamity Song (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

All Arise! (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The Mariner's Revenge Song (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Rox In the Box (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

Dracula's Daughter / O Valencia! (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

June Hymn (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

This Is Why We Fight (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The Infanta (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

The Soldiering Life (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)

January HymnThe King Is Dead

June HymnThe King Is Dead

Dear AveryThe King Is Dead

All Arise!The King Is Dead

Down By the WaterThe King Is Dead

Rise to MeThe King Is Dead

This Is Why We FightThe King Is Dead

Rox In the BoxThe King Is Dead

Don't Carry It AllThe King Is Dead

Calamity SongThe King Is Dead

The Rake's Song

Always the Bridesmaid, Volume III: Record Year for Rainfall

Always the Bridesmaid, Volume II: Days of Elaine

Always the Bridesmaid, Volume I: Valerie Plame

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The Perfect Crime #2 (Junior Boys Remix)The Perfect Crime #2

The Perfect Crime #2 (A Touch of Class Robs the Bank Remix)The Perfect Crime #2

The Perfect Crime #2.5.1The Perfect Crime #2

The Perfect Crime #2 (album demo)

The Crane Wife 3The Crane Wife

The Perfect Crime 2The Crane Wife

Oh Valencia!The Crane Wife

When the War CameThe Crane Wife

Sons & DaughtersThe Crane Wife

The Crane Wife 1 & 2The Crane Wife

SummersongThe Crane Wife

Shankil ButchersThe Crane Wife

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Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)The Crane Wife

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Bridges & BalloonsPicaresqueties

Bandit QueenPicaresqueties

The Bandit Queen (with dialogue and tap dancing)Picaresqueties

Sixteen Military Wives

The Tain, Pt. IIThe Tain

The Tain, Pt. IVThe Tain

The Tain, Pt. VThe Tain

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The Decemberists — All I Want Is You (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [2:38]
The Decemberists — Oh No! (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [5:05]
The Decemberists — Joan in the Garden (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [19:21]
The Decemberists — The Black Maria (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [3:51]
The Decemberists — The Reapers (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [4:41]
The Decemberists — Don't Go to the Woods (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [3:58]
The Decemberists — William Fitzwilliam (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [3:36]
The Decemberists — Long White Veil (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [3:49]
The Decemberists — Never Satisfied (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [4:01]
The Decemberists — Born to the Morning (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [3:24]
The Decemberists — Tell Me What's on Your Mind (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [3:58]
The Decemberists — America Made Me (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [5:20]
The Decemberists — Burial Ground (from As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again) [4:05]
The Decemberists — Joan in the Garden (from Joan in the Garden - EP) [19:21]
The Decemberists — Burial Ground [4:05]
The Decemberists — Down on the Knuckle (from Traveling On) [3:58]
The Decemberists — Traveling On (from Traveling On) [4:29]
The Decemberists — Tripping Along (Full Band Version) (from Traveling On) [3:43]
The Decemberists — I Will Not Say Your Name (from Traveling On) [6:43]
The Decemberists — We All Die Young (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [4:01]
The Decemberists — Everything Is Awful (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [3:23]
The Decemberists — Severed (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [4:04]
The Decemberists — Sucker's Prayer (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [3:29]
The Decemberists — Your Ghost (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [2:41]
The Decemberists — Once in My Life (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [5:09]
The Decemberists — Rusalka, Rusalka / The Wild Rushes (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [8:16]
The Decemberists — Starwatcher (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [2:39]
The Decemberists — Tripping Along (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [3:35]
The Decemberists — I'll Be Your Girl (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [2:34]
The Decemberists — Cutting Stone (from I’ll Be Your Girl) [3:21]
The Decemberists — Ben Franklin's Song [3:43]
The Decemberists — Ben Franklin's Song
The Decemberists — Wonderful Christmastime / Jesus Christ
The Decemberists — Riverswim (from florasongs) [4:54]
The Decemberists — Stateside (from florasongs) [3:26]
The Decemberists — Why Would I Now? (from florasongs) [3:42]
The Decemberists — Fits & Starts (from florasongs) [2:41]
The Decemberists — The Harrow and the Haunted (from florasongs) [4:07]
The Decemberists — A Beginning Song (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [5:22]
The Decemberists — Lake Song (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [5:52]
The Decemberists — Easy Come, Easy Go (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [2:22]
The Decemberists — Cavalry Captain (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [3:18]
The Decemberists — 12/17/12 (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [3:03]
The Decemberists — The Singer Addresses His Audience (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [4:43]
The Decemberists — The Wrong Year (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [3:53]
The Decemberists — Philomena (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [3:05]
The Decemberists — Anti-Summersong (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [2:12]
The Decemberists — Carolina Low (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [3:25]
The Decemberists — Better Not Wake the Baby (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [1:45]
The Decemberists — Till the Water's All Long Gone (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [5:01]
The Decemberists — Mistral (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [3:54]
The Decemberists — Make You Better (from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World) [5:08]
The Decemberists — Oceanside (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [3:27]
The Decemberists — We Both Go Down Together (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:30]
The Decemberists — I Was Meant for the Stage (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [10:13]
The Decemberists — The Bagman's Gambit (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [8:27]
The Decemberists — Grace Cathedral (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:25]
The Decemberists — Leslie Ann Devine (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:08]
The Decemberists — The Crane Wife 1, 2 and 3 (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [16:09]
The Decemberists — The Rake's Song (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:45]
The Decemberists — Billy Liar (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [6:41]
The Decemberists — Down By the Water (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [3:48]
The Decemberists — Rise to Me (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:49]
The Decemberists — Calamity Song (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [3:52]
The Decemberists — All Arise! (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:23]
The Decemberists — The Mariner's Revenge Song (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [12:15]
The Decemberists — Rox In the Box (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [3:07]
The Decemberists — Dracula's Daughter / O Valencia! (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [5:26]
The Decemberists — June Hymn (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:30]
The Decemberists — This Is Why We Fight (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [4:47]
The Decemberists — The Infanta (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [5:46]
The Decemberists — The Soldiering Life (Live) (from We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)) [5:04]
The Decemberists — January Hymn (from The King Is Dead) [3:13]
The Decemberists — June Hymn (from The King Is Dead) [3:58]
The Decemberists — Dear Avery (from The King Is Dead) [4:52]
The Decemberists — All Arise! (from The King Is Dead) [3:09]
The Decemberists — Down By the Water (from The King Is Dead) [3:42]
The Decemberists — Rise to Me (from The King Is Dead) [4:59]
The Decemberists — This Is Why We Fight (from The King Is Dead) [5:30]
The Decemberists — Rox In the Box (from The King Is Dead) [3:10]
The Decemberists — Don't Carry It All (from The King Is Dead) [4:17]
The Decemberists — Calamity Song (from The King Is Dead) [3:50]
The Decemberists — The Rake's Song
The Decemberists — Always the Bridesmaid, Volume III: Record Year for Rainfall
The Decemberists — Always the Bridesmaid, Volume II: Days of Elaine
The Decemberists — Always the Bridesmaid, Volume I: Valerie Plame
The Decemberists — The Perfect Crime #2 (Diplo’s Doing Time Remix) (from The Perfect Crime #2) [5:56]
The Decemberists — The Perfect Crime #2 (Junior Boys Remix) (from The Perfect Crime #2) [7:32]
The Decemberists — The Perfect Crime #2 (A Touch of Class Robs the Bank Remix) (from The Perfect Crime #2) [6:17]
The Decemberists — The Perfect Crime #2.5.1 (from The Perfect Crime #2) [4:13]
The Decemberists — The Perfect Crime #2 (album demo)
The Decemberists — The Crane Wife 3 (from The Crane Wife) [4:20]
The Decemberists — The Perfect Crime 2 (from The Crane Wife) [5:35]
The Decemberists — Oh Valencia! (from The Crane Wife) [3:50]
The Decemberists — When the War Came (from The Crane Wife) [5:08]
The Decemberists — Sons & Daughters (from The Crane Wife) [5:14]
The Decemberists — The Crane Wife 1 & 2 (from The Crane Wife) [11:26]
The Decemberists — Summersong (from The Crane Wife) [3:31]
The Decemberists — Shankil Butchers (from The Crane Wife) [4:42]
The Decemberists — The Island, Come and See, the Landlords Daughter (You'll Not Feel the Drowning) (from The Crane Wife) [12:43]
The Decemberists — Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) (from The Crane Wife) [4:20]
The Decemberists — Kingdom of Spain (from Picaresqueties) [3:50]
The Decemberists — Constantinople (from Picaresqueties) [3:42]
The Decemberists — Bridges & Balloons (from Picaresqueties) [3:20]
The Decemberists — Bandit Queen (from Picaresqueties) [4:34]
The Decemberists — The Bandit Queen (with dialogue and tap dancing) (from Picaresqueties) [4:27]
The Decemberists — O Valencia!
The Decemberists — Sixteen Military Wives
The Decemberists — Billy Liar
The Decemberists — The Tain, Pt. II (from The Tain) [2:50]
The Decemberists — The Tain, Pt. IV (from The Tain) [4:18]
The Decemberists — The Tain, Pt. V (from The Tain) [4:11]
The Decemberists — The Tain, Pt. III (from The Tain) [5:04]
The Decemberists — The Tain, Pt. I (from The Tain) [2:12]
The Decemberists — Oceanside (from Five Songs) [3:29]
The Decemberists — Shiny (from Five Songs) [5:12]
The Decemberists — My Mother Was a Chinese Trapese Artist (from Five Songs) [4:42]
The Decemberists — I Don't Mind (from Five Songs) [4:40]
The Decemberists — Angel, Won't You Call Me? (from Five Songs) [2:40]
The Decemberists — Apology Song (from Five Songs) [3:12]

Joan in the GardenAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
19:21
Joan in the GardenJoan in the Garden - EP
19:21
12/17/12What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
3:03
A Beginning SongWhat A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
5:22
All Arise!The King Is Dead
3:09
All Arise! (Live)We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live 04.11 - 08.11)
4:23
All I Want Is YouAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again
2:38
Always the Bridesmaid, Volume I: Valerie Plame
Always the Bridesmaid, Volume II: Days of Elaine
Always the Bridesmaid, Volume III: Record Year for Rainfall

Showing 10 of 120

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The Decemberists: "Everything actually is awful, and it's not that funny"

Colin Meloy chats with Dork about getting out of old habits, branching out into literature and what’s next for The Decemberists.

Nov 7, 2018 • 3:30 PM