Page type: lyric reference
Artist: The Decemberists
Canonical path: /the-decemberists/sixteen-military-wives
Related lyric paths: 6
Video embedded: yes
Lyric guide
Sixteen Military Wives
Read Sixteen Military Wives lyrics by The Decemberists on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Sixteen Military Wives
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
Sixteen military wives
Thirty-two softly focused brightly colored eyes,
Staring at the natural tan
of thirty-two gently clenching wrinkled little hands.
Seventeen company men,
Out of which only twelve will make it back again.
Sergeant sent a letter to five
Military wives, as tears drip down from ten little eyes.
Cheer them on to their rivals...
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so...
It's so
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da
Fifteen celebrity mimds,
Leading their fifteen sorted wretched checkered lives.
Will they find the solution in time
Using their fifteen pristine moderate liberal minds?
Eighteen academy chairs
Out of which only seven really even care,
Doling out a garment to five
Celebrity mimds, they're humbly taken by surprise.
Cheer them on to their rivals...
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so...
It's so
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da de-dadedade-daa
La de da de da de-dadedade-daaa
Fourteen cannibal kings
Wondering blithely what the dinner bell will bring.
Fifteen celebrity mimds
Served on a leafy bed of sixteen military wives.
Cheer them on to their rivals...
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so...
It's so
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da de-dadedade-daa
La de da de da de-dadedade-daa
La de da de da de-dadedade
Da de da de da de-dadedade
Da de da de da de-dadedade-daaa
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Sixteen Military Wives"?
The Decemberists performs "Sixteen Military Wives", and this lyric page sits inside the The Decemberists catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Sixteen Military Wives"?
Yes. The related section below points to A Bower Scene and Like A Lion with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by The Decemberists?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through The Decemberists's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Sixteen Military Wives yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.