Singer Colin Meloy Writes About Son's Autism

The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy reveals that his son's autism diagnosis has inspired his music, telling Uncut magazine that he wrote the song 'Rise to Me' with his wife Carson Ellis and their 4-year-old son Henry in mind.

"My son... is autistic. So that song is about mine and Carson's challenges," Colin says. "Thankfully, Hank is high-functioning. He taught himself to read when he was three, and he can tell you the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods, but can't use a door handle, and has trouble looking people in the eye - this would all be recognised by any parent with experience of autism."

Here are some lyrics from the song, which is included on the album The King Is Dead:

Hey Henry can you hear me?
Let me see those eyes
This distance between us
Can seem a mountain size

But boy:
You are going to stand your ground