diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index 29319161f1..cb3fede123 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+1.2.7
+ * Fix serialization of the LEFT gossip value (CASSANDRA-5696)
+
 1.2.6
  * Fix tracing when operation completes before all responses arrive (CASSANDRA-5668)
  * Fix cross-DC mutation forwarding (CASSANDRA-5632)
diff --git a/NEWS.txt b/NEWS.txt
index cb40981c1b..d4d127b9fd 100644
--- a/NEWS.txt
+++ b/NEWS.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@ restore snapshots created with the previous major version using the
 'sstableloader' tool. You can upgrade the file format of your snapshots
 using the provided 'sstableupgrade' tool.
 
+1.2.7
+=====
+Upgrading
+---------
+    - If you have decommissioned a node in the past 72 hours, it is imperative
+      that you not upgrade until such time has passed, or do a full cluster
+      restart (not rolling) before beginning the upgrade.  This only applies to
+      decommission, not removetoken.
+
+
 1.2.6
 =====
 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/gms/VersionedValue.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/gms/VersionedValue.java
index 5841c4b379..60459c8950 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/gms/VersionedValue.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/gms/VersionedValue.java
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ public class VersionedValue implements Comparable<VersionedValue>
         public VersionedValue left(Collection<Token> tokens, long expireTime)
         {
             return new VersionedValue(versionString(VersionedValue.STATUS_LEFT,
-                    Long.toString(expireTime),
-                    makeTokenString(tokens)));
+                    makeTokenString(tokens),
+                    Long.toString(expireTime)));
         }
 
         public VersionedValue moving(Token token)