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We'll take ourselves out in the street
And wear the blood in our cheeks
Like red roses
We'll go from car to sleeping car
And whisper in their sleeping ears
We were here, we were here
We'll set off the geese of Beverly Road
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome
We won't be disappointed
We'll fight like girls for our place at the table
Our room on the floor
We'll set off the geese of Beverly Road
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're drunk and sparking, our legs are open
Our hands are covered in cake
But I swear we didn't have any
I swear we didn't have any
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
Serve me the sky tonight
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
Serve me the sky tonight
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon
And wear the blood in our cheeks
Like red roses
We'll go from car to sleeping car
And whisper in their sleeping ears
We were here, we were here
We'll set off the geese of Beverly Road
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome
We won't be disappointed
We'll fight like girls for our place at the table
Our room on the floor
We'll set off the geese of Beverly Road
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're drunk and sparking, our legs are open
Our hands are covered in cake
But I swear we didn't have any
I swear we didn't have any
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we'll get away with it
We'll run like we're awesome
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
Serve me the sky tonight
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
We're the heirs to the glimmering world
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
Serve me the sky tonight
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon
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"Our hands are covered in cake, but I swear we didn't have any"
This song screams of a failed relationship that never reached its potential. Ya, you had some fun, felt on top of the world.
But, Cake is typically viewed as the prize to a party or dinner; think of life as this party or dinner. You never achieved that goal. "Serve me tonight, the sky with a BIG slice of lemon" Pointless sex. Big being key; not relative to size but value.
Berringer has stated himself that most of their songs are sarcastic and they are the only ones who find them funny
This is an interesting contrast from the harshly-realistic lyrics many other The National songs carry.
My immediate feeling is, "the sky is the limit, anything is possible tonight" so why not dress it up a bit; similar to what discomb0bulated said about a cocktail. Citrus wedges and drinks makes me think of summer: lemonade, iced tea, tequila, tropical drinks, hoegaarden and a slice of orange... all very refreshing and usually imbibed during prime time for freedom. Also, having lived in the keys, I note that lemon and/or lime wedges are often served with seafood... a simple do-it-yourself condiment that could represent the relaxed lifestyle of such a culture. I'm not saying that this is what Berninger meant, but it's just a thought that echoes in my mind based on my personal experiences.
I also like the sky imagery, with the lemon being the sun or the moon. Sort of ties all of the layers together.
Love, love, LOVE this song for all the reasons people have said (had to see the lyrics written down to get that the "geese" are car alarms).
Can't add much, except that, to me, it sounds like he sings "will we get away with it?", which seems to fit with people's interpretation of the "big slice of lemon" as the fly in the ointment, the feeling that perhaps they're not quite as invincible as they seem.
"serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon".. The lemon is the sun.
As for the 'Serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon'? I always assumed that was just referring to slices of lemon (or other citrus fruit) in cocktails, wine or any old drink (but as this is The National, it's probably an alcoholic one), but he wants the whole sky, everything, feeling like he can take on the world. Also the big slice of lemon could be how the moon sometimes looks in the night sky, when it has that yellowish tinge and appears larger than it is.
I also love the title of this song, because it sounds like a children's book. Like The Animals of Farthing Wood, or The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Just makes me smile! Glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets a bit teary when I hear this - it's a completely involuntary reaction, song just gives me the shivers!