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You found a sweater on the ocean floor
They're gonna find it if you didn't close the door
You and this model sit outside the side
In a house on a street they wouldn't park on the night
Dad was a risk taker
His was a shoe maker
You greatest hits 2006
Little list-maker
Heard codes in the melodies
You heeded the call
You were born with ten fingers and you're gonna use them all
Interesting colors
I discoveredmyself
If your art life is gritty you'll be toasting my health
If an interest in culture should be lining the walls
When your birth right is interest you could just accrue it all
Me and my cousins
And
You and your cousins
It's a line that is always running
Me and my cousins
You and your cousins
I can feel it coming
You can turn your back on the bitter world
You can turn your back on the bitter world
You can turn your back on the bitter world
You can turn your back on the bitter world
Me and my cousins
And
You and your cousins
It's a line that is always running
Me and my cousins
You and your cousins
I can feel it coming
They're gonna find it if you didn't close the door
You and this model sit outside the side
In a house on a street they wouldn't park on the night
Dad was a risk taker
His was a shoe maker
You greatest hits 2006
Little list-maker
Heard codes in the melodies
You heeded the call
You were born with ten fingers and you're gonna use them all
Interesting colors
I discoveredmyself
If your art life is gritty you'll be toasting my health
If an interest in culture should be lining the walls
When your birth right is interest you could just accrue it all
Me and my cousins
And
You and your cousins
It's a line that is always running
Me and my cousins
You and your cousins
I can feel it coming
You can turn your back on the bitter world
You can turn your back on the bitter world
You can turn your back on the bitter world
You can turn your back on the bitter world
Me and my cousins
And
You and your cousins
It's a line that is always running
Me and my cousins
You and your cousins
I can feel it coming
Lyrics submitted by TemporaryLife
Track duration: 02:25
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maybe it's just me, but it's always made sense to me listening to the song ;)
maybe that's just me, but it's aways made sense listening to the song ;)
In a house on a street they wouldn't park on at night."
I don't think the house on the street is a reference to crime, but rather a posh suburban community or gated community. In those sort of places, nearly everyone has a garage and driveway, so it's more uncommon, and in some more "exclusive" place frowned upon to park in the street overnight. It would be considered "lower class".
I think this take falls into better line with the anti-snob overtures in their music.
Me and my cousins - the band and its fans
You and your cousins - the critics and the music industry in general
It's a line that's always running - the two don't mix with each other, just among themselves: the band will always have its fans and the music business will always have its critics, no mixing and matching.
I can feel it coming - he senses that even this song will be criticized by the very critics against which it protests.
Additionally, I personally always thought he was saying "You and the smart one", and now that I've realized all this stuff in the rest of the song, I believe it's "You and the smart oneS" - meaning a music critic ("you") and the "smart ones" in the band, doing an interview "in a house on a street they wouldn't park on at night" - because of restricted access to the interview. "You found a sweater on the ocean floor" means that the band created a new sound combining the "sweater" feel of Victorian England with the "ocean floor" vibe of worldbeat. And because anyone who now comes out with something that sounds similar will now immediately get compared to Vampire Weekend, they have, in a sense, "closed the door" on the others who hoped to pioneer such a style and who will now never be able to "find it".
I always knew those rhymes were too deliberate to be pure nonsense. These lyrics DO mean something. The band is talking like they're responding to critics' questions by saying, "Fuck you, I can do this and you're not gonna stop me, you mooks." Because us - the fans - their "cousins" - are standing behind them every step of the way. This whole song now makes sense to me. I hope this interpretation was helpful to you as well... let me know if you have a better idea.
His was a shoe maker
You greatest hits 2006
Little list-maker
* Means that although the band feels it should be respected for their hard work and dedication, the critics ("little list-maker"), although not truly qualified to do so, write off their new style as preppy and annoying. One interesting tidbit that I found out... Joseph Stalin was the son of a shoemaker. Just sayin' ;)
Heard codes in the melodies
You heeded the call
You were born with ten fingers and you're gonna use them all
*Refers to the loyal fans who will listen to the song, realize the hidden message in the lyrics, and "use all their fingers" to flip off whoever disses the band.
Interesting colors
I discoveredmyself
If your art life is gritty you'll be toasting my health
If an interest in culture should be lining the walls
When your birth right is interest you could just accrue it all
* Ezra Koenig created the style ("interesting colors") all by himself, and this new style is risky and innovative ("art life is gritty") because of its sheer unconventionality. He believes that this groundbreaking new style should really be "lining the walls" with hits and if he wants to make this kind of music no one should get on his case about it because "interest" (in worldbeat) is his "birthright" - he's technically allowed to say fuck it and do whatever he wants because it's HIS music. Great message.
Me and my cousins
And
You and your cousins
It's a line that is always running
Me and my cousins
You and your cousins
I can feel it coming
* No idea what this line or the opening one mean, I think he just stuck them in to show that he can do whatever the hell he wants. That's what this song is all about, after all :)
You can turn your back on the bitter world
* Meaning that's what he plans to do - the world is so bitter to his new style that he will simply turn his back on them.
Ezra is such a great lyricist and a master at hiding deep messages in pure, simple lyrics. This song exhibits that talent like no other. This band rocks my fucking socks off and I love these guys and I agree wholeheartedly with this song and everything it stands for. Please post comments if you think I'm on the right track :)
but it is fun to play it, the bass line is all over the place
They're educated so their lyrics are going to be complex
It's a mix of direct statements about lineage and subtle snide inference to the wealthy that talk more about art that actually doing it
(the last verse)
"Interesting colors
I discovered myself" - found their own style and perform it
"If your art life is gritty you'll be toasting my health" - I'm doing it - you're not
and this is the best line, a complex and smart jab at critics and wealthy "artists"
"If an interest in culture should be lining the walls
When your birth right is interest you could just accrue it all" - the wealthy and educated dictate what is art and what is not
and when you are born with money and privilege you are entitled to say whatever you want and buy whatever you want
they don't have to do anymore than talk about it and own it
Dad was a risk taker/his was a shoemaker -- shoemaker was a popular profession of poorer immigrants coming to America. The 'risk-taking' could be the immigration itself.
"you found a sweater on the ocean floor" Could be referring to the boats crossing the Atlantic from England to NYC.
I really like the line "You were born with ten fingers and you're gonna use them all" I think it's sort of a satire of when parents guilt trip you by saying how much easier you have it than them. The ten fingers could be all of the opportunities that America has to offer and how 3rd or 4th generation Americans should take advantage of that.
Dad was a risk taker/his was a shoemaker -- shoemaker was a popular profession of poorer immigrants coming to America. The 'risk-taking' could be the immigration itself.
"you found a sweater on the ocean floor" Could be referring to the boats crossing the Atlantic from England to NYC.
I really like the line "You were born with ten fingers and you're gonna use them all" I think it's sort of a satire of when parents guilt trip you by saying how much easier you have it than them. The ten fingers could be all of the opportunities that America has to offer and how 3rd or 4th generation Americans should take advantage of that.