When July became December...
He was the Congregation's vagrant
With an unrequited love.
When your passion's exultation,
Then finding refuge is not enough.
She was the youngest of the family
And the last to be let go.
They decided they would try
And make it on their own.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And I let it fade away.
Where'd you go?
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
When July became December
Their affection fought the cold,
But they couldn't quite remember
What inspired them to go.
And it was beautifully depressing
Like A Streetcar Named Desire.
They were fighting for their love
That started growing tired.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away.
Don't fade away.
Money lost momentum
And the bills were piling high.
Then the smile, it finally faded
From the apple of their eye.
And they were young and independent,
And they thought they had it planned.
Should've known right from the start
You can't predict the end.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away.
Don't fade away.
With an unrequited love.
When your passion's exultation,
Then finding refuge is not enough.
She was the youngest of the family
And the last to be let go.
They decided they would try
And make it on their own.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And I let it fade away.
Where'd you go?
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
When July became December
Their affection fought the cold,
But they couldn't quite remember
What inspired them to go.
And it was beautifully depressing
Like A Streetcar Named Desire.
They were fighting for their love
That started growing tired.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away.
Don't fade away.
Money lost momentum
And the bills were piling high.
Then the smile, it finally faded
From the apple of their eye.
And they were young and independent,
And they thought they had it planned.
Should've known right from the start
You can't predict the end.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away.
Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away.
Don't fade away.
Lyrics submitted by NeonFungi
Track duration: 03:26
i think that at the start of the song they are kind of rebelling against their parents and end up running off together, in my mind 'she was the youngest of the family and the last to be let go' kind of makes me feel like she was overprotected by her parents and just wants to get out
'they decided they would try to make it on their own' to me says that even though they were only young they believed their love could last and they didnt care about the doubts that the people around them had especially their parents they just though their love was enough
i think the second verse is explaining the realty that was kicking in, 'their affection fought the cold' says to me that their love was able to make in through the difficult stages of their relationship
then where it says
'they couldnt quite remember what inspired them to go'
to me means that it was getting more and more difficult and they couldnt remember why they thought it was such a good idea to run off together and they couldnt see the point or if it was worth it anymore.
'they were fighting for their love but started growing tired'
just reiterates my point of they werent sure if this was worth it and the difficulties they were facing were becoming overbearing and hard to handle, hence them floating apart and growing tired of one another.
i think the last verse is where they finally give up on their love,
'money lost momentum and the bills were piling high'
shows that they were unable to afford their living conditions and were obviously having difficulty upholding a lifestyle together (probably because they were to young to start earning enough money or make good decisions about budgets etc)
"they were young and independent, they thought they had it planned should have known right from the start you cant predict the end"
i think this is where they realise that the decision they made to run off together at such a young age was unrealistic and they werent thinking about the future and the consequences.
the song is probably about the band and them losing the members but when i first heard it this is the story that i imagined in my head and i think in this version people can interpret it to being a sad love song and relate :):)
With an unrequited love.
When your passion's exultation,
Then finding refuge is not enough.
She was the youngest of the family
And the last to be let go.
They decided they would try
And make it on their own."
I see this as a man who is wandering around and has this love he wants to give out, but no one returns.
His love was passionate and intense. He couldn't just ignore it.
She literally was "the youngest of her family" such as the youngest sibling who is watched over carefully and then let go to the world.
These two then met, fell in love, and "tried to make it on their own." by moving out to their own place.
"When July became December
Their affection fought the cold,
But they couldn't quite remember
What inspired them to go.
And it was beautifully depressing
Like A Streetcar Named Desire.
They were fighting for their love
That started growing tired."
This means as the relationship (and weather) change they're having difficulties with how they feel about one another.
They're starting o see the flaws of one another and can't get past them.
A street car named desire is a depressingly beautiful play about newlyweds, cheating, rape, love, hate, and insanity (go watch it! lovely).
Their love is literally growing tired, they're starting to fall out of love.
"Money lost momentum
And the bills were piling high.
Then the smile, it finally faded
From the apple of their eye.
And they were young and independent,
And they thought they had it planned.
Should've known right from the start
You can't predict the end."
While they're falling out of love and having difficulties, their fighting maybe affecting work or/and they just cant keep up with the bills now.
because of all the money stress and failing relationship stress they're smile is literally fading, like depression.
the next line is reminiscing about a young couples love and their thoughts on the world and how they planned to live it. It then goes on to say you can't predict your future.
"Oh, memories, where'd you go?
You were all I've ever known.
How I miss yesterday.
And how I let it fade away"
The chorus is just referring to the beginning of their relationship.
Every song I've looked at (from Panic at the Disco) has comments that it's about Jon and Ryan. And yes I bet one or two songs are about them but not every song.
maybe this is about Jon and Ryan, but I would be utterly disappointed if that's the case... they have new members now, and from what I know on ready to go (which they stated was about them) and maybe another song is about them. I don't think they would linger this long and make everything about them
but I believe the meaning is just a simple -what the words say this time, just said in a poetic way (of coarse!)
My view maybe wrong, but then again its an opinion on the song, and how I picture it when I view it in my head
Their affection fought the cold,
But they couldn't quite remember
What inspired them to go.
And it was beautifully depressing
Like A Streetcar Named Desire.
They were fighting for their love
That started growing tired.
These lyrics are referring to Ryan Ross and Jon Walker leaving the band. They broke up in July, so that's where the lyrics "When July Became December" came from.
The lyrics in this line "But they couldn't quite remember what inspired them to go." is Brendon talking about Ryan and Jon leaving to create a different style of music that they were inspired to do.
"And it was beautifully depressing" means that Brendon was depressed that Ryan and Jon were leaving, but he wasn't entirely because he knew Ryan and Jon were leaving for the best.
The lyrics "They were fighting for their love that started growing tired." mean that maybe Ryan and Jon's love for Panic! At The Disco was starting to not be as strong as before because they were not enjoying the music they were coming up with, and they were getting tired of it so they decided to go their own way and make music as The Young Veins.
That's what I think the lyrics mean. Even the song title is called "Memories". Memories of Ryan and Jon leaving.
Congregation's vagrant is Heathcliff, his unrequited love is Cathy Earnshaw, and the youngest of the family is Isabella Linton.
Just what I think.
With an unrequited love.
When your passion's exultation,
Then finding refuge is not enough.
She was the youngest of the family
And the last to be let go.
They decided they would try
And make it on their own.
The "she" in this part makes me think of Panic's sound on Pretty. Odd. "Youngest of the family" (the last thing they did together) and "the last to be let go" (could refer to how Jon and Ryan were the last to "leave" the band, after Brent)
That's how I made sense of the "she". As for the "he" I'm assuming that'd be Ryan. But I don't know what all of that would mean.
Anyway, I've heard a lot of the songs from Vices and Virtues are about John and Ryan splitting. And, this song especially brings out that message.
"They decided they would try
And make it on their own."
I mean, come on, thats just proving the point.
But the first verse is sort of different from that theme, I think so that others could relate to the song as well. So its not just about the bands split. I love the begining, best part in my opinion.
It takes about him and her and how they came from different lives and how they decided they would try and make a go of it "they decided they would try and make it on their own"
As the song goes on it reveals that perhaps they were meant to be together but they were too young to be on their own and so they had to end it. "Should have known right from the start you can't predict the end"
The chorus is talking about change and how the past has seemed to fade away so quickly. "How i miss yesterday" How he misses how they were and what they once had.
It's a brilliant song and I wish it had more recognition. I think it's the sort of song everyone can relate to. Things always change and you miss the days when you were once with someone or had something.
This is just my opinion though!
Brendon said in an interview once that he had sort of known that this was going to happen but he just tried to not believe it.
"you were all I've ever known" is all about how hard it is to move on from something that used to be so real. Like the death of a family member and you wake up and forget they have left until you remember and it hurts do bad. It is about starting new because he has too but it is difficult because they were all he did know and now they are gone.
"Don't fade away." But he never wants to forget what they had or the music they made.
"And they were young and independent,
And they thought they had it planned.
Should've known right from the start
You can't predict the end." Flag McKenzieSmileson July 28, 2011 Link