Congratulations

I saw a video where MGMT dedicated this song to Jimi Hendrix so I think his death may have had something to do with the lyrics.

Dead in the water It's not a paid vacation The sons and daughters of city officials Attend demonstrations It's hardly a sink or swim When all is well if the ticket sells

The first lines refer to a rockstar's early death. I think the demonstrations he is refering to are vigils whenever someone famous dies, such as kurt cobain's vigil. The agents etc. only care about ticket sales. They don't care what effect it has on the rockstar's life.

Out with a wimper It's not a blaze of glory You look down from your temple As people endeavor to make it a story And chisel a marble word But all is lost if it's never heard

Some people glamorize the deaths of rockstars going out in a "blaze of glory", but they're saying its really not. Its just another death. News reporters will make it a story as with any superstar's death.

But I've got someone to make reports That tell me how my money's spent To book my stays and draw my blinds So I can't see what's really there And all I need's a great big congratulations

They're saying that they've reached the rockstar level. Congratulations they've reached the rockstar level, but with that comes all the bad things about being a star as well.

I'll keep your dreams You pay attention for me As strange as it seems I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me The ground may be moving fast But I tied my boots to a broken mast

People always dream about being a rockstar. They'll be a rockstar so you don't have to basically. They like the fame and are maybe a little egocentic.

The difference is clear You throw it in your cauldron Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn Steinways and Baldwins You start with a simple stock of all the waste And salt to taste

I took this as MGMTs way of making music. Steinways and Baldwins are types of pianos. They mix up waste of previous songs and influences of previous bands throw it in a cauldron, add some salt, and come up with a new song.

But damn my luck and damn these friends That keep on combing back their smiles I save my grace with half-assed guilt And lay down the quilt upon the lawn Spread my arms and soak up congratulations

They've chosen this life so damn the things it comes with, fake friend etc. They're halfway guilty about being able to play music and be famous for it. All they can do now is accept congratulations for reaching their goal of being rockstars even though maybe it isn't everything is cracked up to be or what they envisioned.