Like Mostlyghostly said, it's about Yahweh, or God. It basically seems like a breakup song with God. Ezra is mocking God for continuing to love everyone even as the world stops believing in him. He points out all the contradictions of "God"- he is portrayed as this awesome figure who loves us all no matter what, yet sometimes he does silly and seemingly pretentious things like tell us what his name is, and refuse to stop bad things from occurring to the people he loves. So Ezra is over God. Yet, there are still times in the darkness where he feels the presence of some higher being and "can't help but feel that he's made some mistake." And sometimes he feels God in music, which is what he is describing in the spoken part. But he still can't get over all the silliness of the idea of God- "Who could ever live that way?"- and thus has lost his faith.
I am genuinely confused by the inability of many secularists to understand that sometimes people, even people whose music you like, examine issues dealing with faith and God in a positive manner. It is quite obvious that your intrepretation is completely at odds with the actual lyrics of the song. Indeed, mostlyghost, whom you start your comment agreeing with, has correctly interpreted the song. The song is not mocking god but asking God how he can continue to seek mankind's love after all we have done. There are certainly songs on the album that are confrontational towards God, like...
I am genuinely confused by the inability of many secularists to understand that sometimes people, even people whose music you like, examine issues dealing with faith and God in a positive manner. It is quite obvious that your intrepretation is completely at odds with the actual lyrics of the song. Indeed, mostlyghost, whom you start your comment agreeing with, has correctly interpreted the song. The song is not mocking god but asking God how he can continue to seek mankind's love after all we have done. There are certainly songs on the album that are confrontational towards God, like Unbelievers, but this is most certainly not one.
"It basically seems" and "this is most certainly" are clauses with basically identical meaning so am I correct in assuming you are indeed Ezra Koening. If so, I apologize. Otherwise, let's agree that we are both equally presumptuous. Of course you also think God was being pretentious during Exodus 3:14 so maybe you throw p words around a little too much.
"It basically seems" and "this is most certainly" are clauses with basically identical meaning so am I correct in assuming you are indeed Ezra Koening. If so, I apologize. Otherwise, let's agree that we are both equally presumptuous. Of course you also think God was being pretentious during Exodus 3:14 so maybe you throw p words around a little too much.
I don't hear it quite the same as either of you two Ezra Koenigs.
I don't hear it quite the same as either of you two Ezra Koenigs.
I don't think it's fully 'positive' towards God (but, hey, neither were the Psalms).
I don't think it's fully 'positive' towards God (but, hey, neither were the Psalms).
And I don't intepret "Who could ever live that way?" as a rhetorical question about people being religious, I interpret is as a question directed to God, asking her how she could live that way... what exactly Ezra means by that question to God is another question...
And I don't intepret "Who could ever live that way?" as a rhetorical question about people being religious, I interpret is as a question directed to God, asking her how she could live that way... what exactly Ezra means by that question to God is another question...
Ezra has been quoted as calling it a break up song with God. So for starters fsbrown, you're wrong. Also your generalization of all secularists may be due to the fact that people draw meaning from what they believe. It's the same reason you think this is some kind of love letter to God.
Ezra has been quoted as calling it a break up song with God. So for starters fsbrown, you're wrong. Also your generalization of all secularists may be due to the fact that people draw meaning from what they believe. It's the same reason you think this is some kind of love letter to God.
Like Mostlyghostly said, it's about Yahweh, or God. It basically seems like a breakup song with God. Ezra is mocking God for continuing to love everyone even as the world stops believing in him. He points out all the contradictions of "God"- he is portrayed as this awesome figure who loves us all no matter what, yet sometimes he does silly and seemingly pretentious things like tell us what his name is, and refuse to stop bad things from occurring to the people he loves. So Ezra is over God. Yet, there are still times in the darkness where he feels the presence of some higher being and "can't help but feel that he's made some mistake." And sometimes he feels God in music, which is what he is describing in the spoken part. But he still can't get over all the silliness of the idea of God- "Who could ever live that way?"- and thus has lost his faith.
I meant "not tell us what his name is". They need an edit comment option on this site.
I meant "not tell us what his name is". They need an edit comment option on this site.
I am genuinely confused by the inability of many secularists to understand that sometimes people, even people whose music you like, examine issues dealing with faith and God in a positive manner. It is quite obvious that your intrepretation is completely at odds with the actual lyrics of the song. Indeed, mostlyghost, whom you start your comment agreeing with, has correctly interpreted the song. The song is not mocking god but asking God how he can continue to seek mankind's love after all we have done. There are certainly songs on the album that are confrontational towards God, like...
I am genuinely confused by the inability of many secularists to understand that sometimes people, even people whose music you like, examine issues dealing with faith and God in a positive manner. It is quite obvious that your intrepretation is completely at odds with the actual lyrics of the song. Indeed, mostlyghost, whom you start your comment agreeing with, has correctly interpreted the song. The song is not mocking god but asking God how he can continue to seek mankind's love after all we have done. There are certainly songs on the album that are confrontational towards God, like Unbelievers, but this is most certainly not one.
Um I'm actually religious and your comment that "this is most certainly not one" is sort of presumptuous unless you are Ezra Koenig.
Um I'm actually religious and your comment that "this is most certainly not one" is sort of presumptuous unless you are Ezra Koenig.
"It basically seems" and "this is most certainly" are clauses with basically identical meaning so am I correct in assuming you are indeed Ezra Koening. If so, I apologize. Otherwise, let's agree that we are both equally presumptuous. Of course you also think God was being pretentious during Exodus 3:14 so maybe you throw p words around a little too much.
"It basically seems" and "this is most certainly" are clauses with basically identical meaning so am I correct in assuming you are indeed Ezra Koening. If so, I apologize. Otherwise, let's agree that we are both equally presumptuous. Of course you also think God was being pretentious during Exodus 3:14 so maybe you throw p words around a little too much.
I don't hear it quite the same as either of you two Ezra Koenigs.
I don't hear it quite the same as either of you two Ezra Koenigs.
I don't think it's fully 'positive' towards God (but, hey, neither were the Psalms).
I don't think it's fully 'positive' towards God (but, hey, neither were the Psalms).
And I don't intepret "Who could ever live that way?" as a rhetorical question about people being religious, I interpret is as a question directed to God, asking her how she could live that way... what exactly Ezra means by that question to God is another question...
And I don't intepret "Who could ever live that way?" as a rhetorical question about people being religious, I interpret is as a question directed to God, asking her how she could live that way... what exactly Ezra means by that question to God is another question...
Ezra has been quoted as calling it a break up song with God. So for starters fsbrown, you're wrong. Also your generalization of all secularists may be due to the fact that people draw meaning from what they believe. It's the same reason you think this is some kind of love letter to God.
Ezra has been quoted as calling it a break up song with God. So for starters fsbrown, you're wrong. Also your generalization of all secularists may be due to the fact that people draw meaning from what they believe. It's the same reason you think this is some kind of love letter to God.
This describes it better than anyone on here, not to mention is a much better site. rock.rapgenius.com/Vampire-weekend-ya-hey-lyrics
This describes it better than anyone on here, not to mention is a much better site. rock.rapgenius.com/Vampire-weekend-ya-hey-lyrics