'You torched a Saab like a pile of leaves
I'd gone to find some better wheels
4, 5 meters running round the bend
When the government agents surround you again'
the song is about 'dying young' (word play with 'diane young'). so this section of lines is about going against the law. Setting an expensive car on fire is a pretty great metaphor: it's essentially taking what society considers 'luxury' but then saying 'screw you' to the man and going against the grain.
'Out of control but you're playing a role
Do you think you can go til the 18th hole
Or will you flip-flop the day of the championship?
Try to go it alone on your own for a bit'
When people adopt that way of thinking, it usually comes off as if they're playing it up: aka a role. Can you REALLY live that way? Using a golf metaphor, can you make it all the way to the '18th hole' (going though life) without changing your mind halfway through ('flip-flopping')? With the last line, they ask of people adopting this culture to step back and think about what they really want without any of society's influence.
'Irish and proud, baby, naturally
But you got the luck of a Kennedy
So grab the wheel and keep holding it tight
Til you're tottering off into that good night'
this verse touches on luck, characterizing a person who claims that their Catholic faith is enough to keep them good from dying young. But the lyrics challenge them back by talking about the famous Kennedy family, who were notorious for their 'Kennedy Curse' of dying young, despite their Catholic upbringing. So the lyrics essentially say don't rely on luck: just keep on going through life with a strong head about you, even if you totter along the road.
'Nobody knows what the future holds
And it's bad enough just getting old
Live my life in self-defense
You know I love the past 'cause I hate suspense'
The song finishes off with Vampire Weekend suddenly getting off their high horse on promoting a live fast die young lifestyle. They question: what does the future hold anyway? Deep down, like a lot of society members these days, they cover up their insecurities about death and dying.
'You torched a Saab like a pile of leaves I'd gone to find some better wheels 4, 5 meters running round the bend When the government agents surround you again'
the song is about 'dying young' (word play with 'diane young'). so this section of lines is about going against the law. Setting an expensive car on fire is a pretty great metaphor: it's essentially taking what society considers 'luxury' but then saying 'screw you' to the man and going against the grain.
'Out of control but you're playing a role Do you think you can go til the 18th hole Or will you flip-flop the day of the championship? Try to go it alone on your own for a bit'
When people adopt that way of thinking, it usually comes off as if they're playing it up: aka a role. Can you REALLY live that way? Using a golf metaphor, can you make it all the way to the '18th hole' (going though life) without changing your mind halfway through ('flip-flopping')? With the last line, they ask of people adopting this culture to step back and think about what they really want without any of society's influence.
'Irish and proud, baby, naturally But you got the luck of a Kennedy So grab the wheel and keep holding it tight Til you're tottering off into that good night'
this verse touches on luck, characterizing a person who claims that their Catholic faith is enough to keep them good from dying young. But the lyrics challenge them back by talking about the famous Kennedy family, who were notorious for their 'Kennedy Curse' of dying young, despite their Catholic upbringing. So the lyrics essentially say don't rely on luck: just keep on going through life with a strong head about you, even if you totter along the road.
'Nobody knows what the future holds And it's bad enough just getting old Live my life in self-defense You know I love the past 'cause I hate suspense'
The song finishes off with Vampire Weekend suddenly getting off their high horse on promoting a live fast die young lifestyle. They question: what does the future hold anyway? Deep down, like a lot of society members these days, they cover up their insecurities about death and dying.