New Slang
The Shins Lyrics

Gold teeth and a curse for this town
The singer has gold teeth and feels cursed living in this town.

Were all in my mouth
Their gold teeth and the feeling of being cursed are both internalized by the singer.

Only I don't know how they got out, dear
The singer doesn't know how their internalized struggles have become apparent to others.

Turn me back into the pet
The artist wants to go back to a simpler time when they were happier.

I was when we met
This simpler time was when the artist first met someone special.

I was happier then with no mindset
The singer was happier when they weren't overthinking things.

And if you took to me like a
If the special person in the singer's life accepted and loved them fully,

Gull takes to the wind
then the artist would have felt free and unburdened.

Well, I'd've jumped from my trees
They would have been so happy that they would have done something silly like jumping from a tree.

And I'd've danced like the king of the eyesores
The artist would have danced with joy, not caring about how they looked.

And the rest of our lives would've fared well
Their life together would have been prosperous and happy.

New slang when you notice the stripes
The artist uses metaphors to describe new wisdom they've gained in life.

The dirt in your fries
This wisdom is that life isn't always perfect and can sometimes include metaphorical dirt in places you wouldn't expect.

Hope it's right when you die, old and bony
The singer hopes that their lessons will be worth it in the end because they are now old and wise.

Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall
The start of a new day is powerful and unstoppable like a charging bull.

Never should have called
The artist regrets making a phone call.

But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely
The artist is feeling depressed and alone.

Godspeed, all the bakers at dawn
The singer wishes goodwill upon hardworking bakers at the start of their day.

May they all cut their thumbs
This is an expression for good luck.

And bleed into their buns 'til they melt away
This good luck will help their work process go smoothly and not be too taxing.

I'm looking in on the good life
The artist feels like they are on the outside looking in on the lives of people who have everything they wish they had.

I might be doomed never to find
The artist feels like they may never get to experience the good life for themselves.

Without a trust, a flaming field
The singer needs someone to trust during difficult times.

Am I too dumb to refine?
The artist questions whether they aren't smart enough to improve themselves.

And if you took to me like
The singer emphasizes that if that special someone really loved them, as they are,

Well, I'd've danced like the queen of the eyesores
they would have been so happy they would have danced with joy, not caring how they looked.

And the rest of our lives would've fared well
A final reminder that their life together would have been happy and fulfilled.