Advice to the Graduate
Silver Jews Lyrics
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Leave your name and number
And we'll get back to you
Sleep on your back and ash in your shoes
And always use the old sense of the words
Your third drink will lead you astray
Wandering down the backstreets of the world
On the last day of your life
Don't forget to die
The things that you do
Will always make your mama cry.
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
The new men
So you've got no friends and you wander through the night
And now you watch the sunrise through a rifle-sight
Well, don't believe in people who say it's all been done
They have time to talk because their race is run
So get in some licks
And hold your head up
And soon you'll be drinkin' from that crystal cup
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
Good morning to the new world
The lyrics of Silver Jews's "Advice to the Graduate" can be interpreted as a mix of life advice and sarcastic commentary on societal norms. The first two lines suggest that if someone wants to reach out to the singer, they should leave a message with their contact information. Then the advice turns more philosophical and perhaps cynical, with the command to "sleep on your back and ash in your shoes." This may mean that one should be comfortable with discomfort and always be ready to leave a situation behind. The next line, "always use the old sense of the words," advises staying true to the meanings of words and not getting lost in societal jargon.
The line "your third drink will lead you astray" suggests that one must be careful with imbibing, and the following line - "wandering down the backstreets of the world" - alludes to the potential for getting lost and taking a wrong turn. The phrase "on the last day of your life, don't forget to die" is morbid but perhaps meant to motivate one to live life fully. The final line, "the things that you do will always make your mama cry," adds a dash of guilt and obligation to the advice.
The song then moves to a verse that may refer to the struggles of finding oneself in a new place. The singer has "no friends" and roams the streets at night while watching the sunrise through a "rifle-sight." The line "don't believe in people who say it's all been done" could mean that one should remain open to new experiences and opportunities. The chorus continues with the phrase "I know you got a lot of hope for the new men," which could refer to the singer's belief in those who are trying to make changes in the world.
Overall, the lyrics of "Advice to the Graduate" can be interpreted as a mix of life advice and societal commentary. The words can be seen as a cynical yet motivational take on how to navigate life's curveballs.
Line by Line Meaning
If you got a message
If you receive a message
Leave your name and number
Provide your name and contact information
And we'll get back to you
We will contact you in response to your message
Sleep on your back and ash in your shoes
Sleep in one position and don't bother cleaning your shoes
And always use the old sense of the words
Use archaic definitions of words
Your third drink will lead you astray
After your third drink, you will make poor decisions
Wandering down the backstreets of the world
Walking aimlessly through lesser-known areas
On the last day of your life
At the end of your life
Don't forget to die
Remember to pass away
The things that you do
Your actions
Will always make your mama cry.
Will always upset your mother
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
I understand that you are optimistic about
The new men
New people or new leaders
So you've got no friends and you wander through the night
If you have no friends, you might walk alone at night
And now you watch the sunrise through a rifle-sight
You now look at the sunrise through the lens of a weapon
Well, don't believe in people who say it's all been done
Don't trust those who claim that everything has been accomplished
They have time to talk because their race is run
They are idle because they have already completed their task
So get in some licks
Try hard and persevere
And hold your head up
Stay confident and positive
And soon you'll be drinkin' from that crystal cup
You will eventually enjoy success and luxury
Good morning to the new world
Greetings to the promising future
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brandon Grant🌿
[Lyrics]
(Rest easy, Dave)
----------------------
If you got a message
Leave your name and number
And we'll get back to you
Sleep on your back and ash in your shoes
And always use the old sense of the words
Your third drink will lead you astray
Wandering down the backstreets of the world
On the last day of your life
Don't forget to die
The things that you do
Will always make your mama cry.
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
The new men
So you've got no friends and you wander through the night
And now you watch the sunrise through a rifle-sight
Well, don't believe in people who say it's all been done
They have time to talk because their race is run
So get in some licks
And hold your head up
And soon you'll be drinkin' from that crystal cup
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
Brandon Grant🌿
[Lyrics]
(Rest easy, Dave)
----------------------
If you got a message
Leave your name and number
And we'll get back to you
Sleep on your back and ash in your shoes
And always use the old sense of the words
Your third drink will lead you astray
Wandering down the backstreets of the world
On the last day of your life
Don't forget to die
The things that you do
Will always make your mama cry.
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
The new men
So you've got no friends and you wander through the night
And now you watch the sunrise through a rifle-sight
Well, don't believe in people who say it's all been done
They have time to talk because their race is run
So get in some licks
And hold your head up
And soon you'll be drinkin' from that crystal cup
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
Well, I know you got a lot of hope for
The new men
vi
malkmus’ vocals are so good and berman was a lyrical genius. this song could easily be on crooked rain, crooked rain. rest easy, david. i miss you a lot.
warship satin
the vocal melodies, even david's part, is pure pavement
Adam Stein
At a loss for words. Rest in peace.
J Adams
This cd is so fk'n great Malkmus helps take the whole thing to a different level of awesomeness!
markrr99
RIP David berman
I wanna cry
Forest BirdGirl
Let's cry together friends
Méchant Manu
Rusty Shackleford it’s my fifth drink and We all got all of HOPE for
Andrew McDonnell
And always use the old sense of the word.
Rest easy, man. X
M Mundle
On his last day, he did not forget to die. RIP