A devastating backstroke
All the way from France
With shiny, shiny cufflinks
A shirtsleeve to enhance

The pin-striped men of morning
Are coming for to dance
With pure Egyptian cotton
The kids don't stand a chance

You criticize the practice
By murdering their plants
Ignoring all the history
Denying them romance

The pin-striped men of morning
Are coming for to dance
Forty-million dollars
The kids don't stand a chance

I didn't like the business
But that was at first glance
Your pillow feels so soft now
But still you must advance

The pin-striped men of morning
The partners in the dance
The paper's shot to pieces
The kids don't stand a chance

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Joseph Baio, Christopher William Tomson, Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Comments from YouTube:

shay esco

3y↑348

Why can't I find people who like this music in real life!!!

Kevin Humm

I'm the only one in my family who listens to Vampire Weekend, my sister thinks they're music is annoying. 😂😂😂

YaSmIn_ThE_HiJaBi_QuEeN

@Boolooon sameee!!!!!!!!!!!

shay esco

13w

@ando1135 you must live in south florida like me. I mean don't get me wrong I like those genres too but I appreciate all kinds of music even the opera

shay esco

13w

@Riley Telfer lmaoooo

shay esco

13w

@Misty now that's a good music teacher

41 More Replies...

Will Wade

38w↑57

Happy Saturday anyone who reads this. Vampire Weekend, my girl, a fresh bowl, and cutting grass...not a bad start to my weekend.

MasterR209 /

3w↑1

Cheers man.

Jorge Alvarez

15w↑1

cheers

Yahonathan Roden

34w↑7

Not a bad start for anything 😁 Cheers, from one gardener to another

Later Nader

3y↑103

always thought he was saying "the Devil swam in backstroke all the way from France"...that would be a cool line...he says devastating backstroke

Andrea Mannori

27w

mee to

Sophie Reed

32w↑3

@Seng loMein In a remix made with Miike Snow there's another verse at the end of the song that's NOT in the original that goes "The devil puts a dollar into the valets hand, the embassy's now hollow, the kids don't stand a chance".

Seng loMein

32w

when this song came out, I was in the 9th grade. Back then I sang "the devil swam...", and honestly---up until this exact moment , reading your comment, I had never even questioned the lyric

I like the former best, especially the image of a Devilish man of sorts[or HIM], whistling a tune, those shiny cuff-links glistening in the sun reflecting waters, as he performs a devastating backstroke all the from France to The East River of N.Y.C. a magnificent journey of about 2,800mi.

Pectoralis

1y↑3

Nooooooooo why did I read the fuckn comments. I will have 8 beers now and I will forget this.

xx_twiz_xx

2y↑8

Nader and the Trees I like to hear it that way sometimes. You know what I mean?

Dan Day

30w↑19

"WOW" is what I say every time I listen to a Vampire Weekend song. I forget minute-to-minute how great they are.

Kevin Humm

@tominrochester .....

tominrochester

Marijuana affects the memory...

Ballsrog

30w↑2

New album is kinda weak imo

Luckytiger67

2y↑76

Full Volume
Headphones
Midnight

Love it.

aboutusual

31w

6:27am

Ella Lucy

39w↑1

It’s midnight haha and yep

Gian Garcia

42w↑2

I'd have this playing on my sim's jukebox.

Epico

45w

It's 2:20am here :D

Man Fred

3y↑29

10 years later, never stood a chance !

M 8

ohh my golb

infernalcoin s

5y↑76

this song is awesome

Donna Testa

It sure is! 😃🎸

Pectoralis

16w

"The devil something backstroke. All the way from France."

sidgurl21

3y↑33

god im so old

Jamie Downing

can relate

QWEN

2y↑20

If I don't play this song along with an orchestra at least once in my life, that'll be sad.

6elfauno9

4y↑22

I miss you Josh. I'll always remember you.

Shreduardo Yo

1y↑3

I too have a josh

Jake Rowland

2y↑3

I miss josh as well

Richard Henriques

3y↑44

I love the slight reggae theme in this song.

Grim Rider

49w↑1

Sebastian Procaccini enjoy some sting and shaggy. https://youtu.be/bdneye4pzMw

Sebastian Procaccini

51w↑4

police style, simply

MasterR209 /

29w↑3

I came here from Peter rabbit the movie

OrangeD00D

15w

reminds me of when i was in college and deciding what to do with my life... the shiny cufflinks and egyptian cotton sounded nice but i am glad i did not pick that lifestyle.

Luca Gleeson

8w↑1

I come to this song every time things are sucky, guess this is one of those times :/, idk what I'd do without music like this :))

locojray 2

2y↑14

this just might be the greatest song of all time Pure artwork

Wilo Polis

1y↑1

Yeah I forgot how amazing this album was. Contra used to be my favorite but I think this one may have taken that spot

MadMan731

2y↑7

I kind of think the song title is a quasi reference to The Who's The Kids Are Alright.

deathislife

1y↑6

I still have little clue on the meaning behind almost any song on this album, but that doesn't change it being am amazing experience to listen to it whole, and I couldn't think of a better song to end it on.

Marie Top

4y↑29

I love this song so much.

Armund Wolffe

2y↑1

Could there maybe, possibly, be anyone else here from the Endless Summer 2 playlist..?
Probably not. 🤷🏼‍♂️ oh well; sweet solitude for me

A.T. HUSTLE

Like GEazy endless summer?

NYFA LA Post

1y↑5

Billy Passed the third grade
Oh what a wonderful day
When Billy passed the third grade
The billy madison way

Jason Smith

3y↑12

I’m late and this is pointless, but I heard this song in the movie Ferdinand while with my 4 year old son. I had never knowingly listened to Vampire Weekend before and they have since that day, become a favorite of mine. They are such a great band. Them, All 4 One, and Morris Day and the Time. Each brilliant yet each so different.

CORNELIUS INDUSTRIES Music

38w

Once I had this weird dream with this song playing by Tool and its sounds amazing obviusly thats will never happen

Sarah Cander

21w↑3

this song reminds me a lot of the rich boys i went to high school with- wasted away their opportunity to drugs and alcohol. watching them fall from grace broke my heart, still does at times.

Ian Maile

49w

Lover's Town Revisited by Billy Bragg, they're like the same song. Not complaining ha

Eduardo Gimeno

30w↑3

This is the only band i saw life in a festival that sounds the same as studio .... Cool!

Star Surfer

2y↑17

Why are people saying this was stolen? The song release in 2008 and B.O.B releases his in 2010

Christina Jazzy

@bantermeisters idk but I think your right lmao

bantermeisters

12w

Whos bob? Bob the builder?

Codi Carter

2y↑3

Bob is a flat earther too 👎

Its. Daylia

B.O.B ones mean as ay

Ma. de Lourdes Alvarado

Luv this song even though i came here from Peter Rabbit though.

Julika Cuffy

2y↑4

this song deserves more views!

Yousif Slaiwa

5y↑9

i get thrown back to my visit to a brisk Boston spring every time i hear this song.

David Martínez

1y↑4

The lyrics reminds me of any 3 rd culture kid anecdote.

OhWhoopsIt'sMak

1y↑3

1:23 to 1:50 reminds me SO much of the sims 2 omg

John Willis

3y↑5

Reminds me of my childhood

Jake Rowland

Pick a number between 1-10

BlueTeam1

5y↑17

"Denying then romance." Brilliant.

One Twothree

4y↑2

Wicket Ewok hey.... do I know you?

matt gregorek

3y↑5

40 million dollars, most of us dont stand a chance =/.

sour diesel

4y↑2

this song and NE Minneapolis. good times, good times.

Jason Tempel

1y↑1

"But still you must advance
The pin-striped men of morning
The partners in the dance"

Brett Whittick

2y↑2

Loved playing sidewalk chess in Negril...when this album came out...high times indeed...thank you Vampire Weekend.

puffer skhate

4y↑4

Such Beauty...

Warriors Code

2y↑1

Then Romulus said" Senat est"

Saban Bruce

14w

Drop a beat, word!

MM Sizzlak

40w

No other songwriter here or poet or rapper noticed his AA rhyme scheme throughout the entire song???

Baeyoung Lover

1y↑2

This song deserves more love wtf

Kaylee Owens

42w

Pretty good actually

throwsand

4y↑7

Would the instrumental sections be considered contrapuntal? Can't tell if the melodies are rhythmically independent enough, or if one dominates the others enough for it to not really be contrapuntal

Maple Ave

Yes, but only in the section starting around 2:58. Look for multiple melodies going on at the same time instead of accompaniment figures with a single melody. :)

Jessica Cardenas

throwsand good question. Wish I could help you!

Mel Michael

Grownish brought me here

Aaron Moher

Tom Petty, Depot Street.

Euphoric Nebula

2y↑1

Memories.

Teen Boys Group

48w

The Lousy Week aired on June 5, 2018.

Teen Boys Group

48w

Baryoung Lover: No....that aired on October 2, 2000.

Elsa Zavala

Sounds like Crazy Train by Ozzy osbourne

Zack Steinbaum

3y↑2

This really reminds me of The Police

Ezees

2y↑1

Zack Steinbaum

I saw another comment mentioning the police..I don’t get it? Which song ?

Daniel Alvarez

3y↑2

The violin is fucking beautiful.

TeddyBear

4y↑47

Why isn't there 100,000 comments on this thing makes me mad

Brian Cleckner

bluebioshocks looks like someone got reported for being a bully to your comment 😃👍

Brian Cleckner

bluebioshocks dude I feel you! This band is one of the most talented bands of the modern era. They can play their songs in so many different ways and with so many different instruments. Not to mention they sound the same amazingly live as in the studio.

Ryan Smith

3y↑1

Holy fuck, who cares?

Sparks

3y↑1

Well because this isn't the only upload of this song, let alone one of the lesser popular uploads of it

Alex Desmall

bluebioshocks it's surprisingly not that we'll know. I think it's because this whole album (which is great) starts off really really strong but kind of let's up towards the middle. Then people miss this gem.

Joshua Martinez

3y↑13

This is the definition of East Coast music

Oracle Gray

50w↑1

Matthew Petto vampire Weeknd ain’t no damn Swedes

Matthew Petto

You know their Swedes right?

Best Of Both Worlds

3y↑1

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽Awesome

Dwight Buck

38w↑1

I’ll like it

lambotino

4y↑1

why lower the bass when it comes to the chorus ?

j / k gill

probably stylistic choice

Jonathan Gomez

Good job on the song

The Bricker

34w↑4

This band is the proof that there's great music even in modern days. Been a fan for a decade now, this song is one of my personal favourites.

Agnes Holingue

41w

Peter Rabbit!🐰

Pietro Pes

The devils favourite back stroke...

Reaping Reapers

2y↑2

It doesn’t say devil haha it says devastating

Emma Scherer

2y↑10

who else is here from petter rabbit i know im not alone

j / k gill

i was watching it with my mum and younger sister, noticed it and it got stuck in my head so i had to listen to it

Emma Scherer

@jaydon dude yayyyyy !! :DD

Emma Scherer

@Two Crazy Fangirls awesomeness !! :D

Two Crazy Fangirls

@Emma Scherer yup!

Emma Scherer

@Two Crazy Fangirls hey ! you here from peter rabbit too :D ?

3 More Replies...

ando1135

2y↑2

How avante garde

Jovco

1y↑1

Brasil presente! Vampire Weekend é muito underrated por aqui.

•_•

33w

Meu Deus, nem me fale

Daniel Alvarez

3y↑2

😭😭😭

a s h l e y

4y↑2

I absolutely adore this song

CandyGoreButcher

43w↑1

yeah, we probably don't. RIP us 2020

Daniel Roberson

26w

Same, gen Z if fucked

Mel Michael

2y↑2

Grownish brought me here 🙌🏽

J. Brown

12w↑1

They also played this song on, Blackish. When, Zoe goes to college.

maria s

How? I've never watched the show lol

izzie

36w

tractor

killerch33z

2y↑1

beautiful song

David Orh

What about me? The point of this song is that what ultimate punishment does thou wrath sentence upon

1KRAZM F

4y↑24

Sounds like the police

Elizabeth España

2y↑1

I like this song

Wilo Polis

1y↑1

This album brings so much freaking nostalgia, you have no idea

Wilo Polis

@J Strickle Yeah, rediscovering this album as a sophomore in high school makes me feel like I'm in 1st grade/ kindergarten again, listening to songs my parents play on their mix tapes

J Strickle

Can absolutely relate. Takes me back to summer of 2007 every damn time.

Manuel Delacruz

32w

Very catchy

SD SD

1y↑1

Yes

Epico

45w

Yes

David Pilný

45w↑27

Anybody here from COVID-19 Quarantine Party playlist?

CorgiWithABowtie

40w↑1

Lmao, I've been here since I was 2

3dd Visuals

44w

hell yeah im making a playlist and gonna go liv on IG everyone is DJing nothing but high energy, party music which is cool but Im trying to vibe out during quarantine not Party.

Epico

45w

From Spotify??

Reilly Cordy

45w

I guess so!

Tania Pandia

45w

me lol

Flappy Bird Toady and tyler

4y↑3

It reminds me of the time good music was around.

JP-Tough Life

3y↑5

Grownish

J. Brown

12w↑1

Played on Blackish first.

Ian Sawyer

4y↑2

This song makes me angry this is such a rip off of the song uploaded 5 years before this

Clare Annette

2y↑1

Yo B.o.B’s was actually released 2 years after this

Alex Smallex

2y↑5

This song came first though

Alex Waddington

2y↑1

@Jaydan Jeppson I think he means the kids by b.o.b.

Jaydan Jeppson

3y↑2

+Ian Sawyer what song?

Flappy Bird Toady and tyler

4y↑17

This is actual music... Actual music is nothing like our modern music. Such beautiful music is almost impossible to bring back.
:'(

Peri ✨

Flappy Bird Toady and tyler If you like vampire weekend, I recommend Hippo Campus and COIN, they're a little similar. Give them a shot. ♥️

Ariel Gonzalez

I fell the same

Carl Sagan

3y↑2

There's great modern music. Just need to look for it. It's not on the radio.

Pierson Murray

3y↑5

This song and band are still very modern so I don't know what you're talking about

Adam Keels

3y↑8

There is good modern music, you just ignore it because “your music is better.”

3 More Replies...

AJA Inc.

2y↑1

This song was once again okay. I liked how relaxed it was but it got boring towards the end. Overall, this album is a 7.5/10 for me. Some of the tracks were bad but I gotta say the last side was actually pretty nice and gave it a boost up. I’m gonna go listen to the next album hope it doesn’t suck.

AJA Inc.

Davy Roger lol, but posting comments and reviewing the albums make me actually stay with my opinion and puts my thoughts about the topic in order.

Davy Roger

2y↑3

Lol what are you auditioning for pitchfork?

Callie Todd

I think it was stolen from B.O.B. :/ no hate. Just my opinion

Clare Annette

2y↑3

This was released in 2008. B.o.B’s was from 2010 :0

ChaingunCassidy

2y↑5

Look at when both songs were released.
How about actually thinking for once?

Star Surfer

2y↑7

Callie Todd no it wasn’t. This was release in 2008 and BOBs was release in 2010

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