They led us on
They said it would be yours
Tear down the borders, stop patrolling the shores
Let us in
We wrote a winter song
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Don't shelve the opera,
You've been working this long on it
Twelve years on the Eastside
And still so house proud

All the neighborhood angels
Are humming the psalms (hum along)
To themselves again
Oh, they seem to think that when you show up
You'd look good in somebody's arms

Oh, you should have been a clerk
You should have stayed a stranger
You should have just done the work
But it's too late now, school's out

Wildcats, you were supposed to go wild
Butchers, you shouldn't be obsessed with a child
Now Diorama Pete thinks he just sunk the fleet
Much like him, you know I live to be cornered
So come on

Hey, Easterner, open your mouth
Don't speak in tones
I know there's beauty in the bones of the dam that burst
I know you look good in the shadow of the diamond monger's thirst
But get out

To the west there is an ocean
There's a mountain on the right
Now will you walk away
Or take the blame for the unfortunately-named
Children of this day, children of this night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to this song by Destroyer, called "This Night," contain a lot of imagery related to borders, identity, and belonging. The first stanza seems to be giving voice to immigrants or refugees who have been led to believe they will find safety and acceptance in a new place, only to be confronted with more walls and guards. The line "we wrote a winter song" could be interpreted as an expression of the desire to create meaning and connection in a cold, lonely place.

The following lines take a turn toward a more personal, artistic struggle. The singer urges the listener not to give up on their own creative work, even if it seems like it will never be finished or appreciated. The mention of being "house proud" could suggest a sense of accomplishment, but also a certain confined or stagnant feeling.

The second half of the song gets more confrontational and surreal, with references to wildcats, butchers, and a character named Diorama Pete. The line "you were supposed to go wild" could be aimed at people who have become too regimented and conventional, while the "child" obsession could suggest something darker. The mention of living to be cornered could be interpreted as a sort of self-destructive urge.

The final stanza ends on a more philosophical note, with the singer addressing an "Easterner" and urging them to speak up and take responsibility. The imagery of the ocean and mountain suggest a border between two worlds, with the choice to either walk away or accept the blame for the "children of this night." Overall, the song seems to be grappling with ideas of identity, creativity, and moral obligation.

Line by Line Meaning

They led us on
We were convinced and guided

They said it would be yours
They promised you ownership

Tear down the borders, stop patrolling the shores
Remove the barriers and let us in freely

Let us in
Allow us to join you

We wrote a winter song
We composed a song for the season

Come on, come on, come on, come on
Encouraging you to act and move forward

Don't shelve the opera
Don't abandon the great work you've done

You've been working this long on it
You've invested so much time and effort on it

Twelve years on the Eastside
A long time spent in a particular area

And still so house proud
Still proud of where you come from and your home

All the neighborhood angels
Everyone who is spiritually connected in the community

Are humming the psalms (hum along)
Singing and praying together

To themselves again
Indulging in self-reflection

Oh, they seem to think that when you show up
They believe that when you arrive

You'd look good in somebody's arms
You'd be attractive to others

Oh, you should have been a clerk
You should have chosen a different profession

You should have stayed a stranger
You would have been better off as an outsider

You should have just done the work
You should have focused on completing tasks

But it's too late now, school's out
It's too late to change anything

Wildcats, you were supposed to go wild
You were expected to be daring and adventurous

Butchers, you shouldn't be obsessed with a child
You shouldn't be fixated on something insignificant

Now Diorama Pete thinks he just sunk the fleet
Someone believes they caused a major problem

Much like him, you know I live to be cornered
Just like that person, I thrive under pressure

So come on
Let's do this

Hey, Easterner, open your mouth
Speak your mind

Don't speak in tones
Communicate clearly

I know there's beauty in the bones of the dam that burst
There's something attractive in the aftermath of destruction

I know you look good in the shadow of the diamond monger's thirst
You thrive under the pressure of tough situations

But get out
Leave and start fresh

To the west there is an ocean
A vast body of water lies to the west

There's a mountain on the right
There's an imposing mountain on the right side

Now will you walk away
Will you choose to leave?

Or take the blame for the unfortunately-named
Be accountable for the unfortunate events and outcomes

Children of this day, children of this night
The young people affected by the consequences of these events

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