The lane next over is always faster
And you wait so long until you're so bothered
But right after you complete your merge
The lane you started in gets going
And while you wait for your luck to change
All you can think of is where you started

You don't like anything on local radio
So you fumble around 'til you land on NPR
And listen to world news

Well, a bomb went off in the parking lot
Of a newly opened Sunni marketplace
And a cloud covers your car at just the right time
For you to see the dark on your face in the mirror

Your phone goes off with a picture of your mother
It's five to six and she can't find your brother
And while normally you'd yell and scream
Instructing her to go and find him on her own
But calmly you're exiting and telling her
That you are headed on your way home

She does not know what to say
Just glad you're on your way home
You turn off your phone in a different tone
As you think the bad feeling so bad makes the good so good

Overall Meaning

Local Natives' "World News" explores themes of frustration, contemplation, and confusion. The lyrics are centered around the idea of being caught in a state of ambiguity, uncertainty, and limbo. The first verse talks about the frustration of waiting in traffic and how you can never seem to pick the right lane. It's a relatable scenario that often leaves us questioning our decisions and feeling bothered. However, just as you finally merge into a new lane, the one you left starts flowing freely.

The second verse references the feeling of being disconnected from the world around us. The singer doesn't like the local radio and switches to NPR to listen to world news. While listening to an update on a bombing, the singer notices a cloud that covers their car and blocks out the sun. This imagery elicits a sense of darkness and weightiness, as if the world's problems are weighing down the singer's own life.

The last verse is a phone call from the singer's mother, who is worried and cannot find the singer's sibling. The singer chooses to calmly exit the situation and assures their mother that they're on the way home. The final line, "the bad feeling so bad makes the good so good", suggests that the singer is trying to find positivity in moments of sadness or frustration.

Overall, "World News" is a reflection on the chaos and uncertainty of the world around us and how we interpret and react to it.

Line by Line Meaning

The lane next over is always faster
No matter what lane you choose, it always seems like the other one is moving faster

And you wait so long until you're so bothered
You become frustrated waiting in traffic and wondering when you will finally get to your destination

But right after you complete your merge
As soon as you finally switch lanes, the one you were in originally starts moving quickly

The lane you started in gets going
The lane you were originally in suddenly starts moving while you are stuck in slow traffic in your new lane

And while you wait for your luck to change
You hope that the traffic will improve and that you will finally start moving quickly

All you can think of is where you started
You regret switching lanes and wonder if you would have been better off staying in the other one

You don't like anything on local radio
You dislike the music and content on the radio stations that play in your area

So you fumble around 'til you land on NPR
You search for a radio station that you find interesting and eventually find NPR

And listen to world news
You tune in and listen to the news from around the world

Well, a bomb went off in the parking lot
The news you hear reports an incident of violence and destruction

Of a newly opened Sunni marketplace
The attack occurred in a newly opened marketplace that serves a specific religious group

And a cloud covers your car at just the right time
As you hear this tragic news, a cloud passes over the sun and temporarily covers your car

For you to see the dark on your face in the mirror
The light changes due to the cloud and you catch a glimpse of your own face in the car mirror, which has a serious expression

Your phone goes off with a picture of your mother
You receive a call from your mother and see her picture pop up on your phone screen

It's five to six and she can't find your brother
Your mother is worried because your brother is missing and she can't find him

And while normally you'd yell and scream
You have a history of getting angry and frustrated in situations like this

Instructing her to go and find him on her own
You would normally tell your mother to take care of the situation herself

But calmly you're exiting and telling her
You are acting calmly and maturely, and you tell your mother that you are on your way home to help

That you are headed on your way home
You are going home to help your mother find your brother

She does not know what to say
Your mother is surprised by your calm and caring response

Just glad you're on your way home
She is relieved that you are coming to help and is grateful for your support

You turn off your phone in a different tone
You feel different than usual and decide to turn off your phone, showing that you are focused on helping your family

As you think the bad feeling so bad makes the good so good
You reflect on how negative experiences can make positive ones even better, and feel good about helping your family in their time of need

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW JEFFREY HAMM, KELCEY PAUL AYER, MATTHEW JAMES FRAZIER, RYAN CLINTON HAHN, TAYLOR DAVID RICE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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