Hudson
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
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The water took its victim's name
The river's rise told Riverside to change their names again
A stranger walked in through the door
Said all apartments are pre-war
We laughed and asked him for his name
He stayed until the end
We watched the Germans play the Greeks
We marked the ninety nine year lease
Our fathers signed
Which I declined to try and comprehend
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has a come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The legendary wooden gate
The first established real estate
Is lost in time like all the crimes
That won this pleasant land
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has a come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
Hudson died on Hudson Bay
But I was born on Sutton Place
The rising tide helped me decide to change my name again
Some men tend to linger on and some make haste from Babylon
Some will roam their ruined home, rejoicing 'til the end
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The lines are drawn
The map is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The lyrics of Vampire Weekend's song Hudson are abstract and layered, steeped in a variety of American historical references. Hudson is most likely Henry Hudson, an English explorer who attempted to find a northern route to Asia, but his ship was trapped by ice and his crew mutinied, leaving him and his son behind in a small boat in Hudson Bay, where he was presumed dead. In the song, the singer mentions that "Hudson died in Hudson Bay, the water took its victim's name," which suggests that the river or bay is named after the explorer. The singer then says, "The river's rise told Riverside to change their names again," indicating that the rise of the river at some point prompted the residents of Riverside to change their name.
The song then shifts to a memory of the singer meeting a stranger who mentioned that all the apartments are pre-war, suggesting that perhaps the people living there are relying on past glories instead of facing the present. The Germans playing the Greeks seems like a reference to a soccer match, but it's impossible to know for sure. The singer then discusses the endless cycles of history, how struggles and stories repeat themselves, stretching from the time of the American colonies ("The legendary wooden gate, the first established real estate") to the present day ("the clock is such a drag"). Hudson serves as a pivot point, both as an elusive historical figure and as an image of the river that runs through Manhattan, the heart of America's financial and cultural power.
In conclusion, the song Hudson is a complex meditation on the cyclical nature of history, memory, and culture. The lyrics are dense and allusive, touching on moments from American history, personal memory, and pop culture, all while being tied together by the haunting image of Hudson and his namesakes. At its core, the song is a reflection on the ways in which we understand our place in the world, how we navigate a constantly changing landscape, and how we find meaning in the midst of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Hudson died in Hudson Bay
There was a death in Hudson Bay and it was named Hudson.
The water took its victim's name
The water claimed the life of the person named Hudson.
The river's rise told Riverside to change their names again
When the water level rose, the people in Riverside had to change their names again.
A stranger walked in through the door
A person, who they didn't know, entered the room.
Said all apartments are pre-war
They were told that all the apartments were built before the war.
We laughed and asked him for his name
They found it funny and asked the person for their name.
He stayed until the end
The person stayed until the end of whatever they were doing.
We watched the Germans play the Greeks
They saw Germans play against Greeks.
We marked the ninety nine year lease
They took note of the ninety nine year lease.
Our fathers signed
Their fathers signed the lease.
Which I declined to try and comprehend
The singer chose not to try and understand the lease.
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
They keep having recurring visions that never seem to stop.
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
Their visions are changing like a prize that is being passed around between people.
The time has a come
The time has arrived.
The clock is such a drag
The clock seems to be moving slowly.
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
People who've changed themselves can band together with the artist.
The legendary wooden gate
A famous wooden gate.
The first established real estate
The first ever established real estate.
Is lost in time like all the crimes
It's in the past, like all the crimes that were committed.
That won this pleasant land
The gate and real estate played a part in obtaining this land.
Hudson died on Hudson Bay
Hudson had passed away on Hudson Bay.
But I was born on Sutton Place
The artist had been born on Sutton Place.
The rising tide helped me decide to change my name again
The water level rising had convinced the singer to change their name again.
Some men tend to linger on and some make haste from Babylon
Some people leave Babylon quickly while others leave it slowly.
Some will roam their ruined home, rejoicing 'til the end
Some people wander around their destroyed house, happy until the very end.
The lines are drawn
The sides are divided.
The map is such a drag
The map is tiresome to deal with.
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
People who've changed themselves can unite with the artist.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher William Tomson, Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind