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The Neighbors
St. Vincent Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sister, say a prayer for us
One we learned from nuns and such
I won't believe, not a word you speak
Just make it sweet to hear

Let's pour wine in coffee cups
And drive around the neighborhood
And shine the headlights on houses
Until all the news is good

Oh no! What would your mother say?
Oh no! What would you father do?
Oh no! What would the neighbors think?
Oh no!

How am I supposed to sleep?
Roaming blackouts on the street
Oh, not a word, not another speech
We'll run the headlights down

These kids are foaming at the mouth
Psychotropic capricorns
Tomorrow's some kind of strangerland
Where all the news is good

Oh no! What would your mother say?
Oh no! What would your father do?
Oh no! What would the neighbors think?
Oh no! If they only knew

How can Monday be alright
Then on Tuesday, lose my mind?
Tomorrow's some kind of stranger
Who I'm not supposed to see

Oh no! What would your mother say?
Oh no! What would your father do?
Oh no! What would the neighbors think?
Oh no! If they only knew, knew

Overall Meaning

In "The Neighbors," St. Vincent seems to be singing about escaping reality and the pressures of conformity by indulging in a little decadence and adventure. The lyrics evoke a sense of rebellion, with the singer dismissing the traditional values and expectations of their family and community. The opening lines suggest a disconnect between the singer and their upbringing, with the prayer they ask for being one that they "learned from nuns and such" instead of their family. This line could be interpreted as a dig at the rigidity of religious institutions or the hypocrisy of religious families.


From there, the lyrics describe a scene of drinking and driving through the neighborhood, with the characters shining their headlights on houses and enjoying the novelty of doing something forbidden. The repeated refrain of "oh no" seems to reflect the fear of getting caught or the guilt that comes with acting outside of social norms. The final verse contains some cryptic imagery, with the "psychotropic capricorns" and "strangerland" suggesting the singer has transcended normal reality and entered into some kind of alternate dimension where anything is possible.


Overall, "The Neighbors" seems to be a celebration of breaking free from the constraints of society and the comfort zone of one's upbringing. The song encourages listeners to step outside of their own lives and take a walk on the wild side, even if it means doing something risky or unconventional.


Line by Line Meaning

Sister, say a prayer for us
Asking for support and guidance in a time of distress from someone who is knowledgeable and trusted.


One we learned from nuns and such
Referring to a religious or learned practice that has been ingrained in one's upbringing.


I won't believe, not a word you speak
Showing cynicism and distrust towards someone or something.


Just make it sweet to hear
Requesting that the words spoken sound comforting or pleasing to the ear, regardless of their veracity.


Let's pour wine in coffee cups
An unconventional suggestion to have some fun in a lighthearted way.


And drive around the neighborhood
Implying that there is nothing to do and one is restless or bored.


And shine the headlights on houses
Engaging in a playful, mischievous activity that is not harmful, but unconventional or juvenile.


Until all the news is good
Indicating a desire to ignore anything negative or unpleasant and focus only on positive things.


Oh no! What would your mother say?
An expression of worry or concern about the opinion or judgment of a parental figure.


Oh no! What would you father do?
A similarly worried or concerned expression, directed towards a male parental figure.


Oh no! What would the neighbors think?
An expression of concern about what others in the community might say or think about one's activities or behavior.


How am I supposed to sleep?
Expressing worry or anxiety that is causing insomnia or restlessness.


Roaming blackouts on the street
Describing a chaotic or disorienting environment, where one feels lost or disconnected from reality.


Oh, not a word, not another speech
A request for quiet and respite from someone who is talking too much or too loudly.


We'll run the headlights down
Imagining oneself as driving a car, using up its power and energy in an aimless way.


These kids are foaming at the mouth
Describing someone as being overly excited or hyped up, to the point of appearing unstable or dangerous.


Psychotropic capricorns
An abstract phrase referencing astrology and drugs, meant to convey a sense of confusion or disorientation.


Tomorrow's some kind of strangerland
Expressing a sense that the future is uncertain or unfamiliar, with an undertone of anxiety or fear.


Where all the news is good
Finding comfort or solace in the idea that the future may be better or brighter than the present.


How can Monday be alright
Expressing dissatisfaction or dissonance with the concept of weekday routines and obligations.


Then on Tuesday, lose my mind?
Continuing the previous thought, suggesting that daily life can be unpredictable and confusing.


Oh no! What would your mother say?
Repeating the earlier expression of worry, but now with greater emphasis and urgency.


Oh no! What would your father do?
Similarly reiterating the earlier expression of worry, with an increase in stress and anxiety.


Oh no! What would the neighbors think?
Continuing the repeating theme of concern for how one's actions or behavior might be judged by others in the community.


Oh no! If they only knew, knew
Returning to a sense of worry and anxiety that others might know or discover negative things about oneself, and what the consequences of that might be.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANNE ERIN CLARK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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