Born Ruffians released their first album under their current name in 2006. The self-titled EP was followed by the 2008 release of ”Red, Yellow & Blue”. Their sophomore album was critically well received, earning an Independent Music Awards nomination for Pop/Rock Album of the year. In 2010, Born Ruffians released their second full-length album, ”Say It”.
In April of 2013, the band released another LP, titled ”Birthmarks”, with Yep Roc and Paper Bag Records.
Kurt Vonnegut
Born Ruffians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to let me know that I can fall apart
No one wants to hear the birtds sing...
Morning's near
Day will soon become night again my dear
I don't want to know the pain of a broken heart
I always know to stop before it starts
Just keep dancing, keep smiling
Even if it feels wrong
It's not the place, nor the time
Nor that I can't keep you mine
Your smile, my smile
Our faces mash a while
"Tiger got to hunt bird got to fly
Man got to sit and wonder why, why, why
Tiger got to sleep bird got to land
Man got to tell himself he understand"
Got to fly
It's not the place, nor the time
Nor that I can't keep you mine
Your smile, my smile
Our faces mash a while
Won't you come outside, love
Won't you come outside?
Won't you please be mine, love
Won't you come outside?
The song "Kurt Vonnegut" by Born Ruffians is a reflection on the ups and downs of love and relationships. The first verse deals with the desire to experience heartbreak, as a way of testing one's own emotional resilience. The singer longs to know that they are capable of falling apart, and therefore capable of putting themselves back together again. However, in the second verse, the perspective shifts, and the singer admits that they don't actually want to experience heartbreak. They don't want to hear love songs that remind them of pain and loss. Instead, they want to focus on the present moment, and keep dancing and smiling, even if it feels uncomfortable.
The chorus repeats the refrain "It's not the place, nor the time, nor that I can't keep you mine." Here, the singer is acknowledging that sometimes love just doesn't work out, and it's not always anyone's fault. The bridge of the song features a quote from Kurt Vonnegut, one of the most famous and revered American writers of the 20th century. The quote is "Tiger got to hunt bird got to fly / Man got to sit and wonder why, why, why / Tiger got to sleep bird got to land / Man got to tell himself he understand." This quote, from Vonnegut's book "Cat's Cradle," reflects the idea that humans are often caught up in their own thoughts and worries, but animals are in tune with their instincts and just do what comes naturally to them.
Overall, "Kurt Vonnegut" is a song that explores the complexities of love, and the way that our emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming and hard to understand. It's a reminder that sometimes it's important to just live in the moment, and not get too caught up in our own heads.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to feel the pain of a broken heart
I want to experience heartbreak to know if I can handle it.
Just to let me know that I can fall apart
Feeling heartbreak can help me realize that I am not invincible and can break down.
No one wants to hear the birds sing...
The sound of birds chirping may not bring joy or comfort to everyone.
Morning's near
The night is almost over and daylight is close.
Day will soon become night again my dear
Time keeps moving forward and the cycle of day and night will happen again.
I don't want to know the pain of a broken heart
I prefer to avoid feeling heartbreak altogether.
I always know to stop before it starts
I try to prevent myself from getting too attached or invested in someone to avoid future heartbreak.
No one wants to hear the boy sing love sick songs
People may not enjoy listening to someone who is lovesick and expressing their emotions through music.
Just keep dancing, keep smiling
It's better to put on a façade of happiness than to express sadness or heartbreak.
Even if it feels wrong
Sometimes it's necessary to do things that don't feel good or natural.
It's not the place, nor the time
The situation is not right for what is being hoped for or wished for.
Nor that I can't keep you mine
I'm not unable to make you mine, but the situation is not in our favor.
Your smile, my smile
The exchange of smiles between us.
Our faces mash a while
Our faces briefly touch or come close together.
Got to fly
The bird needs to take off and leave.
"Tiger got to hunt bird got to fly
Man got to sit and wonder why, why, why
Tiger got to sleep bird got to land
Man got to tell himself he understand"
Nature has its own inherent ways of functioning and human beings often try to rationalize or understand it, even if they can't.
It's not the place, nor the time
Same as earlier in the song, the situation is not right.
Nor that I can't keep you mine
Same as earlier in the song, I could potentially make you mine, but circumstances are not in our favor.
Won't you come outside, love
Asking the person to join me outside.
Won't you come outside?
Repetition to emphasize the invitation to go outside together.
Won't you please be mine, love
Asking for the person to be in a romantic relationship with me.
Won't you come outside?
Same as earlier in the song, reiterating the invitation to go outside together.
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Indieexploration
I like it better because the music sounds less garbled and indistinct and also I prefer that the words are less clear.
@bingcom5250
This is cool!! Are these real stems?
@Indieexploration
Are stems a bicycle part? This photo is of an old bicycle used as decoration in front of a chocolatier in my hometown. Both gone, now.
@bazingabot27
@Indieexploration stems are the isolated components of a recording i.e. vocals, guitar, drums, etc
@fbbg_clone1919
What version is this? This one gets the first page link when searching the song.
@iseedreams
Ali, thanks!
@dynaboyjl.4220
this version is worse. but it's more pained, more agonized. and some of that is alright
@dynaboyjl.4220
definitely just that the vocals are less polished, me from 6 years ago. i like the more crisp and layered version better, but if you don't, to each your own
@YarrBr0
good pic
@cheeselovingtree
I hate this version. The words seem different and I can't make them out.