Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a Brooklyn and Philadelphia-based indie-rock ba… Read Full Bio ↴Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a Brooklyn and Philadelphia-based indie-rock band lead by Alec Ounsworth. Until 2012, the band also consisted of Lee Sargent, Robbie Guertin and Tyler Sargent. The band also featured drummer Sean Greenhalgh until 2014. All the band members attended Connecticut College, in New London, Connecticut, United States.

Their debut album, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, recorded by Adam Lasus (Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo/the dirt of luck), was self-released in 2005, receiving attention from numerous MP3 blogs and a favorable review from Pitchfork Media, who gave the band a "Best New Music" commendation. The ensuing demand for the album was so great that the band were forced to re-press the CD, as the initial production run was too small. David Bowie and David Byrne were subsequently spotted at some of the band's shows, garnering them even more press. They also received praise from Rolling Stone as the 'Hot New Band' for 2005. On October 3, 2005, they were signed to Wichita Recordings in the UK.

The band released their second album, Some Loud Thunder on January 29, 2007, in the UK, and January 30, 2007, in the United States. On September 18, 2007, Live at Lollapalooza 2007: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was released on iTunes. It features the band's complete live set from Lollapalooza, professionally recorded on August 4, 2007.

May 2011 brought news the third album, reassuring fans that they had not broken up. The band released Hysterical, produced by John Congleton, on September 12 in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia, and on September 20 in the United States. It was announced via a post on the band's official website with a video of the band rehearsing a few new songs from the album in the studio. A vinyl reissue of a remastered edition of the first album, released on June 14, 2011, was also announced. A music video for "Maniac" was made by Belgian director Pieter Dirkx. It was released on September 14, 2011.

On August 1, 2013 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah digitally released their EP Little Moments on their Bandcamp page. It consisted of four songs, two of which were to be included in a different form on their forthcoming LP, Only Run. Little Moments featured a new sound for the band that included a heavier reliance on synths and drum machines and fewer guitars. The band recorded the EP in Alec Ounsworth's home studio, mixing and mastering the EP themselves. Additionally, 500 10 inch vinyl EPs were put on sale on the band's Bandcamp page.

On December 31, 2013 the band announced via email the completion of their forthcoming album called Only Run with a release date of June 3, 2014. Its first single, Coming Down, featured vocals from The National's Matt Berninger.

Yankee Go Home
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Try Jamaica
Think they'll take you
Honolulu
How do you do?
I'll make a quick stop
My fair-lady pill pop
Before catching the bus to good lord knows where's what
Falling out of line

I'm calling upon North Carolina to help me out here

Salad nicoise
Good to meet you
Carcasonne hon
Stands next to no one
The rake at the door has been taking a tour of this tar (and) feather land and good lord knows that I am now
Falling out of line
I'm calling upon North Carolina to help me out again

They Say
Yankee go
Yankee go home
The gas prices are getting higher
As the rain falls upon dry land
Yankee go Yankee go home

Senses burn man
When the deck-hand

Plays a flute which
Reminds me of you oh
But there's a land in the distance
That might have some patience
And girls who are singing or strangers and sailors
There are gunfights
There are neckties
A little history
A little sunlight
Alright

They said
Yankee go
Yankee go home
Yankee go
Yankee go home
The gas prices are getting higher
As the rain falls upon dry land
Yankee go
Yankee go home

papa said
Papa said
Pa said get used to it
Pa said get used to it

Pa said it gets so goddamn hard but I get used to it
Pa said get used to it

Overall Meaning

The song Yankee Go Home by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a commentary on the American culture of imperialism and the destructive effects it has had on other countries. The lyrics suggest the idea that Americans often feel entitled to travel and conquer different parts of the world, without realizing the harm they cause. The first verse talks about how the singer is planning to travel to different exotic locations such as Jamaica and Honolulu, exploring the world without any thought for the people who inhabit these places.

As the song progresses, the singer starts to feel guilty and disillusioned with this lifestyle. They start to see the consequences of their actions and the impact they have on the people they encounter. The line "Yankee go home" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a reminder that Americans should not impose their beliefs and values on other cultures. The chorus reflects the irony of American power, with the implication that the more power the country holds, the more negative its impact on the world.

The song also talks about the singer's personal struggles and the advice given to them by their father. The line "Papa said get used to it" suggests that the singer is meant to ignore their feelings of guilt and continue with their destructive lifestyle. Ultimately, the song is a call to action, urging Americans to be more self-aware and conscious of the impact they have on the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Try Jamaica
Consider going to Jamaica

Think they'll take you
Wondering if they will accept you there

Honolulu
Thinking about going to Honolulu

How do you do?
Greeting someone

I'll make a quick stop
Stopping briefly

My fair-lady pill pop
Refers to taking medication

Before catching the bus to good lord knows where's what
Leaving without a definite plan

Falling out of line
Straying from the expected path

I'm calling upon North Carolina to help me out here
Asking for help from someone or something

Salad nicoise
Ordering a salad

Good to meet you
Nice to meet you

Carcasonne hon
Thinking about Carcassonne

Stands next to no one
Being unique or different

The rake at the door has been taking a tour of this tar (and) feather land and good lord knows that I am now
Experiencing a harsh or difficult environment

They Say
People are saying

Yankee go
Go back to the U.S.

Yankee go home
Go back to the U.S.

The gas prices are getting higher
Gas prices are increasing

As the rain falls upon dry land
Experiencing a drought

Senses burn man
Feeling overwhelmed

When the deck-hand
On a ship

Plays a flute which
Hearing music

Reminds me of you oh
Thinking of someone

But there's a land in the distance
Seeing a new opportunity

That might have some patience
Possibly a place to find peace

And girls who are singing or strangers and sailors
Meeting new people