New West
Cult of Youth Lyrics
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Their laughter is their folly and their statues never stand
The values of a man can never change
He yields them when he speaks his lover's name
We took them from above, as bird with broken back
His scene was in the wind, his eggs had never hatched
His scent was so peculiar, so fragile was his frame
He charmed them with the malice of a child
Whose dignity had since been running wild
He is the sunlight over you when crops are screaming rain
He is the willing servant of those in need of pain
A witness to the eyesight of the blind
He is a burning question in the mind
A whisper to a scream, as prelude to a dream
Remembrance to the lost, he's come to melt the frost
With hatred in his eyes, and a love that never dies
His beauty never fades, without it he decays
So pray the end comes quickly boy, and sturdy up that spine
Just know that he has reached you with every glass of wine
He sullies you with reason and he tempts you with his glance
And kisses you with crimson just to lead you by the hand
Just know that he is at your door tonight
Just know that he is at your heels tonight
The lyrics to Cult of Youth's song New West are complex and multi-layered, with various possible interpretations. The opening lines, "Have mercy on their children for they play with idle hands / Their laughter is their folly and their statues never stand", suggest a critique of a society that values productivity over play and creativity. The image of statues never standing could refer to the ephemeral nature of youth and the constant pressure to achieve something lasting. The chorus, "The values of a man can never change / He yields them when he speaks his lover's name", seems to suggest the idea of romantic love as a key motivator for men, who may otherwise be resistant to change.
The verses are more cryptic, referencing a bird with a broken back, a man whose scent is peculiar and frame is fragile, and a "willing servant of those in need of pain." These images could be interpreted as various forms of vulnerability, which the singer seems to be observing with a mix of fascination and horror. The final lines, "He sullies you with reason and he tempts you with his glance / And kisses you with crimson just to lead you by the hand / Just know that he is at your door tonight / Just know that he is at your heels tonight", suggest a foreboding sense of danger or temptation. The "he" in these lines could be interpreted as various things, from a literal person to a metaphor for destructive impulses or dark desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Have mercy on their children for they play with idle hands
Pity the children of those who don't work and engage in useless activities
Their laughter is their folly and their statues never stand
Their joy is foolishness and their attempts at greatness are always unsuccessful
The values of a man can never change
Men's principles are unchanging
He yields them when he speaks his lover's name
However, he abandons them when he talks about his romantic partner
We took them from above, as bird with broken back
We acquired them from someone who was hopeless and injured, like a bird with a broken wing
His scene was in the wind, his eggs had never hatched
His fate was unpredictable, and he never had the opportunity to fulfill his potential
How strange that she should know him, if only by a name
It's curious that she understands him, even if only by his name
His scent was so peculiar, so fragile was his frame
He had an unusual fragrance and was physically delicate
He charmed them with the malice of a child
He won them over with a child-like evilness
Whose dignity had since been running wild
Whose self-respect had been out of control lately
He is the sunlight over you when crops are screaming rain
He is the positivity that shines through in difficult times
He is the willing servant of those in need of pain
He is the one who embraces hurting individuals
A witness to the eyesight of the blind
He saw what others didn't
He is a burning question in the mind
He is an unsettling question in people's minds
A whisper to a scream, as prelude to a dream
From a whisper to a scream, leading to a dream
Remembrance to the lost, he's come to melt the frost
He brings warmth to those who feel lost and abandoned
With hatred in his eyes, and a love that never dies
He has both hate and love inside him that never fades
His beauty never fades, without it he decays
He is undeniably attractive, and without it, he slowly deteriorates
So pray the end comes quickly boy, and sturdy up that spine
Hope for an end to come soon, and be strong
Just know that he has reached you with every glass of wine
Be aware that he has affected you with every sip of wine
He sullies you with reason and he tempts you with his glance
He uses logic to contaminate your thoughts and lures you with his gaze
And kisses you with crimson just to lead you by the hand
He kisses you superficially just to get you to follow him
Just know that he is at your door tonight
Just be aware that he will visit you tonight
Just know that he is at your heels tonight
Just be aware that he is approaching you closely tonight
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.