Their music initially featured many influences from 60s psychedelia, played with a rough lo-fi abandon. They self-released several EPs and albums between 2007 and 2011, including "30 track space opera" Jurassic Exxplosion Philippic, most of which are by now scarcely available. In 2011, they met producer/songwriter Richard Swift after handing him one of their EPs, and Swift would go on to work with them for some subsequent albums. After being signed to Jagjaguwar Records, Take the Kids Off Broadway, was released as their debut album on July 24, 2012. On January 22, 2013, they released their second album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic. This album was produced by Richard Swift and recorded at his National Freedom studios.
For each album Foxygen 'chooses' a different era in music history to focus themselves on. We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic is based on the sixties, ...And Star Power was seventies and their newest release Hang is based on the forties.
Album discographyJurrassic Exxplosion Phillipic (2007)Take the Kids Off Broadway (2011)We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (2013)...And Star Power (2014)Hang (2017)Seeing Other People (2019)
Follow The Leader
Foxygen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in love with you
Babe, but you never (Never gonna be what I want)
No, you're never gonna be (Never gonna be what I want)
Yeah, I was shotgunned lovers on the avenue
Yes, it's true, he's much too old for you
Babe, but you never (Never gonna be what I want)
No, you're never gonna be (Never gonna be what I want)
I know sometimes everyone wants to be someone else
So follow the leader
Follow the leader
Follow the leader and the leader is you
Yeah, follow the leader
Follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
(Hot flash!) Fun in the summertime
There's no better way to spend our time, baby
But that's never (Never really what's it's about)
No, no, no, no, that's never really what it's about
Oh yeah, I know what you're thinking
You could never get me to cheat on you
Babe, but it's never (Never really what's it's about)
Stop making me feel (Never really what's it's about)
I know sometimes everyone wants to be someone else
Oh, you people know that's true, yeah
So follow the leader
Follow the leader
Just follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
Follow the leader
Follow, follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
The lyrics to Foxygen's song Follow The Leader are full of contradictory feelings and confusion about the relationship between the singer and the person they are addressing. The singer starts with declaring their love for the person they are talking to, but at the same time acknowledges that this person is "never gonna be what I want," implying that they have doubts about the compatibility of their relationship. The second verse is similarly mixed up, with the singer accusing the person of "making me feel" but also denying that cheating is what "it's about."
Despite this confusion, the chorus provides a potential solution to the issues in the relationship: "follow the leader, and the leader is you." Instead of trying to change each other, the singer suggests that they both try to be true to themselves and follow their own instincts. The repeated phrase "follow the leader" could be seen as sarcastic or incredulous, as if the singer doesn't actually believe in this approach, but it could also be interpreted as a genuine attempt to come to terms with their differences.
Overall, Foxygen's Follow The Leader is a complex and somewhat cryptic song about the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. The singer's conflicting emotions and self-doubt are conveyed through the lyrics, while the chorus presents a potential way forward that may or may not be successful.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby, you know it's true
This person is telling their partner that they love them.
I'm in love with you
The person is expressing that they love their partner.
Babe, but you never (Never gonna be what I want)
The person is frustrated with their partner because they can never be exactly what they want.
No, you're never gonna be (Never gonna be what I want)
The person is reiterating that their partner will never be exactly what they want.
Yeah, I was shotgunned lovers on the avenue
The person is reflecting on a past relationship when they and their lover were inseparable.
Yes, it's true, he's much too old for you
The person is discussing a previous lover that their partner was too young for.
I know sometimes everyone wants to be someone else
The person acknowledges that there are times when everyone wishes they could be someone else.
So follow the leader
The person is saying that people should follow the lead of someone who they believe is a good role model.
Follow the leader
The person is repeating the phrase to emphasize that people should follow someone who sets a good example for them.
Follow the leader and the leader is you
The person is suggesting that the best person to follow is oneself.
Yeah, follow the leader
The person again emphasizes the importance of following someone who sets a good example.
Follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
The person reiterates that people should look to themselves as a guide.
(Hot flash!) Fun in the summertime
The person is reminiscing about a good time they had.
There's no better way to spend our time, baby
The person believes that there is no better way to spend time than having fun.
No, no, no, no, that's never really what it's about
The person realizes that having fun is not always the ultimate goal.
Oh yeah, I know what you're thinking
The person is aware of what their partner is thinking.
You could never get me to cheat on you
The person is reassuring their partner that they would never cheat on them.
Babe, but it's never (Never really what's it's about)
The person doesn't want their partner to think that cheating is the issue.
Stop making me feel (Never really what's it's about)
The person is asking their partner to stop making them feel guilty for something they didn't do.
Oh, you people know that's true, yeah
The person is addressing everyone to acknowledge that sometimes people want to be someone else.
Just follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
The person is emphasizing that people should look to themselves as a guide.
Follow, follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
The person repeats the phrase to underscore its importance.
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
The person ends the song with a nonsense phrase that feels like a refrain.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Jonathan Rado, Sam France
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
F G
LYRICS:
Hey baby, you know it's true
I'm in love with you
Babe, but you never (Never gonna be what I want)
No, you're never gonna be (Never gonna be what I want)
Yeah, I was shotgunned lovers on the avenue
Yes, it's true, he's much too old for you
Babe, but you never (Never gonna be what I want)
No, you're never gonna be (Never gonna be what I want)
I know sometimes everyone wants to be someone else
So follow the leader
Follow the leader
Follow the leader and the leader is you
Yeah, follow the leader
Follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
Fun in the summertime
There's no better way to spend our time, baby
But that's never (Never really what's it's about)
No, no, no, no, that's never really what it's about
Oh yeah, I know what you're thinking
You could never get me to cheat on you
Babe, but it's never (Never really what's it's about)
Stop making me feel (Never really what's it's about)
I know sometimes everyone wants to be someone else
Oh, you people know that's true, yeah
So follow the leader
Follow the leader
Just follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
Follow the leader
Follow, follow the leader and the leader is you, yeah
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
¡Yes Droid!
no se como llegue aquí pero me iré con un gran sabor de boca, increíble canción !
Trainee Mind
ey que onda parcero, me gustan tus videos de juegos offline
Gabriel Doe
A lot of people are hating on Sam's vocals, but I think his voice really works well with the track. honestly I think his vocals are really what make foxygen stand out from all the other modern psychedelic rock bands.
waz 312
They're genuinely soulful vocals, I'm sick of white kids singing like Tame Impala or Chet Baker, its as tired as everyone sounding like Eddie Veddar in the 90s
Zach Smith
I wish I could sound like that angelic man
Blusk
@Zach Smith lol i love this song because it reminds me of the old times
Roncho Rivera
@user there is only so much you can do with the western world diatonic "scale". You cite Van Morrison(who is also a badass!), but almost everything diatonic was was already completed by Classical composers, Elvis, Hank, and John/Paul. Its incredibly easy to accidentally rip off anything western hemisphere. Some will say "but, but..blues started it all...". It did start the future of pentatonic. Credit those dudes for Zepplin, White Stripes, RATM, Clapton, ACDC, and the god forsaken Black Keys(they rip off bands on purpose). Thats my informative rant lol. Peace, rock on!
fanofflan
@Roncho Rivera I'll never buy that there can't be anything new just based on combos a lone but who knows what could happen the 60s had to develop but it started somewhere. I believe in the power of good music and that it's actually pretty simple to not be a copy of something just gotta keep trying ☮️
Gordon Landreth
First time hearing these guys and I must say they have a sweet , polished sound . A catchy arrangement , great bass line with classy horns and strings put this song up on a very high level . Throw in a romantic , upbeat and hopeful theme you have it - a great song . Well done Foxygen !
sfgooner70
GREAT TRACK! PEOPLE PLEASE BUY THIS ALBUM SO THIS GUY CAN AFFORD A T-SHIRT THAT FITS HIM!!