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)
Take The Kids Off Broadway
Foxygen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hang out on the baseline, I take it that you know me
Now that I'm a part of the system so I can't afford to get stoned right
They said maybe if I'm good I'll get my head smashed to the fridge
Well I wouldn't mind Pepsi Cola, put it to my lips
But surreal, the kids are victims
You know how the peoples talk
I said I'll see you later but I'm a business man
Walking down 30th Boulevard
Jesus walking down Hollywood boulevard
Under the crown
Take the kids off Broadway
Take the kids off Broadway
Take the kids off Broadway
Take the kids off Broadway now
Flipping through the Bible, the richer lay on
Oh I see
Take the kids off Broadway
Take the kids off Broadway
Take the kids off Broadway
Ooo, and they'll be standing in the corner
Take the kids off Broadway now
Ooo, and now they're roaring in the bedroom
Yea yea oh
You used to be walking on the water
Now you're falling in the river
You used to save my soul
Now you got no place else to go
And I do it all the time
Cause you're just hanging with those other guys
You used to sht to cover me
And I know it was you
The lyrics to Foxygen's "Take The Kids Off Broadway" paint a vivid picture of an individual who is caught between two worlds. On one hand, the singer is a part of the "system" and can no longer afford to get stoned. On the other hand, they long for surreal experiences and a Pepsi Cola to quench their thirst. The kids in the lyrics are portrayed as victims of a society that talks about them but doesn't necessarily care for them. The singer is a business person walking down Ten Feet Boulevard and 30th Boulevard while Jesus walks down Hollywood Boulevard under the crown.
The chorus "Take the kids off Broadway" is sung multiple times, emphasizing the idea that the environment is not safe for children. Flipping through the Bible, the richer lay on, adding a religious connotation to the song. The lyrics about walking on water and saving souls seem to suggest that someone the singer trusted has let them down, leaving them with no place else to go.
Overall, the song paints a picture of youthful disillusionment and the struggle to find a place in a society that doesn't seem to care. The tone is both whimsical and melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that you're wasted I think that you should know
I need to tell you something important now that you're drunk
I hang out on the baseline, I take it that you know me
I'm a familiar face around here, always hanging out in the background
Now that I'm a part of the system so I can't afford to get stoned right
I can no longer afford to be a rebel because I'm part of the establishment now
They said maybe if I'm good I'll get my head smashed to the fridge
They told me that if I'm obedient, I'll get my head banged on the fridge as a reward
Well I wouldn't mind Pepsi Cola, put it to my lips
I wouldn't mind some Pepsi right now, it's refreshing
But surreal, the kids are victims
It's surreal to see that the kids are being taken advantage of
You know how the peoples talk
You know how gossip spreads around here
I said I'll see you later but I'm a business man
I can't spend too much time here because I have to focus on my business
Besides, I'm walking down Ten Feet Boulevard
I have places to be and things to do, I'm on a mission
Walking down 30th Boulevard
I'm accustomed to moving around in this area
Jesus walking down Hollywood boulevard
Even Jesus walks on this busy street, it's a common sight
Under the crown
Although I'm important now, I'm still under authority
Take the kids off Broadway
Remove the youngsters from this area
Flipping through the Bible, the richer lay on
I'm looking through the Bible and I see the wealthy people mentioned
Oh I see
Now I understand
Ooo, and they'll be standing in the corner
The kids will be standing in the corner, out of sight
Take the kids off Broadway now
It's urgent that we move the children away from here
Ooo, and now they're roaring in the bedroom
The kids are being rowdy and noisy in their bedrooms
Yea yea oh
Just expressing some agreement, nothing specific
You used to be walking on the water
You used to be able to do amazing things, like walking on water
Now you're falling in the river
Now you're struggling and failing, like drowning in a river
You used to save my soul
You used to help me spiritually
Now you got no place else to go
Now you have nowhere to turn to for help
And I do it all the time
I constantly make the same mistakes
Cause you're just hanging with those other guys
Because you're spending time with the wrong crowd
You used to sht to cover me
You used to protect me, cover me
And I know it was you
And I'm aware that it was only because of you
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Jonathan Rado, Sam France
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind