Hippo Campus was formed in 2013 by Jake Luppen (lead vocals & guitar), Nath… Read Full Bio ↴Hippo Campus was formed in 2013 by Jake Luppen (lead vocals & guitar), Nathan Stocker (lead guitar & vocals), Zach Sutton (bass & keys) and Whistler Allen (drums & vocals) after the four-piece met at the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.

Their first EP was released that same year, but was taken down when 2015 EPs Bashful Creatures and South was dropped.

The band's first LP, landmark was released in early 2017, and was followed by warm glow (EP). During this time, DeCarlo Jackson (trumpet, bass & percussion), who had been in a band with Nathan and Whistler in high school, started touring with the band.

In 2018, the band released their second LP, Bambi.

vines
Hippo Campus Lyrics

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I see meaning where you don't, where you don't
I see waves of pastel orange and yellow paintings fire
I see futures that you won't, that you won't
I see futures where our nights are lost to condensation

Night time in the basement, screaming about our feelings
Running through the cold air, searching for a meaning
Passed out on the concrete, dizzy from the spinning

Wake up to the feeling that everybody's leaving

I'm sick of your come downs, sick of your truth, sick of your way
I'm sick of your tragedy that's living in our stasis
I'm sick of your echoes, sick of these ghosts that haunt our place
I get the feeling that I'll never leave this house again

Night time in the basement, screaming about our feelings
Running through the cold air, searching for a meaning
Passed out on the concrete, dizzy from the spinning
Wake up to the feeling that everybody's leaving

Everybody's leaving
Everybody's leaving

Failed by design, slow your pace down to mine
Watch my back, heave a sigh
Keep it safe, make it right

Failed by design, slow your pace down to mine
Watch my back, heave a sigh
Keep it safe, make it right

Night time in the basement, screaming about our feelings
Running through the cold air, searching for a meaning

Passed out on the concrete, dizzy from the spinning
Wake up to the feeling that everyone is leaving

Overall Meaning

The song "Vines" by Hippo Campus is a tale of two people with distinctly different outlooks on life. While the singer sees beauty and potential in the world around them, the person they are addressing seems mired in negativity and despair. The singer describes the vivid colors of pastel orange and yellow in what appears to be a sunset, but it is clear from the context that the other person does not share their appreciation of this beauty. The singer also envisions a future where the nights are filled with the kind of condensation that forms from hot breaths in cold air, suggesting a sense of intimacy and passion.

Despite the beauty that the singer perceives, there is an underlying sense of frustration and unease in the song. The lyrics describe a scene of chaos and confusion, with the two people shouting and searching for meaning in a cold basement. They are worn out and dizzy from their efforts, and the singer wakes up to a feeling that everybody is leaving. The chorus repeats this sense of abandonment, with the singer feeling trapped and unable to move forward. Overall, "Vines" is a poignant exploration of how two people can view the same world so differently, and how this can lead to a sense of isolation and despair.

Line by Line Meaning

I see meaning where you don't, where you don't
I perceive significance in situations that you do not.

I see waves of pastel orange and yellow paintings fire
I envision a colorful and vibrant future that is exciting and full of possibilities.

I see futures that you won't, that you won't
I foresee outcomes that you are unable to imagine happening.

I see futures where our nights are lost to condensation
I imagine that our future nights will be spent alongside each other, made up of deep conversations and heart-felt thoughts.

Night time in the basement, screaming about our feelings
When we are together in the dimly lit basement, we hash out our emotions, yelling all that we feel.

Running through the cold air, searching for a meaning
We explore outside the comfort of the basement, hurriedly coming to terms with our place in the world.

Passed out on the concrete, dizzy from the spinning
Our journey leads to exhaustion where we fall, unable to balance on our own from the commotion of everything.

Wake up to the feeling that everybody's leaving
When we come to, our reality is filled with the sense of abandonment as people start to inevitably drift away.

I'm sick of your come downs, sick of your truth, sick of your way
I am tired of your letdowns, the harsh realities you share and the way you have gone about things.

I'm sick of your tragedy that's living in our stasis
Your dismal situation has rooted itself amid our stillness, corroding our sense of well-being.

I'm sick of your echoes, sick of these ghosts that haunt our place
Your repetitive remarks and the way they linger have become a source of terrible unease for me.

I get the feeling that I'll never leave this house again
There is a sense that once I step out of this place, overcoming the comfort and pain, I might never return to who we were.

Failed by design, slow your pace down to mine
Our existence is flawed, so slow down and walk with me for a brief moment.

Watch my back, heave a sigh
Be mindful of yourself and then take a deep breath, letting it all sink in and take over.

Keep it safe, make it right
Be cautious with what the future holds, ensure that we are prepared and things are put in place properly.

Wake up to the feeling that everyone is leaving
The realization dawns that everyone in our life is gradually wandering away from us, perhaps never to return.

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Whistler Isaiah Allen, Jake Michael Luppen, Nathan Todd Stocker, Zach Mark Sutton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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