The band's sound is generally a mix of staccato bass and rhythmic, harmonized guitar, with a snare heavy mix, drawing comparisons to post-punk bands such as Joy Division and The Chameleons.
The band formed in 1997 when Daniel Kessler met drummer Greg Drudy, previously a member of post-hardcore/screamo band Joshua Fit For Battle and Hot Cross, on the New York University campus. Kessler later added Carlos D. on the bass after meeting him in a history class. The line-up was complete after Kessler ran into Paul Banks, a friend whom he had met in Paris. In 2000, Sam Fogarino, whom the band knew through his job at a local record store, replaced Drudy. Carlos Dengler, who was responsible for bass and keyboards, left the band in 2010, and hasn't been replaced, but announced various names to help them perform live.
The band released Direction on the soundtrack of the television program 'Six Feet Under' on June 28, 2005. Shortly thereafter they left Matador for a major label.
Our Love to Admire was released on July 10, 2007 in the USA (July 9 in the UK) to generally favorable reviews. The Heinrich Maneuver was its first single.
Their self-titled LP was released on September 7th 2010 and the tracks Barricade , Summer Well , Lights , and Try It On have been issued as singles. After this album, the bassist Carlos Dengler has lefted the band.
El Pintor is the fifth Interpol's album and was released in September 8th 2014 with 5 singles, All the Rage Back Home, Ancient Ways. My Desire, Anywhere and Everything is Wrong. The album's name is an anagram for Interpol.
The last 2 Interpol's albums are Marauder (2018) and The Other Side of Make-Believe (2022) .
Leif Erikson
Interpol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It helps with the lights out
Her rabid glow
Is like braille to the night
She swears
I'm a slave to the details
But if your life is such a big joke
Why should I care?
The clock is set for nine
But you know you're gonna make it eight
So that you two can take some time
Teach each other to reciprocate
She feels that my sentimental side
Should be held with kids gloves
But she doesn't know
That I left my urge in the icebox
She swears
I'm just prey for the female
Well then hook me up and throw me baby cakes
'Cause I like to get hooked
The clock is set for nine
But you know you're gonna make it eight
All the people that you've loved
They're all bound to leave some keepsakes
I've been swinging all the time
Think it's time I learned your way
I picture you and me together
In the jungle it will be okay
I'll bring you when my lifeboat
Sails through the night
That is supposing that
You don't sleep tonight
It's like learning a new language
Helps me catch up on my mind
If you don't bring up those lonely parts
This could be a good time
It's like learning a new language
You come here to me
We'll collect those lonely parts
And set them down
You come here to me
She says brief things
Her love's a pony
My love's subliminal
She says brief things
Her love's a pony
My love's subliminal
In Interpol's song Leif Erikson, the singer seems to be in a relationship with a woman who finds solace in the darkness - the lights out. Her "rabid glow" serves as a guide for the singer through the night, much like braille. She believes that the singer is too caught up in the details of their relationship, but the singer wonders, if life is nothing but a big joke, why should they even care? The clock is set for nine, but they will make it eight to spend more time with one another and learn to reciprocate.
The singer then admits that his sentimental side should be treated with kid gloves, but his urge has been left in the icebox. The woman believes that he is just a prey for the female gender, but the singer enjoys being hooked. They both acknowledge that they have loved ones who will eventually leave keepsakes behind, and the singer expresses a desire to learn her ways and be with her even in the jungle.
The singer sees their conversation as a way of learning a new language that can help him catch up on his mind. He hopes that they can bring their lonely parts together and have a good time. The woman then says brief things - her love's a pony, while the singer's love is subliminal.
Line by Line Meaning
She says
The singer is referring to someone who is saying brief things.
It helps with the lights out
The woman in question is referring to a certain activity that makes her feel better during dark times.
Her rabid glow
The woman has an overpowering passion that pierces even the darkest night.
Is like braille to the night
The woman's intensity can be felt by someone even in complete darkness.
She swears
The woman is making a firm declaration about something she strongly believes in.
I'm a slave to the details
The singer is admitting that they are someone who is meticulous about every little thing.
But if your life is such a big joke Why should I care?
The singer is questioning why they should care about someone else's life if that person is not taking it seriously.
The clock is set for nine
The artist is referring to a certain time of day.
But you know you're gonna make it eight
The artist is suggesting that the person they are talking to will arrive one hour earlier than expected.
So that you two can take some time Teach each other to reciprocate
The two people will use this extra hour to teach and learn from each other about how to give and take equally.
She feels that my sentimental side
The woman has an opinion about the singer's emotional side.
Should be held with kids gloves
The woman believes that the artist's emotional side is delicate and should be handled with care.
But she doesn't know That I left my urge in the icebox
The singer is implying that the woman doesn't know the full extent of their own emotions and desires.
I'm just prey for the female
The singer is implying that they are an easy target for women to pursue romantically.
Well then hook me up and throw me baby cakes 'Cause I like to get hooked
The singer is inviting the women to pursue them and become romantically involved because they enjoy that type of interaction.
All the people that you've loved
The artist is referring to the people the woman they are talking to has been romantically involved with before.
They're all bound to leave some keepsakes
The artist is implying that these people will leave a lasting impact or take something with them after the relationship ends.
I've been swinging all the time
The singer has been fluctuating between different emotions and experiences for some time.
Think it's time I learned your way
The singer is suggesting they could learn from the woman's way of life because it would be positive for them.
I picture you and me together In the jungle it will be okay
The artist is imagining themselves and the woman in a difficult situation, the 'jungle', yet believes it would be okay as they would be together.
I'll bring you when my lifeboat Sails through the night
The artist is suggesting that in a difficult situation, like a stormy night, they will be there to rescue and comfort the woman.
That is supposing that You don't sleep tonight
The artist acknowledges that whether they are able to help or not is dependent on the woman's state of mind; whether she can keep herself awake and aware.
It's like learning a new language
The singer is drawing a comparison between certain activities or experiences and the process of learning a new language - meaning it takes time, practice and patience.
Helps me catch up on my mind
The artist is suggesting that by learning this new thing, they will be able to become more aware of their own mind, its processes and emotional state.
If you don't bring up those lonely parts, This could be a good time
The singer believes that if the woman allows herself to be vulnerable, then they could have a good time, and she could feel better.
You come here to me
The singer is inviting the woman to approach them, to come closer.
We'll collect those lonely parts And set them down, You come here to me
The singer is telling the woman that they will help her gather and lay to rest her emotional struggles, if she comes close and lets them help her.
Her love's a pony, My love's subliminal
The artist is referring to two different types of love: The woman's love is wild and galloping like a pony, whereas the artist's love is more understated and hidden - or subliminal.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carlos Andres Dengler, Daniel Alexander Kessler, Paul Julian Banks, Samuel J Fogarino
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind