Written, produced and engineered by themselves, their debut album was released in 2007, receiving glowing reviews and earning a spot on Get Out's top 10 local albums. Later that year, they were named Best Rock Band of Phoenix (Phoenix New Times). Their single In The Music reached No. 9 on South Africa's influential TuksFM top 40.
Currently recording their second album, Kongos is releasing a single a month -- the first two have been: It's a Good Life and Come With Me Now.
"It's rare to be in on the ground floor of something that doesn't sound like anything else you might've heard before ..." (Phoenix New Times)
"Kongos sounds like no other band, not just in the Valley, but in the whole of mainstream rock music ..." (Get Out)
"Kongos are bound to make it big. Their songs are radio-ready and they have a frickin' kickin' accordion!" (Music-Critic.com)
Sites: Kongos.com (official)
Kids These Days
Kongos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They don't have respect
They just talk on those cellphones
And listen to their tape cassettes
It's what that teacher said
With disgust in every breath
His students listened carelessly
He said it with such conviction
Whether truth or fiction
And it went
Round and round
They'd reinvent the wheel
Watch it spin and marvel
At the breakthrough
They had found
Another war to end all wars
Depressions are no more
Gravity works on occasion
It won't always bring you to the floor
It's a Spanish questionnaire
Conquest through love affair
A trillion here or there
I'm sure it'll work with a little prayer
He said it with such conviction
Whether truth or fiction
And it went
Round and round
They'd reinvent the wheel
Watch it spin and marvel
At the breakthrough
They had found
They'd reinvent the wheel
Watch it spin and marvel
At the breakthrough
They had found
He said it with such conviction
Whether truth or fiction
And it went
Round and round
They'd reinvent the wheel
Watch it spin and marvel
At the breakthrough
They had found
They'd reinvent the wheel
Watch it spin and marvel
At the breakthrough
They had found
The lyrics of KONGOS's Kids These Days express the frustration and disappointment of an older generation with the youth of today. The song begins by lamenting the lack of respect kids have for their elders, as they constantly talk on their cellphones and listen to music on tape cassettes. It then moves on to describe a teacher's futile attempt to inspire and educate his students, who are too jaded and indifferent to appreciate his efforts. The teacher uses examples of scientific and historical breakthroughs to try and engage his pupils, but they remain uninterested and unimpressed. The song ends with a repetition of the refrain, emphasizing the cyclical nature of this frustration and disappointment.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the cyclical nature of generational conflict, with each new generation struggling to understand and respect the values and experiences of those that have come before. The lyrics suggest that while the specifics of each conflict may change, the underlying tension remains the same, with each new generation reinventing the wheel and marveling at their own supposed breakthroughs.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh kids these days
The current generation of kids is being judged for their behavior and habits.
They don't have respect
The kids are perceived as lacking good manners and etiquette.
They just talk on those cellphones
Kids are observed spending too much time on their smartphones.
And listen to their tape cassettes
The song is referencing a time when physical music was still in use, suggesting kids are out of touch with current technology.
It's what that teacher said
The song shifts to describing a scene in a classroom, where a teacher is complaining about kids’ attitudes.
With disgust in every breath
The teacher was speaking with disappointment and exasperation about what he saw as negative apathy.
His students listened carelessly
Despite the teacher's passion, the students were not engaged in the lecture.
They were easily unimpressed
The kids didn't seem to care about the topic, not even in the slightest bit.
He said it with such conviction
The song reiterates the teacher's strong tone and he was confident in his criticisms regardless of its validity.
Whether truth or fiction
The song is uncertain about whether the teacher's comments were entirely true or just his opinion.
And it went Round and round
The comments were being spread around among the community.
They'd reinvent the wheel
Instead of learning from the past, the kids are seen as trying to find new answers to old questions.
Watch it spin and marvel
The kids were excited about each new discovery, even if it was nothing new or beneficial.
At the breakthrough, They had found
The kids had a sense of accomplishment from finding something that they believed to be true, regardless of reality.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL LEE KONGOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robin Martz
they harmonize really well, and they are flawless with their delivery. What a gift they have!!
Neil Johnston
Just heard you guys for the first time on the radio (Come With Me Now), now I'm a fan =) great job guys.
la muchacha #nomejoda
me too ... they are amazing!!!!
Jacob Lucas
These guys are ridiculously good.
Shlok Sharma
This song is easily their best
HeeHee HooHoo
Uuhhhh I'M ONLY JOKING ANYONE?????
andrea mathis
@Saltyoven ditto. amazing. in your head all day .
Ivan Zapata
@Saltyoven Couldn't have put it in better words...
Saltyoven
Easily? There is no best song. They're all amazing!
Geoff Peters
Love this band & love this song! I find myself listening to it on repeat quite often, it reminds me of Queens of the Stone Age circa Lullabies to Paralyze - but with an accordion!