Night Shop is the songwriting project of American musician Justin Sullivan … Read Full Bio ↴Night Shop is the songwriting project of American musician Justin Sullivan (Ringers, Worriers, The Babies).

Sullivan worked as a touring drummer for twenty years, much of which was spent playing house shows, warehouses and art spaces with a half dozen DIY punk bands, including Ringers and an early incarnation of Worriers.

In 2009, he joined The Babies alongside Kevin Morby and Cassie Ramone. When the band went on hiatus in 2013, Sullivan moved to Los Angeles with Morby and continued working with him as a staple of the live band and playing on all of Morby’s studio albums. In the meantime, Sullivan also formed the fuzz punk outfit Flat Worms, with Tim Hellman of Oh Sees and Will Ivy. But in the middle of a tour in August of 2016, Sullivan realized the rigors of the road had grown to be too much. He made the decision to take a full calendar year away from touring and focus, for the first time, on writing his own music.

The Cafe of Eternal Youth
Night Shop Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know who but I heard them say, I spent my youth in a small cafe.
We were all running wild with a dream in our heads.
And somehow I never seemed to get over it.
Let me stay inside this work of life.
At least for a while.
For 20 odd years, I've been working this shift. I sit in the corner and let my mind drift. Thinking about those people I don't see no more. And how I'd love to watch them all walk through the door. Chairs on the tables and I'm still here. Mark another year.
I don't take advice from the people who are so concerned with their pace.
Just because I'm moving slowly doesn't mean I'm running in place.

I was half dead on a mountaintop and all I saw were stars.
People say they like the quiet a lot but I prefer the boulevard.
I want to hear the noise, I want to hear the sound. Even when it's too loud.
I don't mind. I'm alive.
I've done it again. Always fall in love with the wrong person.
I promise to be good I will not rock the boat.
I promise to be good I will not tell a soul.
But if we ever meet on the astral plane, only then I'll say your name.
I don't take advice from the people who laugh at the ways of the youth.
Just because you forgot something doesn't mean it wasn't true.

Some left it all behind. I guess I don't know their circumstance. But it never made much sense to me. The people make the sound so the sound is all of us.
I wanna see, I want to feel it all. I want to know about the people I don't know.

Overall Meaning

"The Cafe of Eternal Youth" by Night Shop reflects on the passage of time and nostalgia for the past. The singer contemplates their youth spent in a small café, where they were full of dreams and ran wild with their friends. Despite the years that have passed, the singer seems stuck in the memories of that time, unable to fully move on from it. There's a sense of longing to remain in that youthful moment, even if just for a while, as they reflect on the people who have come and gone over the years.

The lyrics convey a sense of resignation to the routine of life, with the singer having worked the same shift for 20 years, lost in their thoughts about the past. The café setting serves as a symbol of continuity amid change, with chairs remaining empty and another year passing by. There's a bittersweet nostalgia in the singer's musings, as they yearn to see familiar faces walk through the door once more, highlighting the sense of longing and nostalgia for the past.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of individualism and resisting societal pressures to conform or move at a certain pace. The singer rejects advice from those who are too focused on speed and instead embraces their own slow, deliberate pace. They find beauty in the noise and chaos of life, preferring the bustling boulevard to quiet solitude. This defiance against societal expectations underscores a desire to live authentically and fully experience all that life has to offer, even the challenges and complexities.

Lastly, the song delves into themes of love, promises, and the passage of time. The singer laments repeatedly falling for the wrong person, promising to keep secrets and maintain stability. However, there's a sense of vulnerability in the admission that only in the ethereal realm will they speak the beloved's name. The lyrics suggest a contemplation of relationships, personal growth, and the inevitable changes that come with time. Ultimately, the singer expresses a curiosity and yearning to connect with others, to understand the unknown and feel the complexities of human experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't know who but I heard them say, I spent my youth in a small cafe.
Despite not knowing who said it, I reminisce about spending my youth in a quaint cafe.

We were all running wild with a dream in our heads.
Everyone was full of ambition and dreams when we were young.

And somehow I never seemed to get over it.
Even now, I can't seem to move past those memories.

Let me stay inside this work of life. At least for a while.
Allow me to hold onto this sense of nostalgia amidst the daily grind, if only temporarily.

For 20 odd years, I've been working this shift. I sit in the corner and let my mind drift.
I've spent two decades working the same job, lost in my thoughts in a corner.

Thinking about those people I don't see no more. And how I'd love to watch them all walk through the door. Chairs on the tables and I'm still here. Mark another year.
Reflecting on those I've lost touch with, longing to see them again. As time passes, I remain in the same spot, marking another year.

I don't take advice from the people who are so concerned with their pace.
I disregard guidance from those solely focused on their own speed and progress.

Just because I'm moving slowly doesn't mean I'm running in place.
My pace might be gradual, but I am still making progress in my own way.

I was half dead on a mountaintop and all I saw were stars.
In a moment of despair, I found solace in the beauty of the stars above.

People say they like the quiet a lot but I prefer the boulevard.
While some enjoy peace and solitude, I find comfort in the lively atmosphere of the city streets.

I want to hear the noise, I want to hear the sound. Even when it's too loud.
I crave the hustle and bustle, embracing the cacophony even at its peak.

I don't mind. I'm alive.
Despite the chaos, I appreciate being present and experiencing life in all its forms.

I've done it again. Always fall in love with the wrong person.
Repeatedly, I find myself drawn to individuals who are not the right match for me.

I promise to be good I will not rock the boat.
I make a vow to behave and avoid causing any disruptions or conflicts.

I promise to be good I will not tell a soul.
I commit to keeping secrets and not sharing them with anyone.

But if we ever meet on the astral plane, only then I'll say your name.
In a realm beyond the physical, I would only speak your name if our paths crossed.

I don't take advice from the people who laugh at the ways of the youth.
I disregard guidance from those who mock the innocence and dreams of the younger generation.

Just because you forgot something doesn't mean it wasn't true.
Merely because a memory fades, it does not invalidate its authenticity.

Some left it all behind. I guess I don't know their circumstance. But it never made much sense to me. The people make the sound so the sound is all of us.
While some abandoned their past, I struggle to comprehend their reasoning. The collective experiences of individuals shape the essence of our existence.

I wanna see, I want to feel it all. I want to know about the people I don't know.
I yearn to fully experience life and understand those I have yet to encounter.

Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Justin Sullivan, William Joseph IV Siemens

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS