The bands’ debut release is described as The Fall meets Neil Young- which all makes sense on the band’s debut release, “American Specialties”. The quartet wanders through the American and British underground, picking away their favorite parts with confidence. The lyrics, when intelligible, are bizarre and dramatic. “She looked at me like a fry pan reducing,” moans Savage, from the same lustful subconscious built by the darker moments of psychedelia. Then at times, such as on the 70’s folkish “Square States”, thoughts are more sentimental and transparent. The setting for “American Specialties” ranges from a crusty Brooklyn bodega, to an endless Texas desert. If these sorts of soundscapes appeal to your mind, then you're sure to stumble upon Parquet Courts sooner or later.
Careers in Combat
Parquet Courts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are no more art museums to guard
The lab is out of white lab coats
Cause there are no more slides and microscopes
But there are still careers in combat, my son
There are still careers in combat, my son
There are no more roles on TV shows
There are no spots left for park ranger
Cause there are no bears left to save you from
But there are still careers in combat, my son
There are still careers in combat, my son
The lyrics to "Careers in Combat" by Parquet Courts are a commentary on the state of the American job market and the limited opportunities available to young people. The first verse references traditional summer jobs for teenagers, such as lifeguarding and working at an art museum, which are no longer readily available. The lab is also out of supplies, indicating a lack of funding and resources for scientific research. The second verse continues with the theme of limited job opportunities, with references to TV shows and park ranger positions, which are no longer available due to a lack of demand or resources.
The line "there are still careers in combat, my son" is a pointed critique of the military-industrial complex and the role that war plays in job creation. The idea that young people should turn to combat as a career option when other opportunities are not available speaks to the way in which war is often justified by politicians as a means of creating jobs and boosting the economy. The repetition of this line throughout the song highlights the grim reality that, for many young people in America, combat may indeed be the only viable option for a career.
Line by Line Meaning
There are no more summer lifeguard jobs
The job market has changed, and there is no longer a demand for summer lifeguards
There are no more art museums to guard
The art museums no longer need security guards as it might have been replaced by other security measures
The lab is out of white lab coats
The lab might have closed because there is no more funding or because there is no more research to conduct in these labs
Cause there are no more slides and microscopes
There is no longer any research to conduct with slides and microscopes, or the science industry has moved on to different technologies
But there are still careers in combat, my son
Although there are no jobs left in traditional fields, there is a perpetually ongoing demand for soldiers and military personnel, which is not ideal but always open
There are no more roles on TV shows
The entertainment industry has changed and there is no longer a demand for certain types of TV shows or roles
There are no road-cone dispensing jobs
The construction or road maintenance industry might have changes and no longer require road-cone dispensers or personnel to work on road maintenance
There are no spots left for park ranger
The job of a park ranger has become increasingly uncommon or has been eliminated because of budget cuts or changes in the tourism industry
Cause there are no bears left to save you from
The job of the park ranger was to help protect people from endangerment or harm from animals that are no longer a threat due to changes in migration, habitat, or protection laws
But there are still careers in combat, my son
The military industry is continuously hiring military personnel, which can be an alternative choice for job seekers in fields that previously held no vacancies
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW CHRISTOPHER SAVAGE, AUSTIN BROWN, MAX SAVAGE, SEAN YEATON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind