1901 has received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with Pitchfork Media's Jason Crock saying it is "just as smooth and spirited and dementedly catchy as any of their best singles." In October 2009, 1901 ranked number 228 in Pitchfork's list of "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s," the fifth-highest placement on the list amongst 2009 songs. The NME's Gavin Haynes praised the song's "rave-like stop-go guitars," while Evan Sawdey of PopMatters said it might be Phoenix's "finest song to date." The song was ranked number two on Spin magazine's list of the "20 Best Summer Songs of 2009."
The song's popularity has expanded into multiple media. Phoenix performed 1901 on television programs such as The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, Late Show with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and MTV's It's On with Alexa Chung. The song was also featured in episodes of Gossip Girl and Melrose Place, the trailer for the film New York, I Love You, a television advertisement for the 2010 Cadillac SRX, and is included on the soundtrack to the NBA 2K10 video game.
1901
Phoenix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Past and present, they don't matter
Now the future's sorted out
Watch her moving in elliptical pattern
Think it's not what you say
What you say is way too complicated
For a minute, thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
It's twenty seconds 'til the last call, going, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
I lie down, you know it's easy like we did it all summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more, going "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
It's not a miracle we needed, and no I wouldn't let you think so
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Girlfriend, oh, your girlfriend's drifting away
Past and present, 1855-1901
Watch them build up a material tower
Think it's not gonna stay anyway, I think it's overrated
For a minute, thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
It's twenty seconds 'til the last call, going, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
I lie down, you know it's easy like we did it all summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more, going "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
It's not a miracle we needed, and no I wouldn't let you think so
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
The lyrics to Phoenix's song "1901" reflect on time and how the past and present don't matter because the future is sorted out. The singer watches someone moving in an elliptical pattern, realizing that what they say is too complicated, and briefly struggling to figure out how to "fall out." The singer is then distracted by the last call, reminiscing about how easy things were in the past summer and how they would be anything the person asks for.
The idea of time and change is heightened when the singer mentions the girlfriend drifting away, alluding to the past in 1855-1901. The building of a material tower represents trying to create something that won't last, and how it's overrated to do so. The repetition of "fold it" at the end could represent the singer trying to regain control and taking ownership of their life.
Overall, the lyrics explore the fleeting nature of time and how reminiscing on the past won't bring it back. The singer is more concerned with the present and future, reminding themselves to fold and shape their life in a meaningful way.
Line by Line Meaning
Counting all different ideas drifting away
Reflecting on the many thoughts and concepts that are slowly fading out of focus
Past and present, they don't matter
Acknowledging the pointlessness of dwelling on past and current situations
Now the future's sorted out
Feeling more confident about what's to come
Watch her moving in elliptical pattern
Observing a girl's mysterious, circular movements
Think it's not what you say
Realizing that words are not always representative of one's true feelings or intentions
What you say is way too complicated
Finding it hard to understand what someone is trying to communicate
For a minute, thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
Briefly feeling unsure about how to escape a situation
It's twenty seconds 'til the last call, going, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
Noticing the nearing end of a party, with someone yelling to grab attention
Lie down, you know it's easy like we did it all summer long
Relaxing and reminiscing about simpler times
And I'll be anything you ask and more, going "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey"
Willing to go above and beyond for someone, as they continue calling to grab attention
It's not a miracle we needed, and no I wouldn't let you think so
Asserting that a particular event or action wasn't miraculous and shouldn't be treated as such
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Repeating the simple action of folding, which may represent trying to tidy up or cope with one's thoughts
Girlfriend, oh, your girlfriend's drifting away
Noticing that someone's girlfriend is distancing herself
Past and present, 1855-1901
Referencing a particular time period from 1855 to 1901 as a way to contrast with the present and emphasize the passage of time
Watch them build up a material tower
Observing people construct something physical and perhaps superficial
Think it's not gonna stay anyway
Predicting that whatever is being built won't last
Think it's overrated
Believing that something is given more importance than it deserves
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christian Mazzalai, Frederic Moulin, Laurent Mazzalai, Thomas Croquet
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bobbycigarillo
“Counting all different ideas drifting away
Past and present they don't matter
Now the future's sorted out
Watch her moving in elliptical patterns
Think it's not what you say
What you say is way too complicated
For a minute thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
It's twenty seconds till the last call
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey
Lie down you know it's easy
Like we did it over summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
It's not a miracle we needed
No I wouldn't let you think so
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it
Girlfriend, oh your girlfriend is drifting away
Past and present 1855 -1901
Watch them built up a material tower
Think it's not gonna stay anyway
Think it's overrated
For a minute thought I couldn't tell how to fall out
It's twenty seconds till the last call
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey
Lie down you know it's easy
Like we did it over summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more
You're going hey hey hey hey hey hey hey
It's not a miracle we needed
No I wouldn't let you think so
Fold it, fold it, fold it, fold it”
@adkim
Damn this band is tight as heck. They all know their parts and play it so well. A symphony from a quartet.
@Augrills
I love this band and they got a great sound and melodies, but they’re not really tight. The dude with the white tele flubs it hard at 2:30. And not to be rude, but he has two chords on two strings through the whole song lol
@jeffgover568
It's a drum machine... No discredit. But it's literally as tight as scientifically possible.
@lHlPersonnelHl
Thats th French style
@Immafuggin182
The key change from the original to this sounds absolutely fantastic! Such a consistently great sounding band
@zDeftones
Whoever played 2k back in the day know this was a banger
@ynkyfan
2k13 :(
@grownmangamer942
Bro. Get out my head. lol. Honestly those few years of 2k had random bangers on them. Electric Eel, Mike Snow, Skeleton Boy.
@zDeftones
@@grownmangamer942❤
@zDeftones
@@ynkyfantime flys :/