Contrary to their official bio, which claims they’re a duo from Denmark, Re… Read Full Bio ↴Contrary to their official bio, which claims they’re a duo from Denmark, Reptile Youth are actually the relocated souls of a thousand long-lost Brooklyn post-punk bands, cousins of the Rapture and Radio 4 who have been summoned back to this cold, dead earth for one last dance. Luckily, the funky, hook-laden Gang of Four worship, with some production from a guy who's worked with the Human League, Lady Gaga, and Hot Chip, sounds sincere enough to make these Danes pretty great. K.G.

Colours
Reptile Youth Lyrics

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The stars have done their duty
The trees, they stood their ground
Their limits to what will be
Two towns will spin around

And the colours, the colours will die
So you know I slept to keep them alive
And the colours that hide in the sky

So you know I slept to make sure they die

Species have done research
The guards, they have their share
The shadows have their reasons
The sun will never kill

And the colours, the colours will die
So you know I slept to keep them alive
And the colours that hide in the sky
So you know I slept to make sure they die

The tornadoes will be dancing
The volcanoes, they will cry
And the oceans will be drinking
On the day the colours die

The colours, the colours will die
So you know I slept to keep them alive

And the colours that hide in the sky
So you know I slept to make sure they die

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Reptile Youth's song "Colours" suggest a destructive event that is about to occur. The stars and the trees have done their duty and the limits to what will be are set in stone. The lyrics continue to describe how species have done research and the guards have their share, indicating that everyone is aware of what is to come. The colours in the sky are personified as if they have a life of their own, and the singer reveals that they have been sleeping to keep them alive. This could be interpreted as the colours being a symbol for hope or beauty in the world, and the singer is trying to preserve them before they are lost forever.

The second verse continues to suggest that something terrible is about to happen, as the shadows have their reasons and the sun will never kill. The use of natural phenomena like tornadoes and volcanoes crying highlights the immense devastation that is about to take place. The singer expresses that they have been sleeping to keep the colours alive, but also to make sure they die. This could mean that they are trying to preserve the beauty for as long as possible, but ultimately accepting that it will all come to an end.

Line by Line Meaning

The stars have done their duty
The stars have fulfilled their cosmic role and function

The trees, they stood their ground
The trees have remained steadfast and unchanged

Their limits to what will be
There are boundaries to what can and will occur

Two towns will spin around
Two locations will circle each other, perhaps in conflict or competition

And the colours, the colours will die
The vibrant hues and shades will fade and disappear

So you know I slept to keep them alive
The singer slept in order to sustain and preserve the colors, or possibly to avoid facing their absence

And the colours that hide in the sky
The colors that are present in the sky, perhaps at sunrise or sunset, will also vanish

So you know I slept to make sure they die
The artist slept to ensure that the colors will indeed fade away as they are meant to, perhaps out of a desire to witness the end of something

Species have done research
Various forms of life have conducted investigations or studies

The guards, they have their share
Those tasked with protection or defense have fulfilled their part in some process or event

The shadows have their reasons
Even darker, unknown parts of existence have motives or intentions

The sun will never kill
The sun, a symbol of energy and vitality, will never be the cause of destruction or death

The tornadoes will be dancing
Tornadoes, often associated with destruction and chaos, will be engaging in a frenzied, almost celebratory dance

The volcanoes, they will cry
Volcanoes, known for their fiery explosions, will instead weep, perhaps due to a sense of loss or grief

And the oceans will be drinking
The great bodies of saltwater will imbibe, perhaps as if in a toast or tribute to what is ending

On the day the colours die
The date or occasion of the colors' demise is a significant and momentous one

Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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