Teenage Cool Kids were an Indie rock/Punk Rock band from Denton, Texas. Read Full Bio ↴Teenage Cool Kids were an Indie rock/Punk Rock band from Denton, Texas.

The band started in summer 2006 by Andrew Savage, later joined by Daniel Zeigler whom Savage met while attending the University of North Texas in Denton. The bands earlier material, from the self-released demo and "Remember Me as a Silhouette" 7", was lo-fi, poppy and often compared to early '90s indie rock. The band's first full length was Queer Salutations, released in 2007. Shortly after the release of Queer Salutations the band embarked on its first tour. The band is decidedly DIY, keeping all recording, songwriting, booking and visual art within the band. Teenage Cool Kids spent much of 2008 touring the United States and recording their next album. In 2009 the band was issued a cease and desist by Chicago hip-hop duo The Cool Kids over alleged trade mark infringement. The dispute ended with a settlement initiated by the Cool Kids. The dispute delayed the band's second LP release by several months, but in June 2009 Foreign Lands was released by Protagonist Music.

Albums:
Queer Salutations (2007, Protagonist)
Foreign Lands (2009, Protagonist)
Denton After Sunset (2011, Dull Tools)

Singles:
Remember Me As a Silhoutte (2007, C&C Music Factory)
Speaking in Tongues b/w Crucial Talk (2009, Copper Lung)
Poison Sermons (2009, Leroy St. Records)

Band members:
Andrew Savage (Fergus & Geronimo, Parquet Courts)
Bradley Kerl
Chris Pickering
Daniel Zeigler (Wiccans)

Write Back Soon
Teenage Cool Kids Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look at you, hippy girl, doing what you're supposed to do. White girl dreads on your head. "Want some flowers?" I said no. Powwow girl, think the world is a groovy fucking place. Smoke some grass, adopt cats, can you "dig it" if your shallow? And when the promises you meant to carry out leave you tasting doubt you chase them. You're a bohemian pilgrim, escaping persecution. Look at you, hipster dude, but I guess that's what you want. "Hold my Pabst?" Kiss my ass. Move to Brooklyn or Vermont. Get tattoos, Nike shoes. Tell us all just how you feel In the zine of poetry inspired by Kerouac and Salinger. And when the promises you meant to carry out leave you tasting doubt you chase them you're a counter culture victim, embracing devolution.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Teenage Cool Kids' song "Write Back Soon" depict two different characters - a hippy girl and a hipster dude. The song seems to be a critique of the counterculture movements that emerged during the 1960s and 70s and the subsequent iterations of these movements that arose in the 2000s. The lyrics highlight the superficiality and lack of substance in the thinking and actions of these characters despite their attempts to be perceived as "cool" or "alternative."

In the first verse, the hippy girl is described as someone who adheres to the stereotypes associated with hippies - wearing white girl dreads and offering flowers - but ultimately lacks depth as she is shallow and easily swayed by doubt. The lyrics question whether such a lifestyle is truly countercultural or simply conforming to a specific aesthetic. The second verse describes the hipster dude as someone who has moved to Brooklyn or Vermont, two cities associated with hipster culture, and is trying to appear as a poet or writer inspired by the works of Jack Kerouac and J.D. Salinger. However, like the hippy girl, he is ultimately portrayed as a superficial character who lacks conviction.

The repeated line "And when the promises you meant to carry out leave you tasting doubt you chase them" highlights the idea that these characters may have genuine desires to enact change or live differently than mainstream society but quickly give up when faced with resistance. The lyrics about being "a bohemian pilgrim, escaping persecution" and a "counter-culture victim, embracing devolution" suggest that instead of making meaningful changes, these characters are simply perpetuating cycles of rebellion and conformity.

Line by Line Meaning

Look at you, hippy girl, doing what you're supposed to do.
Observing the listener as they conform to societal expectations of how they should look and act.

White girl dreads on your head. "Want some flowers?" I said no.
Noticing the listener's hairstyle and offering a flower, which is declined.

Powwow girl, think the world is a groovy fucking place. Smoke some grass, adopt cats, can you "dig it" if your shallow?
Commenting on the listener's idealistic views and questioning if they truly understand the depth of their beliefs.

And when the promises you meant to carry out leave you tasting doubt you chase them.
Acknowledging the listener's pursuit of fulfilling their commitments despite feeling uncertain.

You're a bohemian pilgrim, escaping persecution.
Describing the listener's identity and lifestyle as unconventional and their desire to avoid discrimination.

Look at you, hipster dude, but I guess that's what you want. "Hold my Pabst?" Kiss my ass. Move to Brooklyn or Vermont.
Observing the listener's attempt to appear trendy and suggesting they move to popular hip areas.

Get tattoos, Nike shoes. Tell us all just how you feel In the zine of poetry inspired by Kerouac and Salinger.
Listing popular fashion and literary influences associated with hipster culture that the listener may identify with.

And when the promises you meant to carry out leave you tasting doubt you chase them you're a counter culture victim, embracing devolution.
Observing the listener's struggle to fulfill commitments and labeling their non-conformity as a result of societal disillusionment.

Contributed by Nathaniel W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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