The track debuted on KROQ FM and later on Apple Music’s Beats 1 on August 20th, 2015, leading Wiped Out! as the premiere single.
In an interview on the Kevin & Bean show, frontman Jesse Rutherford explained how the song is lyrically personal to him, but that it also outlines what has happened in the band’s life as a whole:
"For all of us, it’s [about] the awesome opportunities we’ve been able to have, and about growing up, whether you want to or not. Some people have their [youth] taken away from them earlier, but either way, the world kind of hits you."
The official music video was released on September 16th, 2015, directed by Hype Williams and featuring Ian Eastwood.
R.I.P. 2 My Youth
The Neighbourhood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you could call this the funeral
I'm just telling the truth
And you can play this at my funeral
Wrap me up in Chanel inside my coffin
Might go to Hell and there ain't no stopping
Might be a sinner and I might be a saint
Sweet little baby in a world full of pain
I gotta be honest, I don't know if I could take it
Everybody's talking, but what's anybody saying?
Mama said if I really want it, then I can change it, yeah
R.I.P. to my youth
If you really listen, then this is to you
Mama, there is only so much I can do
Tough for you to witness but it was for me too
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me (front of me)
R.I.P. to my youth
And you could call this the funeral
I'm just telling the truth, yeah
You can play this at my funeral
Tell my sister don't cry and don't be sad
I'm in paradise with dad
Close my eyes and then cross my arms
Put me in the dirt, let me dream with the stars
Throw me in a box with the oxygen off
You gave me the key then you locked every lock
When I can't breathe, I won't ask you to stop
When I can't breathe, don't call for a cop
I was naive and hopeful and lost
Now I'm aware and driving my thoughts, oh
What do I do? What do I do?
I don't believe it if I don't keep proof
I don't believe it if I don't know you
I don't believe it if it's on the news or on the internet
I need a cigarette
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me
I'm using white lighters to see
R.I.P. to my youth
And you could call this the funeral
I'm just telling the truth
And you can play this at my funeral
Tell my sister don't cry and don't be sad
I'm in paradise with dad
Close my eyes and then cross my arms
Put me in the dirt, let me be with the stars
(Using white lighters to see what's in front of me)
(Using white lighters to see what's in front of me)
The Neighbourhood's song R.I.P. 2 My Youth is a reflection of coming of age and the realization of one's own mortality. The song starts with "R.I.P to my youth," likening the death of one's youth to a funeral. The singer reflects on their life, expressing a sense of shame despite wanting to be proud, and the difficulty of navigating a world full of pain. They question the authenticity of the media and news and express a need for proof and evidence before believing anything. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the funeral theme and the desire for loved ones not to cry or be sad because they are now in paradise with their dad.
The second verse continues the funeral imagery with the line "close my eyes and then cross my arms, put me in the dirt, let me dream with the stars." The singer seems to accept their eventual death, even if they may be a sinner or a saint. The use of white lighters as a metaphor for seeing what's in front of them suggests a search for clarity or understanding. The chorus repeats again, as well as the "using white lighters" line, emphasizing the searching theme.
The song ends with a repetition of "R.I.P to my youth" and the line "Let me be with the stars," suggesting an acceptance and peace with both the end of youth and eventual death, dreamily drifting among the stars.
Line by Line Meaning
R.I.P. to my youth
Goodbye to the innocence and inexperience of my younger years
And you could call this the funeral
This song represents the burial of my past self
I'm just telling the truth
I'm speaking honestly and openly
And you can play this at my funeral
This song reflects my desires for my own funeral arrangements
Wrap me up in Chanel inside my coffin
I want to be laid to rest in luxury
Might go to Hell and there ain't no stopping
I fear for the possibility of eternal damnation
Might be a sinner and I might be a saint
I may have done both good and bad in my life
I'd like to be proud, but somehow I'm ashamed
I wish I could feel confident in who I am, but I struggle with shame
Sweet little baby in a world full of pain
Even in my youth, I was exposed to the harsh realities of life
I gotta be honest, I don't know if I could take it
Facing the challenges of life can be overwhelming and intimidating
Everybody's talking, but what's anybody saying?
There's a lot of noise in the world, but not all of it is meaningful or valuable
Mama said if I really want it, then I can change it, yeah
My mother encouraged me to believe in my ability to create change in my life
If you really listen, then this is to you
If you pay attention, you'll hear that this song is for you
Mama, there is only so much I can do
I recognize that despite my best efforts, there are still limitations to what I can accomplish
Tough for you to witness but it was for me too
It may have been hard for others to watch my struggles, but they were difficult for me as well
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me (front of me)
I'm relying on superstition to guide me through life's uncertainties
Tell my sister don't cry and don't be sad
I want my loved ones to find comfort and peace after my passing
I'm in paradise with dad
I believe that in death, I'll be reunited with my deceased father
Close my eyes and then cross my arms
I'm ready to let go and surrender to the end of my life
Put me in the dirt, let me dream with the stars
I want to find solace and tranquility in death, connecting with the cosmos
Throw me in a box with the oxygen off
I don't fear the physical experience of death itself
You gave me the key then you locked every lock
I feel like I was given a sense of agency, then restricted in my choices
When I can't breathe, I won't ask you to stop
I refuse to be held back by my own fear or discomfort
When I can't breathe, don't call for a cop
I don't want external forces to intervene and rescue me
I was naive and hopeful and lost
I went through a period of innocent optimism, only to find myself without direction
Now I'm aware and driving my thoughts, oh
I've learned to be more conscious of my own mindset and perspective
What do I do? What do I do?
I'm grappling with confusion and indecision
I don't believe it if I don't keep proof
I need evidence to support my beliefs
I don't believe it if I don't know you
I'm hesitant to trust others without truly knowing them
I don't believe it if it's on the news or on the internet
I'm skeptical of information from mainstream media and online sources
I need a cigarette
I use smoking as a coping mechanism
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Benjamin Joseph Levin, Zach Shane Abels, Jeremy Allen Freedman, Michael Blake Margott, Justyn Thomas Pilbrow, Jesse J. Rutherford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@panggilapinmiaw4304
[Verse 1]
And R.I.P. to my youth
And you could call this the funeral
I'm just telling the truth
And you can play this at my funeral
Wrap me up in Chanel inside my coffin
Might go to hell and there ain't no stopping
Might be a sinner and I might be a saint
I'd like to be proud but somehow I'm ashamed
Sweet little baby in a world full of pain
I gotta be honest, I don't know if I could take it
Everybody's talkin' but what's anybody saying?
Mama said if I really want it, then I can change it, yeah
R.I.P. to my youth
If you really listen, then this is to you
Mama, there is only so much I can do
Tough for you to witness but it was for me too
[Chorus]
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me
[Verse 2]
R.I.P. to my youth
And you could call this the funeral
I'm just telling the truth, yeah
You can play this at my funeral
Tell my sister don't cry and don't be sad
I'm in paradise with Dad
Close my eyes and then cross my arms
Put me in the dirt, let me dream with the stars
Throw me in a box with the oxygen off
You gave me the key and you locked every lock
When I can't breathe, I won't ask you to stop
When I can't breathe, don't call for a cop
I was naive and hopeful and lost
Now I'm aware and driving my thoughts, wow
[Bridge]
What do I do? What do I do?
I don't believe it if I don't keep proof
I don't believe it if I don't know you
I don't believe it if it's on the news or on the Internet
I need a cigarette
[Chorus]
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me
I'm using white lighters to see
[Verse 3]
R.I.P. to my youth
And you could call this the funeral
I'm just telling the truth
And you can play this at my funeral
Tell my sister don't cry and don't be sad
I'm in paradise with Dad
Close my eyes and then cross my arms
Put me in the dirt, let me be with the stars
[Outro]
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me
I'm using white lighters to see what's in front of me
🍓
@kaleythompson8773
"R.I.P 2 My Youth" was my senior quote. I'm a fucking genius.
@abbyn1939
thats awesome
@albie6286
Kaley Thompson marry me
@teodora2376
Kaley Thompson marry me too
@yokai420
marry me three
@666oblivion
Kaley Thompson can i also marry you?
@sakitotalks
everybody saying
"tell my sister don't cry and don't be sad i'm in paradise with dad" but nobody's paying attention to:
"i was naive and hopefull and lost, now i'm aware and trapped in my thoughts"
that’s some next level stuff on growing up
@karlamales5776
its not trpped he says driving
@sakitotalks
yea ok sorry for my own wrong understanding of the lyrics ohhh i said the wrong lyrics ohh i'm not a true fan ohh
@karlamales5776
bro chill thats not what i ment...i wrote comment cuz driving and trapped are two completly different words.