Vampire Weekend is an indie rock band which formed in February 2006 in New … Read Full Bio ↴Vampire Weekend is an indie rock band which formed in February 2006 in New York City, New York, United States. The band consists of Ezra Koenig (vocals, guitar), Chris Baio (bass) and Christopher Tomson (drums). Rostam Batmanglij has left the band in early 2016 to begin solo career, but will continue to collaborate with Ezra. The band has released four albums: "Vampire Weekend" (2008), "Contra" (2010)","Modern Vampires of the City" (2013) and "Father of the Bride" (2019). The band has gained positive comparisons to such artists as Paul Simon, Haircut 100 and The Walkmen.

Vampire Weekend received much buzz from local blogs throughout 2007 during their rise to a record deal with indie label XL Recordings. Rolling Stone placed Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa at number 57 for the top 100 songs of 2007.

The band's debut album, "Vampire Weekend" was released on January 28. 2008. It was a surprise success, peaking at #17 on the Billboard 200.

Their second album "Contra" was released on January 12, 2010. It contains the single "Cousins". The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, only the 12th independently released and distributed album to achieve such a feat.

They are self-proclaimed "specialists in the following styles: 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa', 'Upper West Side Soweto', 'Campus', and 'Oxford Comma Riddim.'"

The name "Vampire Weekend" comes from a movie that Ezra Koenig made in the summer of his freshman year at college. You can watch the trailer on Youtube, here.

Their official site is http://www.vampireweekend.com/

Campus
Vampire Weekend Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wake up, my shoulders cold
I've got to leave here, before I go
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor
I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Drag my feet along the floor

Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus

Cruel professor, studying romances

How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again?
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again?

Walked to class in front of ya
Spilled kefir on your keffiyah
You look inside and turn to the door
Drag your feet along the floor

Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Cruel professor, studying romances

How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again?
How am I supposed to pretend
I never want to see you again?

In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleepin' on the balcony after class
In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleepin' on the balcony after class

In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleepin' on the balcony after class

In the afternoon, you're out on the stone and grass
And I'm sleepin' on the balcony after class

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Vampire Weekend's "Campus" perfectly capture the feeling of being helplessly infatuated with someone you're forced to see every day, like a classmate or professor in this instance. The singer wakes up feeling cold and wanting to leave, but ends up dragging their feet along the floor as they head outside. That's when they see the person they're interested in walking across campus, though there's a bittersweetness to the image given that the professor is "studying romances," an activity that doesn't include the singer.

The chorus reflects the singer's inner struggle with their feelings: "How am I supposed to pretend / I never want to see you again?" It's a question weighed down with the knowledge that, no matter what they do, they'll still be subjected to the person they can't help but want. The second verse provides more context to their relationship: the singer is awkwardly walking in front of them to class when they accidentally spill "kefir" (a milk drink) on the other person's "keffiyah" (a headdress). Again, the imagery underlines the singer's clumsiness and nervousness around this individual.

The final verse repeats the earlier image of the other person enjoying themselves out on the grass while the singer is stuck alone on a balcony. It's a moment that encapsulates the frustration of being unable to participate in the romantic experiences others are having. The lyrics overall capture the relatable feeling of wanting someone and feeling helpless to the circumstances that keep you apart.

Line by Line Meaning

I wake up, my shoulders cold
Starting a new day with an unwelcoming feeling

I've got to leave here, before I go
To escape the present undesirable situation

I pull my shirt on, walk out the door
Getting dressed and leaving the place

Drag my feet along the floor
Moving out with a lack of enthusiasm

Then I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus
Unexpectedly seeing the person he's trying to avoid

Cruel professor, studying romances
Being treated unfairly by his teacher who's analyzing love affairs

How am I supposed to pretend
Being unsure of how to hide his true feelings

I never want to see you again?
Questioning if he can handle avoiding this person indefinitely

Walked to class in front of ya
Being in close proximity to the person he's trying to avoid

Spilled kefir on your keffiyah
Accidentally making a mess on the other person's scarf

You look inside and turn to the door
Reacting to the unexpected mess and quickly trying to leave the area