In 2005, Vampire Weekend vocalist Ezra Koenig travelled through London en route to India and said that the trip got him "thinking a lot about colonialism and the aesthetic connections between preppy culture and the native cultures of places like Africa and India." This inspired Koenig to write a short story exploring those connections, and called it "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", after which the song was named. "Kwassa kwassa" refers to a dance rhythm from Congo (DRC).
The video, directed by British comedian Richard Ayoade (who had also directed the band's video for "Oxford Comma") and set in the 1980s, was filmed in Spring Lake, New Jersey at Kaitlin Files' shore house. It is the first video where Vampire Weekend consciously decided to use a narrative with the band becoming characters, unlike previous videos which were "fairly abstract [with] no narrative." Koenig said he felt there was "a Tim Burton element" to the video, in which the band reinvented their image as goths, "with white faces, spiked hair and black outfits." The characters were created in 2007 by Koenig, who came up with rough ideas and images, and was helped by Ayoade to create a story from them.
Bass guitarist Chris Baio said that the band devotes a lot of time to touring, so "when [they] do something different like this, it is an exciting thing." Keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij said that the band is "interested in visuals, and it's a treat for [them] to get to do this."
Following the success of "A-Punk" and "Oxford Comma," Vampire Weekend decided to release "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" as the fourth single from the album. Originally released in 2008, the song failed to make much of an impact on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #178. The single was not released in America, meaning along with "Mansard Roof," the single was rather unsuccessful.
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Louis Vuitton
With your mother
On a sandy lawn
As a sophomore
With reggaeton
And the linens
You're sitting on
Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you want to fuck
Like you know I do?
Like you know I do-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel, too
But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel
Can you stay up
To see the dawn
In the colors
Of Bennetton?
Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you want to
Like you know I do?
Like you know I do-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel, too
But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel
Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you wanna
Like you know I do?
Like you know I do-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
The lyrics to Vampire Weekend's song Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa describe the experiences of a young girl, first with her mother on a sandy lawn, and then as a sophomore listening to reggaeton on linens. The singer questions the girl about her current state, asking if her bed is made, if she has on her sweater, and if she wants to engage in sexual activity with him. However, the singer also acknowledges the unnatural feeling of this proposition, referencing Peter Gabriel twice.
The song's chorus continues to ask about the girl's readiness for the morning, challenging if she can stay up and watch the dawn in the colors of Bennetton (a now-defunct clothing company). The singer again repeats the questions about her bed and sweater, and her willingness to engage in sexual activity.
Ultimately, the song seems to be a commentary on the superficial nature of modern relationships and the societal pressures to engage in sexual activity, even if it feels unnatural or uncomfortable. The references to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Bennetton, as well as the mention of reggaeton, demonstrate the cultural influences and pressures on young people to fit into certain standards and aesthetics, even in their personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
As a young girl
Reflecting on memories of a time when the subject was younger and less experienced with the world
Louis Vuitton
A reference to the high-end fashion brand, representing the subject's desire for wealth and status
With your mother
Describing the setting of the memory, likely a family vacation or outing
On a sandy lawn
Further detailing the setting, possibly a beach or other outdoor location
As a sophomore
Specifically referencing the subject's age and year in high school, suggesting the memory is from a few years prior
With reggaeton
A genre of Latin music that was popular around the time the subject was a sophomore, potentially a detail about the soundtrack of the memory
And the linens
A reference to the clothing or bedding present in the memory, further establishing the setting
You're sitting on
Describing the subject's physical position in the memory
Is your bed made?
A sudden shift in tone and subject matter, perhaps indicating a change in setting or addressing a new person
Is your sweater on?
Asking for confirmation of the other person's clothing, potentially hinting at a desire to move towards intimacy
Do you want to fuck
Bluntly asking for sexual activity
Like you know I do?
Asserting the singer's desire for sex
But this feels so unnatural
Acknowledging that the situation feels wrong or strange
Peter Gabriel, too
Referencing the musician Peter Gabriel, perhaps suggesting that the lyrics are reminiscent of his work or that he also sings about uncomfortable situations
Can you stay up
Returning to the previous theme of intimacy and romance
To see the dawn
Suggesting a long night of passion or conversation
In the colors
Describing the beauty of the sunrise
Of Bennetton?
Referencing the multinational fashion brand United Colors of Benetton, perhaps commenting on the vibrancy of the sunrise
Do you wanna
Returning to the theme of sexual desire
Like you know I do?
Reiterating the singer's strong desire for sex
Feels so unnatural
Again addressing the discomfort of the situation
Peter Gabriel, too
Repeating the reference to Peter Gabriel, potentially comparing the current situation to one of his songs
Do you wanna
Continuing the persistent questioning of the other person's desire for sex
Like you know I do?
Closing the song with a final assertion of the singer's desire for intimacy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Rostam Batmanglij, Ezra Koenig
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@heathertaylor8904
+adfggffffffddffd
There's a young girl
We'll leave at dawn
With your mother
I'm standin on
Did you stay up
C'n we see the dawn
In the colors
i'm bettin' on (? maybe?)
In retrospect, I never gave it much thought, I just loved it for it in it's entirety and didn't care much what it was saying. IT felt quite silly to look at what i thought (?) they might be saying? But wasnt quite sure. Also, I couldn't give a squat'n'shit about louis vuitton or however it's spelled, and I sort of assumed they wouldn't much either, so i never expected something of that nature to be in one of their songs.
@betalm1586
As a young girl, Louis Vuitton
With your mother on a sandy lawn
As a sophomore with reggaeton
And the linens you're sitting on
Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you wanna fly?
Like you know I do, like you know I do, ooh
This feels so unnatural
, too
But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel
Can you stay up to see the dawn
In the colors of Benetton?
Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you wanna fly?
Like you know I do, like you know I do, ooh
This feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel too
But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel
Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you wanna fly?
Like you know I do, like you know I do, ooh
@charliesteel6326
which pixel is Ezra?
@MyHungryWidow
such music
very quality
much cool
wow
@catalinsanda8958
non
@peppa_pig_
Justin Warren no
@cocatrolla6027
The same with Princess Peach!
@teachfrog7194
HAHA!
@graysonw8660
I'm still depressed that I can't live eternally in the vibe of this song and the film-like preppy cape cod fantasy that this album created for me.
@hayley1745
I don't think anyone has articulated this as brilliantly as you did in history ever
@mackflynncaswell6488
+Grayson Whitehair ahh the cape isnt as preppy as you would think. i mean yea it definitely is, and the summer parties are definitely like this, but i love the cape for the sunsets and rises, the beach, and the feeling you get. there's something magical about living here and that's why i love this song haha
@foxracer1703
Grayson Whitehair not all its cracked uo to be bub. most of us dont get to relax that. if you are doing what's going on in this video youre usually from elsewhere.