Finger Back
Vampire Weekend Lyrics


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Bend my finger back (snap)
Wrap it in a paper towel
Break a twig in half and set it straight

Hit me with a wood bat
Hit me with a canister that's fired while
The soldiers drive away
Bend my finger back (snap)
On and on and on and on for days

Hit me with a wood bat
Hit me like a Yankee, like a son of
Freedom, never had a slave

It's etiquette, you idiot
Spend time behind the line
Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody wants you, but baby you are mine
And baby you're not anybody's fool

Bless me with a heart attack
A real cries cardiac
And show me where to find the
Surgeon's knife

Eviscerate me now (hack)
Take me to my punishment?
The punishment I needed all my life

Bend my finger back (snap)
On and on and on and on with strife

Listen to my bum rap
Listen to the evidence exonerating me from
Being right

It's etiquette, you idiot
Spend time behind the line
Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't
Ever shine

Everybody wants you, but baby you are mine
Baby you're not anybody's fool

You know that I've been wicked and the
Road to hell is wide
Cursed by curiosity that made
Us go inside
Everyone was charming but we took 'em for a ride
Baby, you're not anybody's fool

Bend my finger back (snap)
Wrap it in a paper towel
Break a twig in half and set it straight

Hit me with a wood bat
Hit me with a canister that's fired while
The soldiers drive away

Bend my finger back (snap)
On and on and on and on for days

Hit me with a wood bat
Hit me like a Yankee, like a son of
Freedom, never had a slave

It's etiquette, you idiot
Spend time behind the line
Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody wants you, but baby you are mine
And baby you're not anybody's fool

The harpsichord is broken and the
Television's fried
The city's getting hotter like a
Country in decline
Everyone's a coward when you look
Them in the eyes
But baby, you're not anybody's fool

See ya next year in Jerusalem
You know, the one at 103rd and Broadway?
'Cause this orthodox girl fell in love with the guy at the falafel shop
And why not?
Should she have averted her eyes and just stared
At the laminated poster of the dome of the rock?

And then blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood
And then blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood

Remembrances of holy days in tarry town and rye
I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die

Condolences to gentle hearts who
Couldn't bear to try
I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die





Remembrances of holy days in tarry town and rye
I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die

Overall Meaning

The Vampire Weekend song "Finger Back" is a complex and multifaceted track. The lyrics are filled with evocative imagery and references that contribute to a sense of unease throughout the song. At the core of the song is the idea of punishment - the singer seems to be seeking some sort of retribution for their sins, repeatedly asking to be hit, broken, or punished. This obsession with punishment is juxtaposed with the song's recurring refrain, which declares that the singer's lover is "not anybody's fool".


One interpretation of the song is that it is a meditation on the American South's legacy of slavery and racism. The line "Hit me like a Yankee, like a son of freedom, never had a slave" draws attention to the irony of the fact that the North, which fought to end slavery, was also responsible for the genocide of Native Americans and other atrocities. Similarly, the refrain "Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine" can be read as a reference to the city's reputation as a hub of culture and celebrity, but also as a place with deep-seated racial tensions and inequality. The song's chorus, with its plea for sympathy and insistence that the lover is not a fool, can thus be seen as a commentary on the ways in which people are complicit in systems of oppression and violence.


Another possible interpretation of the song is that it is a representation of the singer's internal struggle with guilt and sin. The repeated requests for punishment and the imagery of blood and violence suggest a desire for external validation of the singer's guilt. At the same time, the refrain's emphasis on the lover's agency and intelligence suggests that the singer is struggling to reconcile their sense of guilt with their desire for love and companionship. The song's references to Jewish culture, including the line "See ya next year in Jerusalem", could also be seen as an attempt to connect the singer's personal struggles with a larger cultural history of suffering and striving.


Overall, "Finger Back" is a dense and challenging song that rewards close listening and interpretation. Its themes of punishment, guilt, and redemption are woven through with references to American history, Jewish culture, and romantic love, creating a tapestry of meaning that is both expansive and elusive.


Line by Line Meaning

Bend my finger back (snap)
Intense pain is necessary to feel alive and present.


Wrap it in a paper towel
Temporary relief, through appropriate physical care and attention, can allow for continued discomfort.


Break a twig in half and set it straight
Self-infliction may be the cure for one's perceived inadequacies.


Hit me with a wood bat
Aggression and violence may be attractive to those looking for the intensity of real emotion.


Hit me with a canister that's fired while
The unpredictability of chaos can provide an escape from monotony and routine.


The soldiers drive away
The destructive forces of war can be thrilling to some, but ultimately leave nothing but destruction and pain.


On and on and on and on for days
The intensity of an experience can become addictive and all-consuming.


It's etiquette, you idiot
Society values proper behavior over truthful expression and free thought.


Spend time behind the line
Confinement to societal norms and expectations can be limiting and draining.


Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine
People and places that are often overlooked or ignored are just as deserving of empathy and understanding as those more well-known and celebrated.


Everybody wants you, but baby you are mine
The possessive nature of love can be comforting and meaningful, but may also be isolating and dangerous.


And baby you're not anybody's fool
One's autonomy and free will should never be compromised, even in the name of love.


Bless me with a heart attack
The idea of self-sacrifice or martyrdom may be attractive to some as a means of achieving greatness or recognition, but is ultimately self-destructive.


A real cries cardiac
The reality of a potential heart attack is far more terrifying and awful than the idea of martyrdom.


And show me where to find the
One may seek out physical pain and suffering as a way of avoiding emotional pain and uncertainty.


Surgeon’s knife
The surgical separation of oneself from one's emotions and feelings may seem desirable, but is ultimately inhumane and numbing.


Eviscerate me now (hack)
The physical manifestation of emotional pain can provide a temporary release, but is ultimately destructive and damaging.


Take me to my punishment?
One may seek out punishment and self-destruction as a means of dealing with internal pain and turmoil.


The punishment I needed all my life
One's idea of punishment and self-destruction may be deeply ingrained from childhood and early experiences.


Listen to my bum rap
The perception of oneself as a victim can be empowering in the short term, but ultimately self-defeating.


Listen to the evidence exonerating me from
The search for external validation and proof of one's worth can be endlessly disappointing and damaging.


Being right
The need to be proven right or justified can be all-consuming, but ultimately unfulfilling and pointless.


You know that I’ve been wicked and the
The recognition and acceptance of one's flaws and past mistakes can be humbling and painful, but ultimately necessary for growth and progress.


Road to hell is wide
The path towards self-destruction is always readily available and requires no effort or work.


Cursed by curiosity that made
The impulse towards self-destruction and self-harm may come from a deep sense of curiosity about one's own limits and capabilities.


Us go inside
Internal exploration and self-examination can be difficult and intense, but ultimately rewarding and transformative.


Everyone was charming but we took 'em for a ride
The allure of deception and manipulation can be thrilling and exciting, but ultimately selfish and damaging to others and oneself.


See ya next year in Jerusalem
The search for spiritual enlightenment and fulfillment may be ongoing and cyclical, never truly complete or fulfilling.


You know, the one at 103rd and Broadway?
The quest for spiritual connection and meaning is deeply personal and individual, and often takes unexpected forms and directions.


Cause this orthodox girl fell in love with the guy at the falafel shop
The search for spiritual fulfillment may involve unexpected connections and relationships with others.


And why not?
The question of why one is drawn to particular people or relationships is ultimately unanswerable and enigmatic.


Should she have averted her eyes and just stared
The expectation of societal customs and expectations can conflict with the desire for personal fulfillment and exploration.


At the laminated poster of the dome of the rock?
The search for connection to a higher plane of existence may be sought through physical objects and symbols.


And then blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood
The pursuit of intensity and excitement can lead to violence and destruction.


Remembrances of holy days in tarry town and rye
Memories of past spiritual connections and experiences can be comforting and transformative.


I don’t wanna live like this, but I don’t wanna die
The struggle to achieve internal peace and satisfaction is ongoing and difficult, but ultimately worthwhile.


Condolences to gentle hearts who
Empathy and compassion for others who may be struggling or experiencing pain is necessary for self-growth and community health.


Couldn’t bear to try
The fear of failure or pain can prevent one from taking risks and striving for improvement and growth.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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