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/
Jerusalem New York Berlin
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I love you still
But this prophecy of ours
Has come back dressed to kill
Three stones on a mountain
Three small holes in a field
You've given me the big dream
But you can't make it real
Oh, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want is to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
A hundred years or more
It feels like such a dream
An endless conversation
Since 1917
Now the battery is too hot
It's burning up in its tray
Young marriages are melting
And dying where they lay
Oh, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want is to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
Our tongues will fall so still
Our teeth will all decay
A minute feels much longer
With nothing left to say
So let them win the battle
But don't let them restart
That genocidal feeling
That beats in every heart
Oh, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want is to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
The lyrics of Vampire Weekend's "Jerusalem New York Berlin" are complex and layered, filled with references to history, politics, and personal relationships. The song opens with the singer acknowledging that he still has feelings for someone he once loved, but that their shared vision of a better future has been corrupted and turned against them. The "prophecy" mentioned in the lyrics seems to refer to their shared dream of a better world, which has been taken over by nefarious forces and turned into something dangerous.
The chorus of the song references three cities - Jerusalem, New York, and Berlin - as symbols of this corrupted world. These cities have all played important roles in global politics and history, and they are often associated with conflict, power, and ambition. The lyrics suggest that the singer feels overwhelmed and defeated by the forces that control these places, but that he still wants to keep fighting for a better future.
The second verse of the song shifts in tone, reflecting on the passage of time and the impact of history on the present. The reference to "1917" likely alludes to the Balfour Declaration, a British statement that supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This declaration has had far-reaching consequences and has been at the heart of much of the conflict in the region. The reference to "young marriages" melting and dying could be seen as a metaphor for the breakdown of relationships and social structures in the face of larger historical forces.
Overall, "Jerusalem New York Berlin" is a dense and powerful song that addresses big themes and complicated emotions. The chorus in particular is unforgettable, with its repeated references to these three iconic cities and its plea to "win" against the forces of evil.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I loved you then
I was sure of my love for you back then
I think I love you still
I still feel the same way about you
But this prophecy of ours
Our shared future vision
Has come back dressed to kill
But now it's back to haunt us and destroy us
Three stones on a mountain
Three distinct landmarks on a hill
Three small holes in a field
Three unremarkable dents in the grass
You've given me the big dream
You've inspired me with a grand ambition
But you can't make it real
But you can't bring it to fruition
Oh, wicked world
The world can be so cruel
Just think what could have been
Imagine the possibilities
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
Three great cities with their own unique characteristics
All I do is lose but baby
I'm always facing defeat
All I want is to win
But I'm still determined to succeed
A hundred years or more
A very long time ago
It feels like such a dream
It seems so distant and unreal
An endless conversation
A never-ending dialogue
Since 1917
Starting from that year
Now the battery is too hot
Now the situation is too intense to handle
It's burning up in its tray
It's causing great damage where it's situated
Young marriages are melting
New partnerships are disintegrating
And dying where they lay
Collapsing without a chance to recover
Our tongues will fall so still
We'll run out of things to say
Our teeth will all decay
And our bodies will slowly deteriorate
A minute feels much longer
Time seems to drag on
With nothing left to say
When there's nothing more to talk about
So let them win the battle
Let the opposition come out on top in this struggle
But don't let them restart
But don't let them start a new conflict
That genocidal feeling
The urge to exterminate others
That beats in every heart
That dark impulse that exists in all of us
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ariel Zvi Rechtshaid, Ezra Koenig, Michael Tucker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Isaac DĂaz
I'M DONE, I'VE COMMENTED ALL THEIR NEW SONGS
I know I loved you then
I think I love you still
But this prophecy of ours
Has come back dressed to kill
Three stones on a mountain
Three small holes in a field
You've given me the big dream
But you can't make it real
O, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose, but baby
All I want's to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
A hundred years or more
It feels like such a dream
An endless conversation since 1917
Now the battery is too hot
It's burning up in its tray
Young marriages are melting
And dying where they lay
O, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want's to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
Our tongues will fall so still
Our teeth will all decay
A minute feels much longer
With nothing left to say
So let them win the battle
But don't let them restart
That genocidal feeling
That beats in every heart
O, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want's to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
Name Name
ÂĄREJOICE! The victory is won all you want to do is win, is your heart pure? Straighten up, the burden is light and the yoke is easy
Donât let anyone tell you, who you are; know that you are Created, we all are if we are successful is because weâve been ever so allowed to, not because we donât work for it, remember a living wage? Too political? Sorry itâs 1am and Iâm high in the Sky super high
Anyway, chin up? I know it sounds awesome
All I wants to win
Enjoy the sound
Remember the truthđ„ł
The victory is ours
The struggle is real
Letâs stand united
Jemm M
I know I loved you then
I think I love you still
But this prophecy of ours
Has come back dressed to kill
Three stones on a mountain
Three small holes in a field
You've given me the big dream
But you can't make it real
O, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want's to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
A hundred years or more
It feels like such a dream
An endless conversation
Since 1917
Now the battery is too hot
It's burning up in its tray
Young marriages are melting
And dying where they lay
O, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want's to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
Our tongues will fall so still
Our teeth will all decay
A minute feels much longer
With nothing left to say
So let them win the battle
But don't let them restart
That genocidal feeling
That beats in every heart
O, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want's to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
eh eh
This will nicely add to the list if you know what I mean:
Angkor Wat
Mechanicsburg
Anchorage
Dar Es Salaam
L.A.
San Francisco
Oakland
Alameda
Berkely
California
Cape Cod
Providence
Phoenix
Waverly
Lincoln
Santa Barbara
New York
Natalie McCormick
I just wanna say thank you for uploading the album for my broke college ass. When I get more money Iâll try to support you as much as I can đ
Pedro Henrique Lima
very well put
Jonny Powell
@blooduhz maybe don't do that, at least they get views and comments here, if you just straight up pirate it, it really doesn't do anything for them
Natalie McCormick
blooduhz yeah no thanks... Iâd much rather support them legally
Crispy
@blooduhz delete this homie
Rakib Hossain Aiman
This song just makes me love vampire weekend even more. And I thought I couldn't love them anymore than I do
Leo CD
I just finished my 2nd full listen, and yeah... I'm loving what I'm hearing. This is a beautiful album, filled with nuances, originality and lyrics to dissect for the next years. This guys are like a miracle for this generation's ears. So much magic in just one hour. Please listen them with headphones and try not to smile with what you hear =)Â
You're saving my winter, VW. Now, please come back to Chile hehe.
GimpyDodo
Please listen to with decent speakers*
If you have them ofc.
Gel(oh.)
This album has blessed my entire year
Barbora AdamcovĂĄ
This is simply my favorite song of the year. đ Thank you, Vampire Weekend.
I'm simply in tears