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/
M 79
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While you're waiting like a factory line
I'll fly across the park
Backseat on the 79
Wasted days you've come to pass
So go I know you would not stay
Pollination yellow cab
You walk up the stairs
See the French kids by the door
Up one more flight
See the Buddha on the second floor
Coronation rickshaw grab
So go I know you would not stay
It wasn't true, but anyway
Racist dreams you should not have
No excuse to be so callous
Dress yourself in bleeding madras
Charm your way across the Khyber pass
Stay awake to break the habit
Sing in praise of Jackson Crowter
Watch yourself along the arch of glass
The lyrics to Vampire Weekend's "M79" explore themes of change, movement, and cultural identity. The singer in the song acknowledges that change takes time, likening waiting to being part of a factory line. However, they also express a sense of excitement and freedom as they travel through the city. The specific mention of the 79 bus and other references to New York City landmarks create a sense of place and specificity.
The singer also delves into issues of cultural identity and the impact of past experiences. The line "It wasn't true, but anyway" could refer to a relationship or personal belief that did not turn out as expected. The phrase "Racist dreams you should not have" confronts the potentially negative aspects of cultural identity and the need to break out of limiting beliefs. The final lines encourage the listener to stay awake and be mindful, while also referencing a fictional character, Jackson Crowter.
Overall, "M79" is a complex and nuanced exploration of change, identity, and the contradictions of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
It's going to take a little time
This situation requires patience and cannot be resolved quickly.
While you're waiting like a factory line
While you wait for this to be resolved, you are stationary and feel like a part of a process rather than an individual.
I'll fly across the park
I will quickly move to the designated location.
Backseat on the 79
I will travel in comfort and convenience.
Wasted days you've come to pass
Time passed without productivity or accomplishment.
So go I know you would not stay
You will leave because you never intended to stay in the first place.
It wasn't true, but anyway
Even if the situation was not honest or genuine, it will still be remedied.
Pollination yellow cab
A cab coated in yellow in the busy city, which carries people like bees carry pollen from one flower to another.
You walk up the stairs
You ascend the steps of the building.
See the French kids by the door
At the entrance, you can see some French youngsters.
Up one more flight
You climb one more set of stairs.
See the Buddha on the second floor
At the second level, you can see a statue of Buddha.
Coronation rickshaw grab
As a signifier of colonial rule, a rickshaw is used to commemorate a historic event.
Racist dreams you should not have
The desire for the assertion of racial superiority is not impeded by the elimination of this thought from an individual's mind.
No excuse to be so callous
There is no justification for a lack of empathy or indifference towards others.
Dress yourself in bleeding madras
Wear a fabric that is dyed with colors that bleed together, symbolizing the potential for people of different backgrounds to unite.
Charm your way across the Khyber pass
With wit and charm, successfully navigate the difficult terrain of Khyber Pass.
Stay awake to break the habit
Remain conscious to overcome the pattern of addictive behavior.
Sing in praise of Jackson Crowter
In admiration of Jackson Crowter, sing for him.
Watch yourself along the arch of glass
Be careful not to damage the fragile and transparent surface while looking at oneself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, NOTHING BUT NETS MUSIC, FARO MUSIC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH BAIO, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM TOMSON, EZRA KOENIG, ROSTAM BATMANGLIJ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind