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/
Mansardroof
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
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I see a salty message written in the eves,
The ground beneath my feet,
we are garbage and concrete,
And now the tops of buildings
I can see them too!
I see a Mansard Roof through the trees,
The ground beneath my feet,
we are garbage and concrete,
And now the tops of buildings
I can see them too!
The Argentines collapse in defeat,
The admiralty surveys the remnants of the fleet,
The ground beneath their feet
Is a nautically map sheet
as thin as paper
while it slips away from you.
The lyrics to Vampire Weekend's song "Mansard Roof" explore themes of urbanization, decay and loss, and the perspective that comes with seeing the world from up high. The opening lines set the tone for the song, as the singer sees a mansard roof through the trees and a "salty message" written in the eaves, suggesting both the beauty and the decay of the built environment. The singer then reflects on the ground beneath their feet, which is "garbage and concrete," suggesting the brutalist nature of modern cities.
But the song doesn't just focus on the ground floor - it also looks up to the tops of buildings, which the singer can now see. This shift in perspective is significant, as it suggests a new understanding of the urban landscape from a bird's eye view. The next lines reference the Argentine military defeat in the Falklands War, which is offered as an example of the fragility of power and empire. The final lines of the verse suggest that even the maps that govern our sense of space and place are as thin as paper and can slip away from us.
Overall, the lyrics to "Mansard Roof" offer a complex reflection on the urban environment and the shifting perspectives that come with different vantage points. The song suggests that while the modern world may be defined by concrete and decay, there is also beauty and meaning to be found in the landscapes we inhabit.
Line by Line Meaning
I see a Mansard Roof through the trees,
The singer notices a Mansard roof, which is a type of architectural roof style, amidst the trees.
I see a salty message written in the eves,
The singer sees a salty message etched onto the eaves, or lower edges of the roof, possibly indicating a personal or emotional message.
The ground beneath my feet,
The singer draws attention to the ground they are standing on.
we are garbage and concrete,
The artist acknowledges the harsh reality of modern urban landscapes, which often consist of nothing but trash and concrete.
And now the tops of buildings
The artist now notices the rooftops of buildings, which are an integral part of cityscapes.
I can see them too!
The singer expresses excitement at this newfound appreciation for buildings and their rooftops.
The Argentines collapse in defeat,
This line has a more obscure meaning and can be interpreted as a reference to historical events or wars.
The admiralty surveys the remnants of the fleet,
This line continues the war imagery and suggests a scene of naval defeat and wreckage being surveyed.
The ground beneath their feet
This line shifts focus to the feet of the Admiralty and those standing in the naval wreckage.
Is a nautically map sheet
The ground beneath their feet is compared to a nautical map sheet, as if everything around them is intricately planned and mapped out.
as thin as paper
Despite the detail of the map sheet, it is still physically fragile and delicate like paper.
while it slips away from you.
The ground and everything around it is slipping away and dissolving, adding to a sense of loss or impermanence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH BAIO, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM TOMSON, EZRA KOENIG, ROSTAM BATMANGLIJ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind