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Vampire Weekend Lyrics

The opening lines of “Occident out on the weekend, that’s the way that we relax” sets the scene as the band describes a leisurely weekend activity, which involves traveling to different places and exploring new cultures. The lyrics are a commentary on the carefree attitude of the youth today and their desire to escape from the mundane realities of their everyday lives. The next line mentioning “English Breakfast tastes like Darjeeling, but she’s too cute to even ask” contrasts with the previous two lines, suggesting a possible romantic connection with someone they’ve met on their travels.

The chorus, “Blake’s got a new face (Blake’s got a new face)” is an ironic nod to the song itself, serving as a reference to how the listener might feel after the song ends, that their perspective would be shifted due to the experience they just had. The line that follows, “Nastiness will cause your doom, turn and walk back to your room” can be interpreted in many ways. However, it can be seen as a piece of advice to avoid toxic and negative environments and to choose positivity instead.

The next verse describes the beauty of Old San Juan, with its Spanish brownstones and waves. The line, “Majesty's not overheard, cryptographs can't stand the word” could refer to the need to appreciate things beyond mere superficiality and the inability to understand or communicate the full measure of the experience. The final line, “Oh your collegiate grief has left you dowdy in sweatshirts, absolute horror!” seems to encapsulate the frustrations and disappointments of realizing the harsh realities of growing up and leaving behind the simpler, less complicated times of adolescence.