Step
Vampire Weekend Lyrics

Every time I see you in the world
Whenever the singer encounters the person they're singing to, they always interfere with his relationship.

You always step to my girl
The person the singer is addressing always tries to get involved with his girlfriend.

Back back way back
A moment of nostalgia, reminiscing about times long past.

I used to front like Angkor Wat
The artist used to present themselves in a way that was grander than reality.

Mechanicsburg, anchorage, and Dar es Salaam
The artist is referencing random places to demonstrate that their past was a bit all over the place.

While home in New York
The singer is comparing their current home to their previous life, which seemed much different.

Was champagne and disco tapes
Their life in New York was luxurious, filled with partying and music.

From L.A. slash San Francisco
The artist is discussing the influence of the West Coast on their life.

But actually Oakland and not Alameda
The artist is correcting their former perception of where they were spending time in California.

Your girl was in Berkeley with her communist reader
The person the singer is addressing's partner was reading a book about communism while in school in Berkeley, California.

Mine was entombed within boombox and Walkman
The singer's partner was deeply invested in music, listening to it on both a boombox and Walkman.

I was a hoarder but girl that was back then
The artist used to be a collector or possibly even sufferer of hoarding behaviors but is now changed.

The gloves are off
A metaphorical indication that the fight is on.

The wisdom teeth are out
A metaphorical nod to the singer's maturity and readiness to tackle problems head-on.

What you on about?
A challenge to the person the singer is addressing to state their intentions or goals.

I feel it in my bones
The artist is expressing certainty and conviction.

I'm stronger now
The singer has grown and changed, developing a stronger sense of self and resilience to hardship.

I'm ready for the house
The singer is prepared to take on challenges in a permanent or significant way (such as owning a house).

Such a modest mouse
A play on words - the singer is comparing themselves to the band Modest Mouse (known for their introspective, emotional music), but also acknowledging their own humility.

I can't do it alone
Acknowledgement that the journey is too difficult to be done alone and the singer needs help or support.

Ancestors told me
The singer is referencing stories and advice passed down from their ancestors.

That their girl was better
The singer is recalling stories of their ancestors' partners being superior to their own.

She's richer than Croesus
A phrase meaning that the person is incredibly wealthy.

She's tougher than leather
The artist's ancestors used to tell stories of women who were incredibly resilient and tough like leather.

I just ignored all the tales of a past life
The singer disregarded the wisdom or stories passed down by their ancestors.

Stale conversation deserves but a bread knife
The singer believes that people who only want to talk about what happened in the past should be cut off and not given any more attention.

And punks who would laugh
The singer discussing people who mocked them in the past.

When they saw us together
These people would make fun of the artist's previous relationship with someone else on the past.

Well they didn't know
The artist is trying to emphasize that the people who mocked them didn't have all the facts.

How to dress for the weather
The people who mocked them didn't have practical experience or know-how when it came to dealing with situations.

I can still see them there huddled on Astor
The singer has a vivid memory of these people standing on Astor (a street in New York) making fun of them.

Snow falling slow to the sound of the master
The artist is painting a picture of a moment in time where snow was falling gently while they listened to music and other people were cruel to them.

Wisdom's a gift but you'd trade it for youth
The artist is suggesting that some people would rather be blindly young than have the wisdom that comes with age.

Age is an honor it's still not the truth
The artist is acknowledging that being old carries value and respect, but it doesn't change the fact of aging.

We saw the stars when they hid from the world
The singer suggests they could observe beauty that others couldn't in difficult times.

You cursed the sun when it stepped to your girl
A metaphorical way to describe the person's frustration with things that try to take away what they cherish.

Maybe she's gone and I can't resurrect her
The person the singer is singing to may have lost their partner, and the singer can't bring her back to life.

The truth is she doesn't need me to protect her
Even if the person the singer is singing to lost their partner, she can take care of herself.

We know the true death
The singer is acknowledging that death is a universal truth for all humans.

The true way of our flesh
Acknowledging the body's eventual decay and giving focus to the idea that life should be enjoyed while we still can.

Everyone's dying but girl you're not old yet
The singer is reminding the person they are addressing that although everyone is dying, there is no reason to feel old or defeated prematurely.