THIS LIFE
Vampire Weekend Lyrics

Baby, I know pain is as natural as the rain
Pain is a part of life, just like how rain is a part of nature.

I just thought it didn't rain in California
The singer expected California to be free from pain and suffering, like how it doesn't rain much.

Baby, I know love isn't what I thought it was
The singer has learned that love is not what they previously believed it to be.

'Cause I've never known a love like this before ya
The love the artist is experiencing is new and different from what they've known before.

Baby, I know dreams tend to crumble at extremes
Dreams often fall apart when pushed to their limits.

I just thought our dream would last a little bit longer
The singer expected their dream to endure for a longer period of time than it did.

There's a time when every man draws a line down in the sand
At some point, everyone makes a stand for what they believe in.

We're surviving, we're still living, are we stronger?
Despite the hardships, the artist wonders if they've become stronger as a result.

You've been cheatin' on, cheatin' on me
One person has been unfaithful to the other in a romantic relationship.

I've been cheatin' on, cheatin' on you
The other person has also been unfaithful in the same relationship.

But I've been cheatin' through this life
The cheating in the relationship is just one aspect of the singer's overall sense of deception and dissatisfaction with life.

And all its suffering
Life is full of pain and sorrow.

Oh Christ
An exclamation of desperation or despair.

Am I good for nothing?
The singer questions their own worth and purpose.

Baby, I know hate is always waiting at the gate
Hatred is always nearby, ready to cause harm.

I just thought we'd lock the gate when we left in the morning
The artist expected to be able to protect themselves from feelings of hate and malice.

When I was told that war is how we landed on these shores
The artist learned that violence and conflict are often at the root of how societies are formed and established.

I just thought the drums of war beat louder warnings
The singer expected the warning signs of war to be more evident or noticeable.

Baby, I know death probably hasn't happened yet
The singer doesn't feel like they've truly lived yet, so they don't believe they've experienced the end of life, either.

'Cause I don't remember living life before this
The artist feels like their current experience of life is their first real experience.

And, darling, our disease is the same one as the trees
Humans and nature alike are subject to the same maladies and afflictions.

Unaware that they've been living in a forest
People often fail to recognize their own environment and the impact it has on them.

This life
A reference to the struggles and suffering of everyday existence.

Am I good for nothing?
The artist continues to question their own value and purpose in life.