Perhaps noteworthy is the frequent use of words beginning with the letter “P” throughout the song; this is left for the reader to interpret.
The themes seem to echo those of “White Man In Hammersmith Palais” by The Clash.
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the way from France
With shiny, shiny cufflinks
A shirtsleeve to enhance
The pin-striped men of morning
Are coming for to dance
With pure Egyptian cotton
The kids don't stand a chance
You criticize the practice
By murdering their plants
Ignoring all the history
Denying them romance
The pin-striped men of morning
Are coming for to dance
Forty-million dollars
The kids don't stand a chance
I didn't like the business
But that was at first glance
Your pillow feels so soft now
But still you must advance
The pin-striped men of morning
The partners in the dance
The paper's shot to pieces
The kids don't stand a chance
The lyrics of Vampire Weekend's song "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance" are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The song speaks about the injustice and imbalances in society, with some individuals having advantages over others. The first verse refers to someone who is well-dressed, possibly a rich individual showing off their wealth. The line "The kids don't stand a chance" is a reflection of how someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth is more likely to be successful than someone who is not. The pin-striped men are symbolic of the powerful individuals in society who control the system, while the kids represent the powerless masses who are at their mercy.
The second verse delves deeper into the issue of inequality in society. The line "Ignoring all the history, denying them romance" could be interpreted as the rich individuals denying the historical context that has led to their wealth creation and influence, while denying the younger generation the chance to create their own stories and experiences. The third verse is a reflection of the struggle of the lyrics speaker, who is struggling to find his place in society. The line "Your pillow feels so soft now, but still you must advance" could be interpreted as an acknowledgment that there are advantages to being wealthy, but advancement is still essential. The final line "The paper's shot to pieces, the kids don't stand a chance" represents the broken system that is failing the younger generation.
Line by Line Meaning
A devastating backstroke
An impactful move towards progress
All the way from France
From a foreign land with new perspectives
With shiny, shiny cufflinks
In a flashy and showy manner
A shirtsleeve to enhance
To elevate one's status through appearance
The pin-striped men of morning
Wealthy and powerful businessmen
Are coming for to dance
Are ready to make their moves and assert their authority
With pure Egyptian cotton
Using only the finest and most expensive materials
The kids don't stand a chance
The youth and less privileged don't have a fair opportunity
You criticize the practice
You speak out against the system
By murdering their plants
By destroying their means of production
Ignoring all the history
Dismissing the lessons of the past
Denying them romance
Depriving them of fulfilling and enjoyable experiences
Forty-million dollars
An enormous sum of wealth
I didn't like the business
I disapproved of the industry
But that was at first glance
But my initial judgement was premature
Your pillow feels so soft now
You may be comfortable now
But still you must advance
But you must still make progress and strive for more
The partners in the dance
The collaborators in the corrupt system
The paper's shot to pieces
The truth is exposed and the corrupt enterprise is ruined
The kids don't stand a chance
The youth and less privileged don't have a fair opportunity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Joseph Baio, Christopher William Tomson, Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind