Discussing the track with The Sunday Times before its release, Koenig commented that "infighting among white people about who is marginally more or less white is not particularly interesting", and that the song partially explores that. The phrase "unbearably white" had previously been used as a criticism of the band, in reference to their race.
The art pop song develops and shifts between isolated vocals, handbells, jazz fusion-inspired bass guitar, and orchestral swells, and lyrically explores a failing relationship. The track's title has been described as a "prank", as the song does not discuss Koenig's racial identity.
For Pitchfork, Sheldon Pearce described the song as "gorgeous", concluding that "as the [song's] characters seek salvation from a bitter coldness, Vampire Weekend find a spark".
Unbearably White
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that's not enough
And pulling away has been unbearably buff
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
The city was freezing
The wind at the doorway was unbearably cold
You walked to the bedroom
And sat down all right
The page in your notebook was unbearably white
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
Sooner or later
The story gets told
To tell it myself would be unbearably bold
Presented with darkness
We turn to the light
Could've been smart, we're just unbearably bright
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
Call it a day
Call it a night
Careless and cold
And just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Careless and cold
And just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Careless and cold
And just unbearably white
Baby, I love you
But that's not enough
And pulling all the weight has been unbearably rough
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Careless and cold
And just unbearably white
The lyrics of Vampire Weekend’s song Unbearably White depict the singer’s struggle to maintain a relationship that he loves but feels strained by. The opening lines, “Baby, I love you, but that’s not enough,” set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is aware that love alone cannot keep a relationship together, and he is unsure of what else he can do to hold on.
The imagery of the mountain covered in unbearably white snow adds to the sense of difficulty that the singer feels. He is trying to climb to the top to overcome the obstacles in his relationship, but he finds that the whiteness of the snow on the peak is unbearable. This could symbolize that the obstacles are insurmountable and that perhaps the singer should give up.
Later in the song, the line, “To learn what kept us together, darling, is what kept us alive” suggests that despite the difficulties, the singer still sees value in the relationship, and he recognizes that it is what has kept him going. The final lines, “Careless and cold, and just unbearably white,” could represent the singer’s mindset as he resigns himself to the fact that the relationship may be over.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I love you
Expressing love for the person, but this statement alone is insufficient.
But that's not enough
Despite the love, more is necessary to maintain the relationship.
And pulling away has been unbearably rough
Withdrawing from the relationship is difficult, due to unresolved issues.
I ran up the mountain
Trying to escape from the problems of the relationship.
Out of your sight
The person with whom the relationship is shared is unaware of the other's inner turmoil.
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
The snowy peak symbolizes the difficulty and starkness of the situation.
The city was freezing
Referring to the starkness of reality that cannot be ignored.
An elegant flow
Despite the harshness of reality, there is still a certain sense of beauty and sophistication.
The wind at the doorway was unbearably cold
Acknowledging the pain in the situation.
You walked to the bedroom
Entering the private space where thoughts and emotions can be sorted out.
And sat down all right
Taking a moment to reflect in order to make sense of what is going on.
The page in your notebook was unbearably white
The blank page represents the emptiness and lack of understanding in the situation.
There's an avalanche coming
Warning that the current situation will not be sustainable and a change is coming.
Don't cover your eyes
Emphasizing the importance of facing the truth of the situation.
It's what you thought that you wanted
The person believed that they wanted a certain outcome, but that may not be the case.
It's still a surprise
Despite prior expectations, what is happening now is unexpected.
It's hard on the body
The situation is physically draining.
It's hard on the mind
The situation is mentally taxing and challenging.
To learn what kept us together, darling
Reflecting on what made the relationship strong in the first place.
Is what kept us alive
Realizing that despite the challenges faced, the connection between them is what gave them strength to carry on.
Sooner or later
The truth will inevitably come out.
The story gets told
The truth will come to light.
To tell it myself would be unbearably bold
Admitting that it is difficult to speak the truth to oneself and to others.
Presented with darkness
Facing uncertainty and darkness about the future.
We turn to the light
Hoping to find direction and guidance through the difficulties.
Could've been smart, we're just unbearably bright
Acknowledging that they may have not made the best choices despite their intelligence.
Call it a day
Giving up or moving on from the situation.
Call it a night
Taking a break or ending the day.
Careless and cold
The final outcome may be unfeeling or harsh.
And just unbearably white
Reiterating the starkness of the situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J W
patiently waiting for lyrics guy
Fine, here it is:
Baby, I love you
But that is not enough
Pulling away is being unbearably buff
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
Snow peak was just unbearably white
The city was freezing
An elegant flow
The wind at the doorway was unbearably cold
You walked to the bedroom
And sat down to write
The page of your notebook was unbearably white
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
Sooner or later
The story gets told
To tell it myself would be unbearably bold
Presented with darkness
Return to the light
Could've been smart, but just unbearably bright
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
Called it a day
Called it a night
Callous and cold
And just unbearably white
Called it a day
Called it a night
Callous and cold
And just unbearably white
Called it a day
Called it a night
Callous and cold
And just unbearably white
Baby, I love you
But that is not enough
And pulling away has been unbearably buff
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
Snow peak was just unbearably white
Called it a day
Called it a night
Callous and cold
And just unbearably white
laura
Verse 1]
Baby, I love you
But that's not enough
And pulling away has been unbearably buff
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
The city was freezing
An elegant flow
The wind at the doorway was unbearably cold
You walked to the bedroom
And sat down to write
The page in your notebook was unbearably white
[Chorus]
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
[Verse 2]
Sooner or later
The story gets told
To tell it myself would be unbearably bold
Presented with darkness
We turn to the light
Could've been smart, we're just unbearably bright
[Chorus]
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
[Bridge]
Call it a day
Call it a night
Calloused and cold
And just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Calloused and cold
And just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Calloused and cold
And just unbearably white
[Verse 3]
Baby, I love you
But that's not enough
And pulling away has been unbearably rough
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
[Outro]
Call it a day
Call it a night
Careless and cold
And just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Michelle Vázquez
Baby, I love you
But that's not enough
And pulling away has been unbearably buff
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
The city was freezing
An elegant flow
The wind at the doorway was unbearably cold
You walked to the bedroom
And sat down to write
The page in your notebook was unbearably white
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
Sooner or later
The story gets told
To tell it myself would be unbearably bold
Presented with darkness
We turn to the light
Could've been smart, we're just unbearably bright
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
It's what you thought that you wanted
It's still a surprise
It's hard on the body
It's hard on the mind
To learn what kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
Call it a day
Call it a night
Calloused and cold and just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Calloused and cold and just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Calloused and cold and just unbearably white
Baby, I love you (Call it a day)
But that's not enough (Call it a night)
And pulling away has been unbearably rough (Calloused and cold and just unbearably white)
I ran up the mountain (Call it a day)
Out of your sight (Call it a night)
The snow on the peak was just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Careless and cold and just unbearably white
Call it a day
Call it a night
Songwriters: Ezra Koenig
cristina
[Verse 1]
Baby, I love you
But that is not enough
Pulling away is being unbearably white
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
Snow peak was just unbearably white
The city was freezing
An elegant flow
The wind at the doorway was unbearably cold
You walked through the bedroom
And sat down all right
Baby, your notebook was unbearably white
[Chorus]
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
Is what you thought you wanted
Still a surprise?
Is hard on the body
Is hard on the mind
To look kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
[Verse 2]
Sooner or later
The story gets told
To tell it myself would be unbearably bold
Present it with darkness
Return to the light
Could've been smart but just unbearably bright
[Chorus]
There's an avalanche coming
Don't cover your eyes
Is what you thought you wanted
Still a surprise
Is hard on the body
Is hard on the mind
To look kept us together, darling
Is what kept us alive
[Bridge]
Caught it at day
Caught it at night
Careless and cold
Just unbearably white
Caught it at day
Caught it at night
Careless and cold
Just unbearably white
Caught it at day
Caught it at night
Careless and cold
Just unbearably white
[Verse 3]
Baby, I love you
But that is not enough
Pulling away is being unbearably white
I ran up the mountain
Out of your sight
Snow peak was just unbearably white
[Outro]
Caught it at day
Caught it at night
Careless and cold
Just unbearably white
Luke D.
This is one of those "first few seconds" songs. I knew in the first few seconds I loved it
Kabaenda Shakespeare
Same
Evangelionlovr
That’s how I was with “This Life” that Intro riff is just magnetizing.
blue
I honestly can't tell if i love this bc its a masterpiece or just bc my best friend recommended it idk XD
Diana Medina
Yes!! agree, my favorite so far
Matthew Mulhern
I can relate instantly fell in love
Jacob Jones
The bands vision for this album is really coming together and it’s so refreshing
The Kids,the Aborganie and the Future
I felt like they would do some really fresh shit although I read a article about erza saying that they would go a new route.
spacadet
There can't be anything better than waking up at 11 in the afternoon to two new vampire weekend songs and a warm day of just hanging out with friends feeling like kids again.
spacadet
@Liam Weyer good point, although I guess if I had meant 11:00 pm I would have said 11 in the evening, or 11 at night.