Frontman Ezra Koenig explained to MTV News: "That song came together in a way that none of our older songs ever have. [Multi-instrumentalist/producer] Rostam [Batmanglij] made a beat and sent it to us, and I spent some time writing lyrics and a melody to it, and then we put it together into what it is now. On that level, it is very distinct from what we've done."
Koenig explained in track-by-track production notes: "It's inspired by some of the same African vibes and rhythms that influenced the debut, but the finished product represents a new chapter in the band's sound. "This song picks up where 'M79' left off. Similar people, similar geography, but, I think, a more developed sense of purpose."
Vampire Weekend are notorious for their use of African rhythms in their songs, describing their genre of music as "Upper West Side Soweto" Koenig commented to The Guardian January 7, 2010: "It's just as natural for us to listen to music from Africa as it is to Cream or whoever. There's no reason why Cream should be a bigger part of my heritage – my family is from eastern Europe and grew up in New Jersey and Eric Clapton is a British guy playing the blues. When you break it down like that, the rock'n'roll canon becomes a little less monolithic. Just because I grew up a white guy in America doesn't mean that's the music of my life."
One of the lyrics refers to a Richard Serra Skatepark. Koenig explained to The London Times January 23, 2010 that the phrase occurred to him after he saw a Serra sculpture at MoMA and thought, "if I could skate, that would be fun to skate on."
White Sky
Vampire Weekend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down on the corner that you walk each day in passin'
The elderly sales clerk won't eye us with suspicion
The whole, immortal corporation's given its permission
A little stairway, a little piece of carpet
A pair of mirrors that are facing one another
Out in both directions, a thousand little Julias
You waited since lunch
It all comes at once
Around the corner, the house that modern art built
A house for modern art to keep it out the closets
The people who might own it, the sins of pride and envy
And on the second floor, the Richard Serra Skate Park
You waited since lunch
It all comes at once
Sit on the park wall, ask all the right questions
"Why are the horses racing taxis in the winter?"
Look up at the buildings, imagine who might live there
Imagining your wolfords in a ball upon the sink there
You waited since lunch
It all comes at once
The song “White Sky” by Vampire Weekend is a reflection on modern city life and the experience of living in the concrete jungle. Starting with the first verse which describes an “ancient business” and “modern piece of glasswork” on a street corner that everyone walks by, the song explores the contrast between the old and new in the city. The elderly sales clerk who doesn’t eye them with suspicion and the “immortal corporation” that has given permission suggests that there are institutional forces at play that perpetuate this dynamic.
In the second verse, the song describes a house that modern art built, a place to keep art out of closets. The people who might own it are guilty of “sins of pride and envy,” which could be interpreted as the wealthy who have the resources to own and display art. The Richard Serra Skate Park on the second floor is another example of how the old and new are intertwined in the city.
The chorus of “You waited since lunch, it all comes at once” is a commentary on how life in the city can be overwhelming, unpredictable and sudden. The final verse encourages the listener to sit on a park wall, imagine who might live in the fancy buildings around them, and imagine their own personal belongings in that space. It reminds us that despite the overwhelming nature of city life, we can still find moments of reflection, imagination and creativity amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
An ancient business, a modern piece of glasswork
A juxtaposition of old and new, a nod to the constant changing and evolving nature of life and technology.
Down on the corner that you walk each day in passin'
The mundanity of daily life, the routine and familiarity of places and people we encounter every day.
The elderly sales clerk won't eye us with suspicion
The reassuring feeling of acceptance and being part of a community, where even those who are older and stereotypically judgmental won't treat us with suspicion or disdain.
The whole, immortal corporation's given its permission
The acceptance and endorsement of society, including powerful and timeless entities like corporations, who have given their approval to our existence and actions.
A little stairway, a little piece of carpet
The small details and unremarkable aspects of life and the environment around us, which can still have value and meaning if we take the time to appreciate them.
A pair of mirrors that are facing one another
The idea of infinite reflection, the endless possibility of self-reflection and introspection, and the way we can become lost in our own thoughts and emotions.
Out in both directions, a thousand little Julias
The multitude of possibilities and diverse paths that life and our relationships can take, represented by a multitude of people or versions of ourselves.
That come together in the middle of Manhattan
The idea of convergence and connection, how we all come together in big cities or other shared spaces and how these commonalities can bring us closer together.
You waited since lunch
The passage of time and the anticipation of something greater to come.
It all comes at once
The suddenness and overwhelming nature of change or realization, how something can seem to come out of nowhere and completely upend our lives.
Around the corner, the house that modern art built
The influence of art on our lives and culture, and how it can shape the way we see and experience the world around us.
A house for modern art to keep it out the closets
The way we use art to define ourselves and our society, and how it can help us break out of old patterns and ways of thinking.
The people who might own it, the sins of pride and envy
The pitfalls of excessive pride and envy, and how they can corrupt us and cause us to lose sight of what's really important in life.
And on the second floor, the Richard Serra Skate Park
The beauty of combining different creative expressions and mediums, such as visual art and physical activity, to create something truly unique.
Sit on the park wall, ask all the right questions
The importance of curiosity and questioning, of taking time to reflect on our experiences and surroundings and seeking deeper meaning and understanding.
"Why are the horses racing taxis in the winter?"
The absurdity of modern life and technology, and the way it sometimes blurs the boundaries between the natural and the artificial.
Look up at the buildings, imagine who might live there
The allure of mystery and imagination, and how we can never truly know what's going on in the lives of others, especially those who seem vastly different from ourselves.
Imagining your wolfords in a ball upon the sink there
The playful and frivolous nature of our thoughts and fantasies, which can often take us to places we never expected to go.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Joseph Baio, Christopher William Tomson, Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind