The band takes its name from the New Order song "Love Vigilantes," although their sound tends more to folk, Americana, and country rock than New Wave. Their 2001 album Summershine also showed some movement toward Brit-pop and R.E.M.-style college rock, which would be more fully explored in Mallonee's solo career.
aftermath
Vigilantes of Love Lyrics
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Young paper boys and bourbon cabbies stand in sharp relief
Salvation army brass band strikes up by the bank
That's now empty of all currency who am I to thank
Palm readers and politicians make promises galore
Hollywood spreads her legs like a two bit whore
Offering numbness to the masses who fear the market crash
Well churches they're empty and the businessmen curse their luck
There's a little bit of truth left out there but it may not be enough
To save a world where everyone's demons are their best friends
If you cannot cast them out you learn to live with them
Oil turns to rainbows it's my last will and testament
Been casting out my skeletons scraping off the excrement
Salvation army brass band strikes up by the bank
That's now empty of all currency who am I to thank
In Vigilantes of Love’s song “Aftermath,” the lyrics portray a post-apocalyptic world. The opening line “oil turns to rainbows on rain slick city streets” could be interpreted as a reference to the aftermath of a disaster, as the colorful sheen of the oil in the rain symbolizes the destruction and chaos that have occurred. This is further illustrated by the people who are highlighted in “sharp relief”: young paper boys and bourbon cabbies who are struggling to survive in a world that has lost all semblance of order.
The Salvation Army brass band on the empty bank seems like an ironic symbol of hope amidst the devastation. However, the question of who to thank for this symbol of hope remains unanswered. In the following verse, the lyrics criticize the politicians and Hollywood for making empty promises and exploiting people’s fears. The mention of the market crash highlights the fragility of the world that we have built for ourselves. The stable alluded to in the song could be a reference to the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the hope of redemption and salvation. However, the “something coming down fast” could imply that there is no hope left.
The final verse references the emptiness of churches and the businessmen who realize they are not invincible. The truth may still exist, but it may not be enough to save the world in which people are more focused on their demons rather than defeating and casting them out. The last two lines of the song speak to the singer’s acceptance of his own failings, as he casts out his skeletons and thanks no one for the after effects of the dystopian world in which he lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Oil turns to rainbows on rain slick city streets
The beauty of the city is only a facade, hiding the filth underneath
Young paper boys and bourbon cabbies stand in sharp relief
Even the ordinary people are highlighted in this chaos
Salvation army brass band strikes up by the bank
Hope is still present in this despair
That's now empty of all currency who am I to thank
The people responsible for the economic collapse are nowhere to be found
Palm readers and politicians make promises galore
People in positions of power make empty promises to desperate individuals
Hollywood spreads her legs like a two bit whore
The entertainment industry exploits people's pain for profit
Offering numbness to the masses who fear the market crash
Pop culture provides temporary relief to those who are scared of the future
Well out there in the stable something coming down fast
The collapse of society is imminent
Well churches they're empty and the businessmen curse their luck
No one has answers or solutions, only anger and frustration
There's a little bit of truth left out there but it may not be enough
There is still some hope for redemption, but it may not be sufficient
To save a world where everyone's demons are their best friends
People have become comfortable with their inner demons, and may not want to change
If you cannot cast them out you learn to live with them
People have given up trying to fight their demons, and have learned to accept and cope with them
Oil turns to rainbows it's my last will and testament
The singer has found beauty in the brokenness, and is leaving one last message
Been casting out my skeletons scraping off the excrement
The singer has been working on their personal growth, shedding their past and becoming a better person
Salvation army brass band strikes up by the bank
Even in the end, there is still hope to be found
That's now empty of all currency who am I to thank
The collapse of society has brought the artist to a realization that material wealth is not what's important
Contributed by Kaylee G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.