Before Ezra Koenig was the lead singer of Vampire Weekend, he was a creative writing major at Columbia University. Even though Koenig left school, he's still a bookworm at heart.
A hero of war
Is that what they see?
Just medals and scars
So damn proud of me Rise Against – Hero of War
Is that what they see?
Just medals and scars
So damn proud of me Rise Against – Hero of War
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People at home don’t understand what soldiers actually go through, they only see the medals, parades, and what is shown on television. They would never understand everything in it’s entirety unless they went through it. War causes severe physical and mental damage to soldiers involved.
What is this?
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The white flag is a universal symbol of surrender or peace. Even though one may not be able to communicate through verbal means they can still show what they’re trying to say, but often soldiers do not see these physical signs or simply choose to ignore them
I asked her to stop, I begged her to stay
But she pressed on, so I lifted my gun
And I fired away Rise Against – Hero of War
But she pressed on, so I lifted my gun
And I fired away Rise Against – Hero of War
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They took off his clothes, they pissed in his hands
I told them to stop, but then I joined in Rise Against – Hero of War
I told them to stop, but then I joined in Rise Against – Hero of War
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Probably the most direct reference connecting this song to the Iraq war, these lines refer to the human rights violations committed by American troops against detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
A hero of war
Yeah, that's what I'll be
And when I come home
They'll be damn proud of me Rise Against – Hero of War
Yeah, that's what I'll be
And when I come home
They'll be damn proud of me Rise Against – Hero of War
What is this?
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Many go into the military with the idea that they’ll gain respect and love from people back home (often those with low self esteem will join seeing it as their only option). Often soldiers will come back – sometimes even during the war – and have a different perspective than when they started.
This doesn’t always happen especially when fighting wars backed by much protest and opposition such as the Vietnam war and the current War on Terror
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Walcott, all the way to New Jersey
All the way to the Garden State
Out of Cape Cod tonight Vampire Weekend – Walcott
All the way to the Garden State
Out of Cape Cod tonight Vampire Weekend – Walcott
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Why Jersey you ask? For Snooki? NO!
Actually it’s because that’s where Ezra Koenig grew up, in North New Jersey. I wonder if he ever visited the Jersey Shore as a kid…that bougie guido (he did, you moulie) Some parts of North Jersey, especially towns like Alpine are richer and WASPier than Cape Cod, so it’s an out of the frying pan, into the fire move.
Getting to New Jersey also means being safe from the vampires.
that bougie guido did indeed spent a lot of time on the shore as a kid since his best friend’s family ran a motel in Wildwood, NJ. He also went ahead and became a self-proclamed fan of the Jersey Shore reality show as an adult. He revealed all of this in this really good podcast, around the 16.10 minute mark:
What is this?
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Wellfleet is famous for their oysters and oysters just so happen to be an aphrodisiac
This warning could have two reasonings:
The 1st – To literally engage in coitus with the women of Wellfleet to keep Walcott occupied and out of Cape Cod
The 2nd – To disregard the women of Wellfleet as to stay away from Cape Cod entirely. This one goes well with the next lines, saying “fuck ‘em all and get outta here.”
Don’t even know if the women of Wellfleet are hot.
And great loves will one day have to part
I know that I am meant for this world The Smashing Pumpkins – Muzzle
I know that I am meant for this world The Smashing Pumpkins – Muzzle
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And in my mind as I was floating
Far above the clouds
Some children laughed I'd fall for certain
For thinkin' that I'd live forever The Smashing Pumpkins – Muzzle
Far above the clouds
Some children laughed I'd fall for certain
For thinkin' that I'd live forever The Smashing Pumpkins – Muzzle
What is this?
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