Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin

Vampire Weekend - Jerusalem, New York, Berlin Lyrics

Examining the interplay of historical events and personal emotions, this song navigates themes of love, loss, and the weight of history. It juxtaposes three pivotal cities—Jerusalem, New York, and Berlin—each symbolizing significant historical and… Read more

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Jerusalem, New York, Berlin Music Video

Jerusalem, New York, Berlin Lyrics

I know I loved you then
I think I love you still
But this prophecy of ours
Has come back dressed to kill
Three stones on a mountain
Three small holes in a field
You've given me the big dream
But you can't make it real

Oh, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want is to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin

A hundred years or more
It feels like such a dream
An endless conversation
Since 1917
Now the battery is too hot
It's burning up in its tray
Young marriages are melting
And dying where they lay

Oh, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want is to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin

Our tongues will fall so still
Our teeth will all decay
A minute feels much longer
With nothing left to say
So let them win the battle
But don't let them restart
That genocidal feeling
That beats in every heart

Oh, wicked world
Just think what could have been
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin
All I do is lose but baby
All I want is to win
Jerusalem, New York, Berlin

Writer(s): Ariel Zvi Rechtshaid, Ezra Koenig, Michael Tucker
Copyright(s): Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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What is the Meaning of Jerusalem, New York, Berlin?

Examining the interplay of historical events and personal emotions, this song navigates themes of love, loss, and the weight of history. It juxtaposes three pivotal cities—Jerusalem, New York, and Berlin—each symbolizing significant historical and cultural conflicts. The references span from an intimate, almost nostalgic love to broader socio-political unrest, encapsulated in the line "an endless conversation since 1917," signaling the tumultuous aftermath of World War I and its century-long consequences. The lyrics lament failed dreams and lost potential, evoking a sense of disillusionment. The final verse warns against the resurgence of “genocidal feeling,” underscoring the cyclical nature of human conflict. Through this intricate narrative, the song reflects on how personal and collective histories are intertwined, shaped by a "wicked world" that perpetuates cycles of devastation and longing.

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