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Artist: Vampire Weekend
Track: Step

Lyrics
Every time I see you in the world
You always step to my girl

Back back way back
I used to front like Angkor Wat
Mechanicsburg, anchorage, and Dar es Salaam

While home in New York
Was champagne and disco tapes
From L.A. slash San Francisco
But actually Oakland and not Alameda
Your girl was in Berkeley with her communist reader
Mine was entombed within boombox and Walkman
I was a hoarder but girl that was back then

The gloves are off
The wisdom teeth are out
What you on about?
I feel it in my bones
I feel it in my bones

I'm stronger now
I'm ready for the house
Such a modest mouse
I can't do it alone
I can't do it alone

Every time I see you in the world
You always step to my girl

Ancestors told me
That their girl was better
She's richer than Croesus
She's tougher than leather
I just ignored all the tales of a past life
Stale conversation deserves but a bread knife
And punks who would laugh
When they saw us together
Well they didn't know
How to dress for the weather
I can still see them there huddled on Astor
Snow falling slow to the sound of the master

The gloves are off
The wisdom teeth are out
What you on about?
I feel it in my bones
I feel it in my bones

I'm stronger now
I'm ready for the house
Such a modest mouse
I can't do it alone
I can't do it alone

Wisdom's a gift but you'd trade it for youth
Age is an honor it's still not the truth
We saw the stars when they hid from the world
You cursed the sun when it stepped to your girl
Maybe she's gone and I can't resurrect her
The truth is she doesn't need me to protect her
We know the true death
The true way of our flesh
Everyone's dying but girl you're not old yet

The gloves are off
The wisdom teeth are out
What you on about?
I feel it in my bones
I feel it in my bones

I'm stronger now
I'm ready for the house
Such a modest mouse
I can't do it alone
I can't do it alone

The gloves are off
The wisdom teeth are out
What you on about?
I feel it in my bones
I feel it in my bones

I'm stronger now
I'm ready for the house
Such a modest mouse
I can't do it alone
I can't do it alone

Every time I see you in the world
You always step to my girl
Full Lyrics and Meaning
SongMeanings Interpretations
Vampire Weekend - Step Lyrics
This song is about coming-of-age in the context of a relationship with an ex-girlfriend. The "you" Ezra addresses in the song ("you always step to my girl") is ...
Vampire Weekend - Everlasting Arms Lyrics
8 Comments · "Hold me in your everlasting arms Looked up full of fear Trapped beneath a chandelier that's going down" · This song seems to be about death and how ...
Vampire Weekend - Diane Young Lyrics
With the last line, they ask of people adopting this culture to step back and think about what they really want without any of society's influence. 'Irish ...
Vampire Weekend - M79 Lyrics
It's gonna take a little time. While you're waiting like a factory line. I'll ride across the park. Backseat on the 79. Wasted days you've come to pass
Vampire Weekend Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More
Vampire Weekend Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More at SongMeanings! song lyrics, song meanings, albums, music and more.
Vampire Weekend - Cousins Lyrics
... step of the way. This whole song now makes sense to me. I hope this interpretation was helpful to you as well... let me know if you have a better idea. I ...
Vampire Weekend - Finger Back Lyrics
Bend my finger back (snap) Wrap it in a paper towel. Break a twig in half and set it straight. Hit me with a wood bat. Hit me with a canister that's fired ...
Vampire Weekend - Ottoman Lyrics
sitting for portraits doesnt usually happen these days, unlike wealthy families back then. besides, "all of the cards" is a metaphor for all of the steps (like ...
Vampire Weekend - Rich Man Lyrics
... steps and staircases to climb. Thousands of men you'd most likely decline. And yet I'm the one 10,000 to 1, could I possibly bet? I'm compelled by your love ...
Surfer Blood - Swim Lyrics
... Vampire Weekend some how, just a less massachussettes'ier. Anyway Love this songgggg. THANK YOU for these lyrics they remind me of Vampire ... step at a time" or ...
MGMT - Brian Eno Lyrics
Dipping swords in metaphors yeah but what does he know? We're always one step behind him, he's Brian Eno Brian Eno! He promised pretty worlds and all the ...
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Genius Meanings
Vampire Weekend – Step
“Step” is inspired by “Step to My Girl” by Souls of Mischief. Per the band: “Souls Of Mischief I’ve always loved. I kind of associate them with the first time that I really
Vampire Weekend – M79
“M79” features orchestral strings, name-drops whose ability to be understood directly correlate with the number of polo shirts you own (read: preppy), and a hint of surf-rock
Vampire Weekend (Ft. Danny Brown, Despot & Heems) – Step (Remix)
On New Years Eve 2013, the band released the remix to what Pitchfork named the 14th best song of the year. https://twitter.com/vampireweekend/statuses/418132457825644544 As a
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
“A-Punk” clocks in at just over two minutes, but its awkward, reference-filled narrative, guitar, prep, and diversity with instruments like the chamberlain allow it to be
Vampire Weekend – Hannah Hunt
“Hannah Hunt”, according to Ezra Koenig’s interview with Carrie Battan of Pitchfork, is “named after a girl the singer sat next to in a Buddhism class in college (who also happens
Vampire Weekend – Obvious Bicycle
“Obvious Bicycle” depicts the life of a man who has lost hope in life while growing, believing he is so small in a vast world, and that he has no importance. One could see this
Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hall
Along with the track “2021,” “Harmony Hall” is the first single released from Vampire Weekend’s fourth album Father of the Bride, their first since 2013. The song breezes along
Vampire Weekend – Rich Man
Rich Man is a tongue-in-cheek ditty built off a sample from “Please Go Easy With Me” by Sierra Leone guitarist S.E. Rogie. The track plays as both a touching love song and a
Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
“Oxford Comma” is full of anything and everything from slick guitar riffs to Lil Jon references, and appears as the second track on Vampire Weekend’s eponymous debut album. When
Vampire Weekend – Finger Back
“Finger Back” is about an Orthodox Jewish girl falling in love with an Arab falafel shop employee, as indicated in the bridge. In this interview with Face Culture, Ezra Koenig
Vampire Weekend – Bambina
Another track off Father of the Bride that covers religion, the upbeat “Bambina” describes an old chant that translates to bye, bye, baby
Vampire Weekend’s “Hold You Now” Samples A Melanesian Choral Song From ‘The Thin Red Line’
The band has also used samples on songs like “2021” & “Step.”
Vampire Weekend – Diane Young
“Diane Young” seems to be the “fun” song (about death) on Modern Vampires Of The City, an album full of death. The title, “Diane Young”, is a play on words of “dying young.” You
Vampire Weekend – Don't Lie
To provide the most Genius-style explanation of the song possible, “Don’t Lie” is a song about not lying. Truthtelling, realkeeping, you could say “Don’t Lie” is also a double
Vampire Weekend – Unbelievers
“Unbelievers” is a ridiculously complex and witty take on where we stand in this world. What do our beliefs say about us? Do our commitments dictate our fate? Religious themes are
Vampire Weekend – Worship You
“Worship You” is a direct message to God. Although the lyrics are hard to understand with Ezra’s fast-paced vocals, it’s clear to see while reading them it’s an affirmation and
Vampire Weekend – Ya Hey
“Ya Hey” has a distinct religious tone. The searcher narrative may allude to some personal testimonies from the band members on the press junket promoting this album. After the
Vampire Weekend – Hudson
“Hudson” is drawn from a poem Ezra Koenig once wrote about Henry Hudson. The Hudson River looms large over New Jersey and Westchester County, New York as the path into the city’s
Vampire Weekend – Arrows
Based on scenes from Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, “Arrows” was apparently too hot for the American release and was only included on the Japanese version of the debut album
Vampire Weekend – Young Lion
The band’s multi-instrumentalist and producer, Rostam Batmanglij, wrote “Young Lion” about a real-life June 2009 encounter that lyricist Ezra Koenig had “with an older rasta at
Vampire Weekend – Everlasting Arms
“Everlasting Arms” is a riff on the hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.”, which is covered by artists from multiple genres. On Grantland, Steven Hyden pointed out the inclusion
MoMilli – Young Money: Rap, "Step," and V-Dubs (And the Vampy Weeks Rap References You Missed)
Last week, Vampire Weekend covered “Blurred Lines” on the BBC. A lot of listeners said they’d never heard Ezra Koenig rap to T.I. before–or rap ever !–which got them asking how
Big Thief – Vampire Empire
[Verse 1] / Watching TV tired, bleeding on the bed / The milk has just expired, all the leaves are dead / I'm not quiet, you've been quiet, just receiving what you said / Reeling
Souls of Mischief – Step to My Girl
“Step To My Girl” is an early 1990s demo recording by Oakland hip hop group Souls Of Mischief. Along with “Cab Fare,” it was among the demo recordings that helped the group land a
Vampire Weekend (Ft. Jude Law) – Lord Ullin's Daughter
Exclusive to the Japanese Edition of the album, this song features Jude Law reading Thomas Campbell’s poem “Lord Ullin’s Daughter”.
YZ (Rap) – Who's That Girl
In “Step,” Vampire Weekend paid homage to Souls of Mischief. In “Step to My Girl,” Souls of Mischief sampled this: YZ’s “Who’s That Girl,” in which the person doing the stepping is
The Weeknd (Ft. Daft Punk) – I Feel It Coming
Inspired by house-and ‘80s pop, “I Feel It Coming” is about wanting more from a relationship. The song differs from The Weeknd’s usual attitudes towards love, which revolve around
HAIM – The Steps
“The Steps” features a bright, catchy tune about trying to repair a relationship with a partner who’s completely checked out. The lyrics evoke bitterness and frustration—but also
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Step" by Vampire Weekend
The song "Step" by Vampire Weekend is a reflection on the idea of youth and growing older. In the chorus, the narrator is singing about the feeling of bein...
Meaning of "Step (Remix)" by Vampire Weekend (Ft. Danny Brown, Despot & Heems)
"Step (Remix)" by Vampire Weekend featuring Danny Brown, Despot, and Heems is a collaborative track that explores themes of love, possessiveness, and perso...
Meaning of "Rich Man" by Vampire Weekend
"Rich Man" by Vampire Weekend explores the concept of wealth and the pursuit of material possessions, ultimately suggesting that true happiness and content...
Meaning of "​ibmac26's Album List Write-ups!" by ​ibmac26
The song "​ibmac26's Album List Write-ups!" by ​ibmac26, with reference to various albums and songs, provides a review and analysis of these musical works....
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SongFacts
Step by Vampire Weekend - Songfacts
Step by Vampire Weekend song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Don't Lie by Vampire Weekend - Songfacts
Don't Lie by Vampire Weekend song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Genius Albums
Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend
Modern Vampires of the City is Vampire Weekend’s third studio album, and was co-produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and band member Rostam Batmanglij. Rechstaid’s contributions are
Contra by Vampire Weekend
Contra is the second studio album by Vampire Weekend. They tried many new musical styles, including dubbed and slowed vocals, clattering pseudo-punk, African guitar riffs, grand
Contra (Japanese CD) by Vampire Weekend
Get all the lyrics to songs on Contra (Japanese CD) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Genius Artists
Vampire Weekend Albums and Discography
See all of Vampire Weekend’s albums on Genius.
Despot
Alec Reinstein (born May 7, 1982), better known by his stage name Despot, is a rapper from Queens, New York City. He was signed to rapper El-P’s label Definitive Jux in 2004