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Artist: Vampire Weekend
Track: A-Punk

Lyrics
Johanna drove slowly into the city
The Hudson river all filled with snow
She spied the ring on his honor's finger
Oh, oh, oh

A thousand years in one piece of silver
She took it from his lily white hand
Showed no fear she'd seen the thing
In the young men's wing at Sloan Kettering

Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

His honor drove southward seeking exotica
Down to the pueblo huts of New Mexico
Cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas
Oh, oh, oh

I saw Johanna down in the subway
She took an apartment in Washington Heights
Half of the ring lies here with me
But the other half's at the bottom of the sea

Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Full Lyrics and Meaning
SongMeanings Interpretations
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk Lyrics
But the line, as a whole, refers to the old man's desire to visit a warmer clime, either to retire or just to travel to. Wonderful song. It's a new twist on the ...
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 - Obvious Bicycle Lyrics
The "struggle to find success" interpretation fits to the band history before the first album when they worked full time jobs and were unhappy about there life.
Vampire Weekend - Campus Lyrics
Then he sees her walking 'cross the campus, the "cruel professor studying romances", i think, is the girl overthinking the situation and wondering if there was ...
Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa Lyrics
I read these lyrics and loved the references to Benneton and Peter Gabriel. After some research I got the meaning of the song but the way you broke down the ...
Vampire Weekend - Step Lyrics
"The Punks would laugh when they saw us together" - Punk rock kids seeing Ezra listening to his music and laughing at it. "We saw the stars when they hid from ...
Vampire Weekend - Cousins Lyrics
I thought he said "Middle East-maker" and I thought it made absolutely no sense, so thanks for the interpretation. lmao. Contra's a great album.
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma Lyrics
Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma? I've seen those English dramas too, they're cruel. So if there's any other way. To spell the word, it's fine with me ...
Vampire Weekend - Arrows Lyrics
this song is amazing and i don't know why they didn't put it on the album. i think "you'd gone out hunting" means that she was seeing other people... while he ...
Vampire Weekend - The Kids Don't Stand a Chance Lyrics
... Vampire Weekend album. Koenig responded that the song was born from him figuring out what he was going to do after graduation while his other friends were ...
Vampire Weekend - Run Lyrics
I think the little battered radio would be both the means of existence=music and the only connection to the outside world. The album is called Contra I think ...
Vampire Weekend - Giant Lyrics
The California is probably about the album 'Contra' being inspired by California. California also has a stereotype of skateboarders and surfers. The part about ...
Vampire Weekend - Walcott Lyrics
Best song on the album?
Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers Lyrics
I certainly think it's a religious song (much like most of the new album - see Ya Hey). Grace, warmth, heat, and light are all metaphors for spiritual support, ...
Vampire Weekend - Everlasting Arms Lyrics
I agree with others that the chandelier suggests a reference to their first album. It was such a huge success that it might have been hard for them to get out ...
Vampire Weekend - Young Lion Lyrics
This was in the presser that came with the album: In the stressful final weeks of finishing Contra, Ezra was anxiously walking to the studio when a complete ...
Vampire Weekend - I Stand Corrected Lyrics
You've been checking on my facts. And I admit I have been lax. In double-screening what I say. It wasn't funny anyway. I stand corrected
Vampire Weekend - Hudson Lyrics
idk about you, but that book and the war vets definitely give me whole different feelings about the song.(It's one of my favorites of the album.).
Vampire Weekend - Worship You Lyrics
I think, as with a lot of the songs on this album, he's really struggling with believing in God vs atheism. He's incredibly frustrated with God because he sees ...
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 - White Sky Lyrics
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 ...
Vampire Weekend - Horchata Lyrics
In December, drinking horchata. I'd look psychotic in a balaclava. Winter's cold is too much to handle. Pincher crabs that pinch at your sandals
Vampire Weekend - I Think Ur a Contra Lyrics
We thought of calling the album 'Contra' before this song was even written — to me it makes perfect sense as the title of this album because in some way every ...
Vampire Weekend - Hannah Hunt Lyrics
One thing to add is that on VW's official album lyrics, "In Santa Barbara, Hannah cried, ' I miss those freezing beaches.'" This distinction is important here ...
Vampire Weekend - Ya Hey Lyrics
I think part of the meaning of this song can be found on other tracks on this album. ... A-Punk Lyrics · Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa Lyrics · M79 Lyrics · Campus ...
Vampire Weekend - Bryn Lyrics
Ion displacement. Won't work in the basement. Especially when I'm not with you. Here in the heartland. A feeling so startling. I don't know what i should do
Vampire Weekend - Finger Back Lyrics
Ezra Koenig, being a diaspora Jew, spent lots of time in Israel before and during the production of this album. The MVOTC album itself is a confrontation and a ...
Vampire Weekend - Don't Lie Lyrics
One look sent knees to the ground. Young bloods can't be settling down. Young hearts need the pressure to pound. So hold me close, my baby. Don't lie
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Genius Meanings
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 (Ft. Steve Lacy) – Sunflower
“Sunflower” was released alongside “Big Blue” as the third and fourth singles from Vampire Weekend’s album Father of the Bride. The track features guitarist Steve Lacy from The
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 – A-Punk (Live in St. Augustine)
[Spoken] / Alright! / [Verse 1] / Johanna drove slowly into the city / The Hudson River all filled with snow / She spied the ring on His Honor's finger / Oh, oh, oh / A thousand
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 – Campus
Rostam Batmanglij, the primary writer of the song, based “Campus” on “Cruel Professor,” a short story in Ezra Koenig’s collection Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa from his senior honors
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk Samples
See all of “A-Punk” by Vampire Weekend’s samples
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
Rockapella – A-Punk
[Intro] / Ay, ay, ay, ay / Ay, ay, ay / Look outside, the raincoat coming, say oh / Look outside, the raincoat coming, say oh / Oh, oh / Ay, ay, ay, ay / Ay, ay, ay / [Verse 1
Vampire Weekend – Mansard Roof
“Mansard Roof” was the first single ever released by Vampire Weekend, and as the opening track, sets the tone for the entire album. A mansard roof is a type of roof typically
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend
"A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend is a song about a romantic quest for adventure and renewal in the face of bleak circumstances. The song follows a story of two ...
Meaning of "Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend
The song "Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend is a song about a person looking back at a situation from their past, yet struggling to cope with the same issue...
Meaning of "Bambina" by Vampire Weekend
The song "Bambina" by Vampire Weekend reflects on themes of uncertainty, danger, and the fleeting nature of life. Through its lyrics, the song portrays a s...
Meaning of "Ottoman" by Vampire Weekend
The song "Ottoman" by Vampire Weekend explores themes of social status, appearances, and the pressures of conforming to societal expectations. In the fir...
Meaning of "Unbelievers" by Vampire Weekend
"Unbelievers" by Vampire Weekend explores themes of doubt, existential questioning, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that may not al...
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SongFacts
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend - Songfacts
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Genius Albums
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
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
Unbelievers - EP by Vampire Weekend
Unbelievers is an EP released after the band’s third album Modern Vampires of the City. The EP features remixes of the tracks “Unbelievers” and “Step”, as well as a live version of
Contra (Japan Limited Edition CD) by Vampire Weekend
Get all the lyrics to songs on Contra (Japan Limited Edition CD) and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
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.
View 2 More →
Genius Q&A
Q:When did Vampire Weekend release “A-Punk”?
Vampire Weekend released “A-Punk” on June 16, 2007.