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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
I want him to know
Gods' loves die young
Is he ready to go?
It's the last time running through snow
Where the vaults are full and the fire's bold

I want to know - does it bother you?
The low click of a ticking clock
There's a lifetime right in front of you
And everyone I know

Young turks
Young saturday night
Young hips shouldn't break on this ice
Old flames - they can't warm you tonight
So keep it cool, my baby

Don't lie
I want him to know
Dial up, three rings and return him his gold
It's the last time running through snow
Where the vault's are full and the fire's bold

I want to know - does it bother you?
The low click of a ticking clock
There's a headstone right in front of you
And everyone I know

Don't lie
I want him to know
Gods' loves die young
Are you ready to go?
It's the last time running through snow
Cause the fire can't last and the winter is cold

I want to know - does it bother you?
The low click of a ticking clock
There's a lifetime right in front of you
And everyone I know
Song Info
Submitted by
songmeanings On Mar 13, 2013
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Cover art for Don't Lie lyrics by Vampire Weekend

General Comment:I didn't take any particularly religious notes from this one, but in the first few listens, what stuck out to me is the concept of human mortality (and I guess how we live our lives as a result).

Maybe it's just because I had Zach Sobiech on the brain, but lines like "God's loves die young" made me think of people who -really- know they've got a limited time on this earth - the terminally ill, etc - and as a result of being so conscious of the time remaining, they often live the rest of their lives to the fullest.

But what about the rest of us? Why don't -we- live every day like we're dying? "There's a headstone right in front of you and everyone I know" -- we're -all- going to die eventually --- but the other lines remind us, "There's a lifetime right in front of you and everyone I know." Yes, we're all going to die, but until then, we can live!

I feel like some parts are singing to the person who doesn't treat life that way, who forgets that we have such precious little time. "I wanna know, does it bother you, the low click of a ticking clock?" Do you even realize that your life is ticking away every second, and you're not doing anything about it?

Questions of "Is he ready to go?" / "Are you ready to go?" seem to ask, if you died today, would you be okay with that? Could you leave this world feeling complete? Lines like, "Young hips shouldn't break on this ice" just feel like they're referring to people who have no reason -not- to be out living - you're not old or broken yet, why stop?

"It's the last time running through snow / 'Cause the fire can't last and the Winter's cold." All in all, I just get a "Life is short, seize the day!" feeling from this song, but in a quiet, thoughtful, almost uncomfortable way. (Especially when you do hear a ticking clock mixed in toward the end of the song.)

So time's a-wasting - stop reading my mindless musical rambling, go out and enjoy your life. :)

I liked your interpretation of this song so much I made an account just so I could tell you :)

this song is about not lying....

its about a gay guy thats hasnt come out.. he's lying...dont lie there is a life time infront of you.

Cover art for Don't Lie lyrics by Vampire Weekend

I'll keep this short.

this song is about gays, more to the point those who lie and don't come out.

"I want to know - does it bother you? The low click of a ticking clock There's a lifetime right in front of you And everyone I know"

clciking of the clock is time moving forward, you cant lie for long as there is a life time infront of you.

Translation
Cover art for Don't Lie lyrics by Vampire Weekend

To me, there very first obvious interpretation that stands out to me as someone young who has been diagnosed with a terminal condition of some sort. Again to me, that just makes sense throughout the whole song. In particular though - "One look sent knees to the ground" "Don't lie, I want em' to know/ God's loves die young, is he ready to go?" "Does it bother you - the low click of a ticking clock?" (This referring to if it bothers the person who's life has been limited, and if that knowledge bothers them).... And many more quotes. I feel that the perspective in who he sings changes a few times.

The only other interpretation I can find in this, other than the broad concept of someone coming to terms with their mortality, is someone who has been drafted into the military or something like that.

Cover art for Don't Lie lyrics by Vampire Weekend

To me it's about the singer encouraging his lover to keep integrity to her core beliefs and her love despite disapproval from her family and old values. Resolving to leave God.

1st Stanza: The couple's magnetic devotion and attraction to each other

2nd: 'Don't Lie, I want him to know' Openly reject those that condemn you, don't be ashamed of the life you live, don't be prey to guilt

Gods' loves die young Is he ready to go? It's the last time running through snow Where the vaults are full and the fire's bold This could be completely wrong but it reminds me of concentration camps, Jews being God's loves. Or Hellfire. The couple is honest and resolute despite the promise of burning in hell. Even if they were pious like the Jews, they were burned, everybody still dies in the end.

Young turks Young saturday night Young hips shouldn't break on this ice Old flames - they can't warm you tonight So keep it cool, my baby Isreal and Palestine come to mind. She is Jewish hanging out with Turks on the Sabbath and starting to feel like she's betraying who she was. But he reassures her, sharing this life peacefully is the only thing that's important.

I want to know - does it bother you? The low click of a ticking clock There's a lifetime right in front of you And everyone I know She is anxious at the thought of death. He reassures her that she is still young.

Dial up, three rings and return him his gold The prospect that you could still live and happily after death is the greatest obstacle to overcome in leaving God behind.

There's a headstone right in front of you And everyone I know Everybody dies.

Cover art for Don't Lie lyrics by Vampire Weekend

I know that all songs can be interpreted differently, but I think that this one is another chapter of the story between Ezra and this girl. This chapter is about the two rekindling their love, even though the girl is now in a relationship because of her attempt to move on. But, Ezra and this girl are seeing each other, and are reminded of how much in love they are. "Old flames will warm you tonight, so keep it cool my baby." The girl is starting to realize that this "old flame" should be pursued again. Ezra says "Don't lie, I want him to know" meaning, "tell your boyfriend you're cheating on him." "God's loves die young, is he ready to go?" This guy is probably a better person than the two, and they both know it. But the girl is not ready to settle down with this good guy. Instead, she chases a wild side and goes against the current when it comes to traditional relationship values. Essentially, this old flame is alive again, and this is her time to go after it and experience what she can while she's young and free.

My Opinion

@Avery449 totally what i took from it too!