Vampire Weekend

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Bend my finger back, snap! Wrap it in a paper towel
Break a twig in half and set it straight
Beat me with a wood bat, hit me with a canister
That's fired while the soldiers drive away
Bend my finger back, snap
On and on and on and on for days
Hit me with a wood bat, hit me like a Yankee
Like a son of freedom, never as a slave

[Chorus]
It's etiquette, you idiot, spend time behind the line
Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody wants you, but baby, you are mine
And baby, you're not anybody's fool

[Verse 2]
Bless me with a heart attack, a real crise cardiaque
And show me where to find the surgeon’s knife
Eviscerate me now, hack! Take me to my punishment
The punishment I needed all my life
Bend my finger back, snap!
On and on and on and on with strife
Listen to my bum rap, listen to the evidence
Exonerating me from being right
[Chorus]
It's etiquette, you idiot, spend time behind the line
Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody wants you, but baby, you are mine
And baby, you're not anybody's fool

[Post-Chorus]
You know that I’ve been wicked and the road to hell is wide
Cursed by curiosity that made us go inside
Everyone was charming but we took 'em for a ride
Baby, you’re not anybody’s fool

[Verse 3]
Bend my finger back, snap! Pack it in a paper towel
Break a twig in half and set it straight
Beat me with a wood bat, hit me with a canister
That's fired while the soldiers drive away
Bend my finger back, snap!
On and on and on and on for days
Hit me with a wood bat, hit me like a Yankee
Like a son of freedom, never as a slave

[Chorus]
It's etiquette, you idiot, spend time behind the line
Show sympathy to LA where the sun don't ever shine
Everybody wants you, but baby, you are mine
And baby, you're not anybody's fool
[Post-Chorus]
The harpsichord is broken and the television's fried
The city's getting hotter like a country in decline
Everyone's a coward when you look them in the eyes
But baby, you're not anybody's fool

[Spoken Interlude]
Sing "Next Year in Jerusalem"
You know, the one at 103rd and Broadway?
'Cause this Orthodox girl fell in love
With the guy at the falafel shop
And why not? Should she have averted her eyes
And just stared at the laminated poster of the Dome of the Rock?

[Bridge]
And then blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood
And then blood, blood, blood
And then blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood
And then blood, blood, blood, blood, blood

[Outro]
Remembrances of holy days in Tarrytown and Rye
I don’t wanna live like this, but I don’t wanna die
Condolences to gentle hearts who couldn’t bear to try
I don’t wanna live like this, but I don’t wanna die
Remembrances of holy days in Tarrytown and Rye
I don’t wanna live like this, but I don’t wanna die

If you're a fan of Vampire Weekend and have been listening to their music for a while, then you might have already heard their song, Finger Back. It's one of the many interesting songs that they have in their repertoire, and it stands out with its unique and intricate composition.

The song is about a girl who falls in love with an Arab falafel shop employee, and the lyrics chronicle their story. In the bridge, it's clear that the girl is an Orthodox Jew, and this adds to the complexity of the relationship. The song itself has a grating rhythm that's meant to evoke reggaeton, and it has several baroque and electronic flourishes that make it stand out.

About Finger Back

Finger Back is one of the catchy songs that Vampire Weekend released in 2013 as part of their album, Modern Vampires of the City. The song is the seventh track on the album, which was highly acclaimed and was considered as one of the best albums of the year.

The track begins with an upbeat and fast-paced rhythm, and the instrumentation is a blend of electronic and baroque elements. The electronic flourishes are evident in the chorus, while the baroque elements are heard in the verses. Throughout the song, the band manages to create a unique atmosphere that's unlike anything you've heard before.

One noteworthy element of Finger Back is the catchy vocal jumps that are heard throughout the track. These vocal jumps sound like Noah Lennox trying to imitate a Beach Boy, and they add to the song's unique character.

Lyrically, the song is about a girl falling in love with an Arab falafel shop employee, and the lyrics chronicle their story. Ezra Koenig, who is the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, wrote the song, and he has mentioned in interviews that the girl in the song is an Orthodox Jew.

The finger back could be getting the broken finger described in the song back, or coquettishly curling back the finger at the attacker to urge the action on, or pulling back the trigger to a gun. This adds to the complexity of the song and makes it even more mysterious.

The song has a grating rhythm, and this was intentional. Rostam Batmanglij, who is the band's multi-instrumentalist and producer, has said that he likes to trick listeners into depressing songs with major keys. This is evident in Finger Back, where the upbeat rhythm is contradicted by the lyrics, which tell a darker story.

The song has often been compared to Animal Collective because of its electronic elements and vocal jumps. The fact that the song is written from the perspective of a girl in love with an Arab falafel shop employee makes it even more interesting and unique. The song's complex and intricate composition is also one of the reasons why it stands out from the rest of the band's discography.

At the time of its release, Finger Back received critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its unique composition and Ezra Koenig's lyrics. The song has since become a fan-favorite, and it's often played at the band's live shows.

Wrapping Up

In essence, Finger Back is one of the most interesting and unique songs that Vampire Weekend has ever released. The song's intricate and complex composition, along with its dark lyrics and upbeat rhythm, make it stand out from the rest of the band's discography. Indeed, it's a song that's well worth listening to, and it's a testament to the band's talent and creativity.

• Release Date: May 13, 2013
• Artist: Vampire Weekend