Vampire Weekend

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Oh, sweet thing
Zion doesn't love You
And Babylon don't love You
But You love everything
Oh, You saint
America don't love You
So I could never love You
In spite of everything

[Pre-Chorus]
In the dark of this place
There's the glow of Your face
There's the dust on the screen
Of this broken machine
And I can't help but feel
That I've made some mistake
But I let it go
Ya Hey, Ya Hey, Ya Hey

[Chorus]
Through the fire and through the flames
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Deo)
You won't even say Your name
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Deo)
Through the fire and through the flames
You won't even say Your name
Only "I am that I am"
But who could ever live that way?
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
Ut Deo, Ya Hey
Ut Deo, Deo
[Verse 2]
Oh, the motherland don't love You
The fatherland don't love You
So why love anything?
Oh, good God
The faithless, they don't love You
The zealous hearts don't love You
And that's not gonna change

[Pre-Chorus]
All the cameras and files
All the paranoid styles
All the tension and fear
Of a secret career
And I can't help but feel
That You seen the mistakes
But You let it go
Ya Hey, Ya Hey, Ya Hey

[Chorus]
Through the fire and through the flames
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Deo)
You won't even say Your name
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Deo)
Through the fire and through the flames
You won't even say Your name
You say, "I am that I am"
But who could ever live that way?
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
Ut Deo, Ya Hey
Ut Deo, Deo
[Spoken]
Outside the tents
On the festival grounds
As the air began to cool
And the sun went down
My soul swooned
As I faintly heard the sound
Of You spinning "Israelites"
Into "19th Nervous Breakdown"

[Chorus]
Through the fire and through the flames
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Deo)
You won't even say Your name
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Ya Hey)
(Ut Deo, Deo)
Through the fire and through the flames
You won't even say Your name
Only "I am what I am"
But who could ever live that way?
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
Ut Deo, Ya Hey
Ut Deo, Deo
Through the fire and through the flames
You won't even say Your name
Only "I am that I am"
But who could ever live that way?
(Ya Hey, Ya Hey)
Ut Deo, Ya Hey
Ut Deo, Deo

If you’re a fan of Indie Rock or Alternative Music, you’ve probably heard of Vampire Weekend. This band, formed in New York in 2006, has been a breakthrough success story since their first eponymous album. Vampire Weekend has always been known for their bright and upbeat sounds, punchy riffs, and poetic, intellectual lyrics.

About Ya Hey

“Ya Hey” is one of the standout tracks from Vampire Weekend's third studio album, Modern Vampires in the City, which was released in 2013. This album marked a turning point in the band's sound and direction.

While the band's earlier albums were filled with bright guitars and African-inspired rhythms, this album was more introspective and personal, with confessional lyrics exploring the themes of faith, life, and death. "Ya Hey" fits perfectly within this context of this album, incorporating a distinct religious tone into the lyrics.

The song's narrative evokes deep introspection and could allude to some personal testimonies of the band members. Ezra Koenig, the lead vocalist of the band, wrote the music together with Rostam Batmanglij. The lyrics, however, are almost exclusively attributed solely to him.

The song is about a person's search for meaning in life and their relationship with God. The narrator is in a state of spiritual crisis and is questioning his faith. He is also grappling with the tough questions of mortality and the fragility of life.

As you listen to the song, you can hear the sense of desperation and longing in the narrator's voice. He asks, "Oh, sweet thing, Zion doesn't love you. And Babylon don't love you. But you love everything.". The lyrics suggest a sense of loneliness and desperation, as if the narrator is searching for something bigger and more meaningful than what he has found in the mundane world, yet feels rejected by the very things that are meant to represent the divine.

The Band's Almost Existential Crisis

The song's theme is related to the band's personal journey during the time of writing the album. The band members were going through significant changes in their lives.

After the Contra tour, Ezra Koenig, the lead vocalist of the band, spent time screenwriting and experiencing life in Los Angeles. Chris Tomson, the band’s drummer, spent time shoveling manure on a cattle farm in Montana. Chris Baio, the bassist, tried DJing and experienced young marriage, and Rostam Batmanglij, the keyboardist, toured India and wrote movie soundtracks.

The band underwent an almost existential crisis, which is explored in an interview with The Guardian and in an article published on Pitchfork. It was during this time that Rostam Batmanglij wrote "Ya Hey," but for the purposes of the song, Ezra’s name is used as a narrator.

"Ya Hey" is a reflective and thoughtful song. It's simple, introspective lyrics, and the band's poetic and intellectual instrumentation helps deliver the song's honest and deeply relatable message.

In Closing

If you're a Vampire Weekend fan, "Ya Hey" is undoubtedly one of the most significant songs in their discography. It showcases the band's evolution as musicians and songwriters as well as their willingness to tackle difficult and profound themes.

The song's introspective nature, along with its philosophical leanings, is what makes it so memorable. It's a song that evokes empathy and understanding, and whether you're a person of faith or not, the search for meaning and purpose in life is something that resonates with all of us.

So, if you haven’t yet experienced the transfixing tale of “Ya Hey,” it’s certainly worth your time.

• Release Date: May 3, 2013
• Artist: Vampire Weekend