there's a shield around us
it's invisible & soundless
& we drink too much & fuck too soon
smoke cigarettes in rented rooms
we quit our jobs & shoot the moon
& cut our wrists & sleep til noon

there's a shield around us
we're invincible & boundless
& we're on the run from I don't know
we're Patty Hearst & Squeaky Fromme
asleep on subways far from home
you'd think we'd never seen a comb

sent a letter to Mom & Dad
Mom & Dad the money's running out
got a letter from Mom & Dad
they didn't send me anything

there's a shield around us
we are heady we are groundless
& we burn our friends & kill their names
build insecure & petty fames
& tattoo things that we believe
stars & skulls & hearts in half-sleeves

there's a shield around us
tell me how is it you've found us
cause we hide our tracks & watch the ground
our footfalls they don't make a sound
we've cursed the names of our hometowns
we're compassless & nowhere bound

sent a letter to Mom & Dad
Mom & Dad the money's running out
got a letter from Mom & Dad
I swear to God they don't get me at all


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Young Shields song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    it's a modern day "the hollow men"

    cs.umbc.edu/~evans/hollow.html

    aftershockon March 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This self-destructive behaviour that we can see in the modern world, and how little anything actually means.

    magical_miaon March 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song seems to be a very poignant commentary on 'my generation', for a lack of sounding cliche'. the restlessness, the disconnection, the TRUST FUNDS, the idea that we are not tied to anything and desensitized on top of it. the idea that who the kids/young shields are connected to something seemingly tangible and simulataneously make believe (ie. myspace or anyother community). these shields are the proverbial cries for help without voices.

    or, at least that's what i think.

    electrocuteon September 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    waaaahhhh!!! Fucking awesome!

    antispacemonkeyon January 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song really captures the uncertainty of a post-college or early adult existence where you are trying to establish yourself as that real adult while at the same time totally dependent on your family and not really getting how good you have it and how much of a joke you may be.

    i guess that much is obvious but I just love how well that disconnect is captured

    Silver195on July 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    an amazing song made that much more poignant for the fact that it sounds like it's made by a single guy in a basement apartment. casiotone's songs are inextricably linked with the thought of a guy alone. i think that's very important to the music, the loneliness, earnestness, and purposeful lack of subtext makes all the songs sound like someones last recorded moments before they commited suicide. It makes me think of the scenes in evil dead when he's alone with the necromonicon. there is a horror meaning to the songs. existential dread to put it more properly. this kid is not alright. and neither am i so i relate and if your here you probably do to. But serious, tell your friends about casiotone because we need more stuff. The people who deserve to have a following and serious contracts and touring schedules are not the ones who receive it even though it's getting better. spread the word.

    kh991269on July 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    did you guys not read Patty Hearst and Squeaky Fromme? They were rich kids with lives of luxury [ala paris hilton] who gave it all up to go roam the streets and start a life of crime. Patty Hearst [robbed banks] and Squeaky Fromme [joined the manson family.]

    1800COKEWHOREon July 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is quite clearly about hipsters

    CoolJackon August 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is just about young impulsive people. i dont think he's commenting on socio-political status or a certain generation.

    It's just about being young. Maybe the transition into adulthood where you believe in anarchy and true love and adventure.

    It's really clever though and i expect alot of people would identify with it if they heard it.

    It's how me and my girlfriend used to act - running away, being impulsive etc

    10203040on November 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great.

    criminologyon February 25, 2010   Link

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