Rubidoux

and what about the end 4 minutes?

You mean on the album?? That's a "hidden track" and considered a different song. You're looking for "Sermons V The Gospel."

are you sure he's not saying "Drove/drive to Rubidoux in the middle of the night" because Rubidoux is a country in california. and well they are from california. also i think he says "olive white" instead of "call of why"

Drove does sound a lot better now, I'll change that for sure. The call of why/olive white is still open for debate though.

This wasn't easy to transcribe, but I apologize for the obvious joy mistake. Thanks :)

I thought it was "what did you expect/romantic isle of white"

Makes sense, no?

I think he's saying "romantic call of white". Almost sure of it.

its "what did you expect?/romantic isle of wight?"

the isle of wight is an island off the southern english coast. it doesnt make a lot of sense, but its in the freaking lyrics booklet.

The "Isle of Wight" reference is to the song "When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles, where Paul Mccartney sings about how "Every summer we can rent a cottage, In the Isle of Wright, if it’s not too dear". Nathan is singing about how it's not going to be such a romantic experience as such.

This song is obviously about the end of the world.

Cold War Kids enthusiasts all know that there is a large presence of religious invocation within the lead singers lyrics.

The song begins with what would be our basic instinctual reaction to the end of days: Locking ourselves in, clutching our worthless materialistic possessions, and watching the infrastructure of this capitalist world collapse (hence the chandliers falling, imagine the scene of a movie).

The second verse is hard for me to explain besides the fact that although humanity is ending the environment is static, however the indication of baptism indicates a human beings attempt to find salvation before the end.

I love the third verse. It compares the mindset of the rich and poor. Those persian rugs are worthless in the end but the few feet who float above them calm themselves in a rythmic prayer (hence percussionist succession words). But there is the poor, who know the city blues in the holes they loathe, so this apocalypse is just another step for them.

My interpretation of the chorus line is simply this. Where would you go?> What would you do? Would you drive to Rubidoux (an uninhabited, vacant scene of California) to watch the stars. What would you bring? Perhaps some alcohol to dull the tragedy, how about a pistol for protection. People have all commented about "Romantic call of Why" arguing it's "Isle of Wight". I hate to say this. BUT NO IT ISN'T. Romantic Call of Why. Imagine a man, knowing the end is near, Falling down on the sand of this beautiful area, and cursing the heavens, with upraised hands, "Saying, Why God" (Again think of a movie, perhaps Twilight Zone episode, Time is time at last, you know the one with guy who breaks his glasses after the world is destroyed).

Now the verse about Priests and Holy men. I do not in any way shape or form believe the Cold War Kids are a religious band. I believer they are master painters of themes with song and sound. But here it is. Religion has told us this would come. But instead we chose to dirty our hands with sin, and saunter within the lost and found of human emotion.

The last verse before the chorus to me is an illustration of the last minutes.

Think of religious imagery, the world is said to end by fire, and in this song it rains down. The doors to choose from might be many but the end is near (The night time is going to come) complete darkness. And the last place left is Rubidoux.

now.

Am I right?

Oh and furthermore on the third verse concerning rich and poor, they play themselves low, they're not freaking out, it's just another sad thing for them to absorb (Just like talking city blues down in the whole they loath)