River of Brakelights

OFFICIAL LYRICS (www.juliancasablancas.com)

We might be in for a late night Stuck in a lava flow of brake lights I can hear a rattling bass drum driving back to where it came from Sit back...

I shop therefore I am the cause, protect me from what I was

Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Timing is everything, timing is everything, timing is everything, timing is everything Timing is everything, timing is everything...

I'm at your feet, where critters meet Who should be asleep and not crossing roads or highways In the afterlife of super cities, rapidly devouring its outskirts It's neon octopus arms redecorating late at night

Robot camp for kids who hate sports Mothers crying at the airport Finding the dreams you left behind to do, waving goodbye your young heart cries for you Sit back... You're finding it hard to get very far But we were born waiting in line Grabbing the future by the eyes

Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it - timing is everything, timing is everything Getting the hang of it - timing is everything - getting the hang of it - timing is everything TIMING THE HANG OF IT - GETTING IS EVERYTHING - GETTING THE TIMING OF EVERYTHING HANGING IS HANGING THE GETTING OF TIMING THE EVERYTHING...

Like batteries we die, like rivers we dry We fuel and recharge, that's humans and cars My fun, my sun, be my homework done Where did you go, you were my ride home

Is that what we want, is everything shot, is that what you ask for, 'cause that's what we got?

Nothing stands still.

We might be here for a late night Stuck in a lava flow of brake lights I can hear a rattling bass drum Driving back to where it came from

Sit back on I shop, therefore I am the cause Protect me from what I was

Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Timing is everything, timing is everything Timing is everything, timing is everything Timing is everything, timing is everything

I'm at your feet, where critters meet You should be a secret not crossing roads or highways In the afterlife of supercities, rapidly devouring it's outskirts its me or an octopus arm redecorating late at night

Robot games for kids who hate sports Mothers crying at the airport Finding the dreams you left behind to do Waving goodbye your young heart cries for you

Sit back, oh You're finding it hard to get very far We were born waiting in line Grabbing the future by the eyes

Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Timing is everything, timing is everything Getting the hang of it, timing is everything Getting the hang of it, timing is everything Timing the hang of it, getting is everything Getting the time of it, everything hangs on this Hanging the getting of, timing the everything

Like bodies we die like rivers we dry We fuel and recharge the chimers and doors I fall on my side, gleam my homeward bound Where did you go, you were my ride home Is that what we want? Is everything shot? Is that what you ask for? 'Cause that's what we got

Life is destined Life is destined

I love this song. I think it's one of the best off the album.

I may be not be right, but I think the lyrics are said from the point of view of a teenager who has no idea what they want to do in the future? Like they've put aside the achieving of their life goal to hang around and have fun.

I think it's "We might be in for a late night," no?

"I SHOT therefore I am the cause?" Rather than shop. I dunno, that could make a bit more sense.

It's "getting the hang of it" in the first part where it's x8. You forgot the of.

I think it's "fills me enough to push off" rather than "feels enough."

I think it's "refuel and recharge," not we fuel and recharge. No idea on the rest of the line though.

Regardless, absolutely awesome song. Much darker sound than 11th Dimension, I like it a lot more. I'm stoked for the album.

I realy like the psychedelic guitar loop, like in Ize of the World. Great ending, sounds like he's saying:

Love is destined. Love is there still.

It's about all the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your goals. Most people give up and accept what's given to them or what they can have in the short term.

It's 'i shop therefore i am the cause'...i think it's referring to Barbara Kruger's artwork called 'i shop therefore i am' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Kruger)...her artwork was all about consumerism and feminism and such, just thought I'd throw that out there

I think the very closing lines are "rapid stand-still" having to do with the gridlock of traffic in a rapidly growing or overcrowded city. Or just the fact that our own own growth impedes us.

“Mothers crying at the airport” as someone who watched my mum break down while saying goodbye to my sister as she left for college this line hits hard

Hmm.. this song take some thinking.. it seems like there's two different world colliding in this song.

First is the world of consumerism and the irresponsibility of the usage of our resources.

Second is the world of despair, guilt and the loss of hope.

People who live in large scale cities really come to appreciate this sort of song for it sort of lays out how intense it can be to live in one.

I live in Manhattan, and I can really appreciate the feeling of the sounds Julian has created, and it make the world feel a bit as though it's going a little out of control, and we justify our reckless actions with "I shop, therefore, I am the cause."

A bold song, definitely worth some time to listen and think about.