The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Hudson died in Hudson Bay
The water took its victim's name
The river's rise told Riverside to change their names again
A stranger walked in through the door
Said all apartments are pre-war
We laughed and asked him for his name
He stayed until the end
We watched the Germans play the Greeks
We marked the ninety nine year lease
Our fathers signed
Which I declined to try and comprehend
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has a come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The legendary wooden gate
The first established real estate
Is lost in time like all the crimes
That won this pleasant land
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has a come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
Hudson died on Hudson Bay
But I was born on Sutton Place
The rising tide helped me decide to change my name again
Some men tend to linger on and some make haste from Babylon
Some will roam their ruined home, rejoicing 'til the end
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The lines are drawn
The map is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The water took its victim's name
The river's rise told Riverside to change their names again
A stranger walked in through the door
Said all apartments are pre-war
We laughed and asked him for his name
He stayed until the end
We watched the Germans play the Greeks
We marked the ninety nine year lease
Our fathers signed
Which I declined to try and comprehend
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has a come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The legendary wooden gate
The first established real estate
Is lost in time like all the crimes
That won this pleasant land
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has a come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
Hudson died on Hudson Bay
But I was born on Sutton Place
The rising tide helped me decide to change my name again
Some men tend to linger on and some make haste from Babylon
Some will roam their ruined home, rejoicing 'til the end
Over and over again, all these never-ending visions
Over and over again like a prize that's changing hands
The time has come
The clock is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
The lines are drawn
The map is such a drag
All you who changed your stripes can wrap me in the flag
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by bobduck, KilgoreTro, itsnine, alianovna, dodgerblue, phoebe9261
Hudson Lyrics as written by Ezra Koenig Christopher William Tomson
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I feel this song is about the troubles that war vets face while returning from service, losing all that they own and love, as "some will roam their ruined home, rejoycing until the end". Hudson, the war vet of the song, represents them as a whole.
It further shows the troubles of war vets when saying "over and over again, all these never ending visions, over and over again like a prize thats changing hands." Hudson is haunted by his memories, just like a war vet who experiences nightmares, or visions, for up to their entire life. Even if it was at one time glorious, the guilt of causing bloodshed can lead to madness. The loss of sanity is expressed in the line "The time has come, the clock is such a drag. Oh, you who change your stripes can wrap me in the flag". He may have been a hero, but the experience that lingers with him slowly kills him, as if being suffocated by the flag he was once fighting for.
Easily the most beautiful song off of the new album.
I completely agree with this interpretation. This is a great ending song for Vampire Weekend because it immediately catches your attention when listening to the CD. It is eery, haunting, yet beautiful!
"Hudson" isn't some character. It's Henry Hudson, who Hudson Bay is named after (he did die there). New York's Hudson River is also named after him. Henry Hudson was not a war vet, he was a Dutch explorer in the 1600s...