Lyric discussion by Navelgazer33 

Cover art for Chump Change lyrics by New Pornographers, The

I think it's about high school, and the bitter jealousy and resentment of watching the girls you revere fucking the rat-tailed bastards that you hate, and how everybody makes a point not to care. As much as "the same sand a desert uses" means anything, it probably refers to the desert's barrenness, and thus, burying your head in nihilism - a common response in youth to rapid loss of innocence.