Hmm, this is how I've always interpreted these lyrics:
I've left my friend
Our train came in on time
But he never showed up
Well he speaks french he is fine alone
Where did you go?
Where did you go?
I should have known
I should have known
Hey, I'm glad you've finally caught up
Just to get around
It's been a drag on my own
Hey where'd you go?
I remember when our plans were to meet at home
You made it home
Where'd you go?
Where'd you go?
As you can see, I think this song is quite literally about some guys on a vacation in France who accidentally leave their friend behind, only to have him catch up later on. The implied fraternalism in the song makes sense, considering most of band's members met while attending an elite DC prep school. Such establishments encourage very insular, familial like bonds between classmates. It's one of the ways they consolidate power and maintain that aforementioned eliteness.
But anyway, I think the fact that the song is about something so benign makes it really unique. It may be just the recounting of completely inconsequential event, but it's performed with a ton of wistfulness. That delivery would make sense if the song was reflecting on it in the preterite, but being instead that it wavers between both present and past tenses, it makes it all the more charming. Pretty smart song.
@impact Thank you for the lyrical correction. Makes much more sense now.
@impact Thank you for the lyrical correction. Makes much more sense now.
The second verse has him meeting up again, but then in the third he's lost him again.
The second verse has him meeting up again, but then in the third he's lost him again.
I know I'm reaching here, but the second verse sounds like what he's expecting to say when he sees him again, but then he just never shows up. The story is more disturbing that way, which works better with the vibe of the music.
I know I'm reaching here, but the second verse sounds like what he's expecting to say when he sees him again, but then he just never shows up. The story is more disturbing that way, which works better with the vibe of the music.
Hmm, this is how I've always interpreted these lyrics:
I've left my friend Our train came in on time But he never showed up Well he speaks french he is fine alone
Where did you go? Where did you go? I should have known I should have known Hey, I'm glad you've finally caught up Just to get around It's been a drag on my own
Hey where'd you go? I remember when our plans were to meet at home You made it home Where'd you go? Where'd you go?
As you can see, I think this song is quite literally about some guys on a vacation in France who accidentally leave their friend behind, only to have him catch up later on. The implied fraternalism in the song makes sense, considering most of band's members met while attending an elite DC prep school. Such establishments encourage very insular, familial like bonds between classmates. It's one of the ways they consolidate power and maintain that aforementioned eliteness.
But anyway, I think the fact that the song is about something so benign makes it really unique. It may be just the recounting of completely inconsequential event, but it's performed with a ton of wistfulness. That delivery would make sense if the song was reflecting on it in the preterite, but being instead that it wavers between both present and past tenses, it makes it all the more charming. Pretty smart song.
@impact Thank you for the lyrical correction. Makes much more sense now.
@impact Thank you for the lyrical correction. Makes much more sense now.
The second verse has him meeting up again, but then in the third he's lost him again.
The second verse has him meeting up again, but then in the third he's lost him again.
I know I'm reaching here, but the second verse sounds like what he's expecting to say when he sees him again, but then he just never shows up. The story is more disturbing that way, which works better with the vibe of the music.
I know I'm reaching here, but the second verse sounds like what he's expecting to say when he sees him again, but then he just never shows up. The story is more disturbing that way, which works better with the vibe of the music.