Vampire Weekend - Diplomat's Son Lyrics
It’s not right but it’s now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TVs buzzing in the house
Cuz I’m gonna cut it where I can
And then I’m gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it’s now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
It was ‘81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn’t give up just yet
Cuz I’m gonna take it from Simon
And then I’m gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it’s now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
I know, you’ll say
I’m not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can’t go back
To how I felt before—
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can’t feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There’s a car all black with diplomatic plates
Other Lyrics by Artist
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- Vampire Weekend - This Life
- Vampire Weekend - Bambina
- Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall
- Vampire Weekend - Hold You Now
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- Vampire Weekend - Worship You
- Vampire Weekend - Finger Back
- Vampire Weekend - Married In A Gold Rush
- Vampire Weekend - My Mistake
- Vampire Weekend - Sympathy
- Vampire Weekend - Ladies Of Cambridge
Rand Lyrics
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Vampire Weekend Diplomat's Son Comments
Nettles
Sounds so reggae I like the tune @ 3:14 and 4:24 mon fi it Gud tu blowoh !!!
Alguien más está aquí por Richie?👀
I want Vampire Weekend to play this outside of Westboro Baptist Church
Maybe growing up with this song constantly playing in the car influenced my sexual orientation just a bit
I forgot how much I loved this song. Like its in my top 10 all time best songs :)
William Murphy Let It Rise Aired on November 14, 2018.
Let It Rise Aired on November 13, 2018.
This song aired on October 23, 2018.
This song aired on September 19, 2018.
*In a British ccent, "That song was bloody good!!"
This is what he sang to the girl in the album
The vocal melodies these guys come up with are the catchiest things ever.
This band is like casting a spell and magically turning everything to summer 2010.
Also my gay experience with this song: typical run of the mill broke back mountain camping experience with my best friend. Nothing original at all lol 🏳️🌈
bulez jassy This song Aired on September 6, 2018.
the clash turns gay. that'is, that's this song. Love it!
I died... I did 2x speed
Really, 235 comme- nope not gonna start that
This song drags on forever but is kinda bad. Their trying to do some electronic reggae type stuff but it isn’t doing it for me. 1/5
Hi, Just saw you in Raleigh!!! Welcome back after 5 years!
rostam baby i would for u
Breakdown: "Diplomat, diplomat, diplomat... Diplomat, diplomat, diplomat..." repeat
I always thought this should be played during the call me by your name movie
Keep On Trying nice
go away
This song would have been perfect for the film "Y Tu Mamá También
" (its by the same guy that made Roma).
The Uberman god I love that film
@Chae2ice it's super funny
Is this heaven? Electronic heaven?
Basically
Yo wtf was that commercial full this
I DESPERATELY need songs that sound similar to this, not by VW. Please let me know.
boy pablo??? idk
There's "Salty Hot Peanuts" by Momus.
Inflammation haha
Anyone else listen to Vampire Weekend and get mentally transported to like, Maine?
@Dingus Maybe not anywhere near New England, but Cote d'Azur, especially with this album
zavinullava this album takes me to south america, but most of their stuff takes me to Connecticut or Massachusetts
Nothing particularly northeastern about VW's music. More of A "world music" feeling. This one is sort of tropical.
all the damn time
😂😂
lyrics
It's not right, but it's now or never
And if I wait, could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TV's buzzing in the house
'Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son, it was '81
He was a diplomat's son, it was '81, oh-oh, oh-oh
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn't give up just yet
'Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son, it was '81
He was a diplomat's son, it was '81, oh-oh, oh-oh
I know, you'll say I'm not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can't go back to how I felt before, there's
That night I smoked a joint with my best friend
We found ourselves in bed, when I woke up, he was gone
He was a diplomat's son, it was '81
He was a diplomat's son, it was '81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can't feel any traces of that other place
In the dark, when the wind comes racing off the river
There's a car all black with diplomatic plates
Getting don’t hug me vibes
mom pick me up I’m scared
i love how this song was named, and this is by vampire weekend members, as a “six-minute dancehall song about a gay relationship” i love that so fcking much
Whaaaat? I didn't notice it was 6 minutes
i need a poo
The Rugrats Movie was released on September 19, 2018 and Rugrats In Paris was released on September 21, 2018.
Uh...What?
S O U N D E R E S T I M A T E D
Hecc yeah, love this album
lyrics are amazing but have no connection just love the tune, its a choon xx
Reviewing previous tracks again (this being a top fav of their discog) before the new album is released 🙏
Alguien tiene la letra porfa
Jason Acuña 😊
It's not right but it's now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TV's buzzing in the house
'Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn't give up just yet
'Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
I know, you'll say
I'm not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can't go back
To how I felt before
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was the diplomat's son
It was '81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can't feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There's a car all black with diplomatic plates
I’m on a HOLIDAY listening to this album while enjoying a cup of HORCHATA with my COUSIN, who is a DIPLOMAT’S SON.
This song was totally me, when my family would go up to the cape for the summer.
My fiances drunk and singing
At one point it sounds like he's saying "Justin Y"
He's calling the commenting god
Dressed in white = justin y lol
my father is a diplomat, so am i a diplomats son?
My mom is too. Am I gay now?
That means it gay
3D Nooglevisuon Start Date: 10/13/2015.
It's not right, but it's now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TVs buzzing in the house
Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn't give up just yet
Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now, then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
I know, you'll say
I'm not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can't go back
To how I felt before
There's--
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
Looking out at the ice cold water all around me
I can't feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There's a car all black with diplomatic plates
He's supposed to be singing the song from a girl's perspective trying to use the diplomat but he uses her, there gay problem fixed
whatever helps you sleep at night buddy
This sounds like a collab between Paul Simon and Bob Marley.
Side note: how boring of a human being do you have to be in order to dislike this song because it's most likely about two dudes in love? Grow up!
2 offer it 2 u would be cruel when all I wanna do is use use u
can hear those latin and south african elements that paul simon used
heeeee was a diplomats soooon!!!! He was 81 he was a diplomattttts soooon he was eighty onun oh oh uh oh
The lyric is "It was '81" as in the year
I twerk to this song. Goodnight.
Hahaha perfect
I wonder how it tasted. The Canary that chic on the album cover swallowed.
This band makes my brain tremble.
This band literally made gay people huh?
Naomi Cotton how
What does this mean
No, absolutely not.
@Ryan Smithwoosh
Still love the M.I.A. sample in this song AND the song itself
idk why I can't stop listening to this song. Makes me feel so badass walking around lmao.
Especially 1:28 3:02 and 3:44. The beat is just so chill and groovy at the same time
Sophomore year
yup. class of 2016
Mine was M79.
Like a summer daydream.
this song puts me in my feels
this song made me gay
vin mug damn me too
excuses excuses lol
And then the album cover made me straight again
Why not both?
Speak for yourself girlfrienddd!!!!
So... he banged a 81 year old guy? Or perhaps we're meant to read it backwards "18". Damn masons
@PandaBubbah1 I mean, you can go home if you're not having fun
PandaBubbah1 Well, the sex of the narrator isn't specified. Maybe that will assuage your homophobic fears.
He supposed to be singing the song from a girl's perspective, trying to use him but he ends up using her
@SCHNOOK yea it was somehow made about being gay when ezra koenig isnt gay
@PandaBubbah1 thats a fragile ass masculinity you got there pal
I’m in love with this song but I’m not gay😂
oh im sorry thats too bad :(
neither is the guy who wrote the song lmao. look at all the gay people who hate straight people commenting though. yeesh guys...
No you 😂 you having a hard time there pal lol
@Makenzie yes lol
No you No, it is gay. It was written by Rostam Batmanglij, not Ezra Koenig, who explicitly said it was gay. Surprisingly, more than one person contributes to the music of a band :)
Every time I hear this song I fall more in love with it
Fall more in love with men*
Good band but haven't heard anything about them for ages. Are they still together?. And if so, are they touring the U.K. anytime soon? Pray tell.
Barry John Rees There touring a lot and doing random pop up shows these days. Though i really hope they do a 4th album
Please come to San Diego and do a performance!!!
/ concert
It’s not right but it’s now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TVs buzzing in the house
Cuz I’m gonna cut it where I can
And then I’m gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it’s now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn’t give up just yet
Cuz I’m gonna take it from Simon
And then I’m gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it’s now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
I know, you’ll say
I’m not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can’t go back
To how I felt before—
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can’t feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There’s a car all black with diplomatic plates
It's not right but it's now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TV's buzzing in the house
'Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn't give up just yet
'Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
I know, you'll say
I'm not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can't go back
To how I felt before
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was the diplomat's son
It was '81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can't feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There's a car all black with diplomatic plates
LYRICS:
It's not right but it's now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TV's buzzing in the house
'Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn't give up just yet
'Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
I know, you'll say
I'm not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can't go back
To how I felt before
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was the diplomat's son
It was '81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can't feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There's a car all black with diplomatic plates
lily allen ‘smile’ vibes
I'm picking up Shaggy It Wasn't Me in this too, the part with "All this time she was standing there she never took her eyes off me"
6 minutes of absolute nonsence
Harry! Good to see you! How's Mike Hunt Doing? Last I heard he was Hanging with Dixie Normus, Mike Literus and the gang! It's too bad what happened to Tits Mcgee, just happy it wasn't me!
Enjoy the rest of your close-minded life, Harry Cox.
Harry Cox shut up hairy cock
The piano in the latter half of the song is liquidy. Much delight.
It's not right but it's now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?
On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TV's buzzing in the house
'Cause I'm gonna cut it where I can
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head
And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn't give up just yet
'Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon
And then I'm gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it's now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you
To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you
He was a diplomat's son
It was '81
I know, you'll say
I'm not doing it right
But this is how I want it
I can't go back
To how I felt before
That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone
He was the diplomat's son
It was '81
Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can't feel any traces of that other place
In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There's a car all black with diplomatic plates
Thanks lyric guy
Love you boo
THANK YOU!!!
I hate myslef but I really love Vampire Weekend.... and this song has been my jam for years.
relatable
Eh you don't have to be self-deprecating to say that you like something.
is the chick in thumbnail a vampire bih?
This song helped me come out. I will always be grateful for that
is this what the song is about
it's about falling in love with your best friend, but coincidentally, yes, it is between two boys.
he was a dimplomats son he was anyone
"he was a diplomat's son, it was '81"
¡Cha,cha,cha,cha, cha, cha,cha.!
;)
F E R C H R A N G E de dónde viene ese sampleo bro
de alguna canción de MIA, parece que es de paper planes
Diego castroso, si ya lo descubrí hace poco, si es en paper planes pero esta muy escondido el sampleo jaja
it samples Hussel from M.I.A., not paper Planes.
I showed my gay best friend this song and he fell in love with me.
"Gay bestfriend" and "He"..... Honey, he was never gay.
Rennat Olin Caught lacking
Rennat Olin what are you even talking about
But you're a girl??
i imagine a girl singing this to me
Ammon Washingon i can’t sing but hmu😂
DamN SAVAGE
id lovee singin this song more if it wasnt a hint of gay
Ammon Washingon fuck u, nothing wrong with being gay.
Fuck you x 2.
i know it needs to be more explicitly gay .
Ammon Washingon wow it’s about someone gay? Idk that and it’s one of my favorite songs by them :/
Just saw these song's lyrics a while ago and wow.. Just wow😳
damn this song is a lot better than I remember
This is so reminiscent of Paul Simon. Love it ❤️
This song is seriously such an aesthetic to the issues of being oneself versus living up to societal pressures and expectations.
*exhale* whoah man.
This is what will be playing when I meet the love of my life. Has to be it
Aaaw, good vision 😊
Don’t know if things have changed for you, but I can say for sure that listening to this song while staring into his/her eyes is the best feeling you will ever feel. It’s magical, especially when they appreciate it as much as you
Grizzly Bear hi
He was 81? Or it was 81?
"He was a diplomat's son, it was '81." So it's a song about being closeted gay in the 1980s. The narrator is talking about how he fell in love with his best friend who happened to be a diplomat's son.
Joe Strummer?
It was.
I kind of hope he wasn't 81
I first thought that this song was on their Modern Vampires of the City album in 2013. I wasn’t expecting this on Contra
D3STROYER No.1 Contra was kinda all over the place in regards to sound and quality. Pretty forgettable with a few gems imo.
Don’t believe that other guy. Contra is 10/10. MVOTC is also 10/10.
Seth Malvin don’t get me wrong I love Contra, but MVOTC is muchh better than Contra imo
Really? IMO contra is their magnum opus. Only track that im not the biggest fan of is taxi cab, but besides that it's great.
this is my happy song. whenever im down i listen to it and it brings me up.
Rebeca Hooper exactly what I said this is my happy song love it 🥰 trying to make my boyfriend hear it 💕💕
this is the most listenable vw song
@José Sosa step is great but diplomats son way way way way better vibe
@Dissent Truth- that's why I said accesible.
@José Sosa oh shit I misread your comment 😂 idk what I thought u said..oh wells
@Dissent Truth- both great songfs though and SO different.
@José Sosa definitely are all about my mood at least for me
this song is beautiful but it makes me weak in the knees and elbows and unfortunately i need my knees and elbows
Knees weak, arms heavy? 😆
Pfft same
Are you a pit fighter?
This is such a cute, creative comment. We all appreciate you. ♥️
Hahaha, I am with you! Whenever I hear this song I start dancing, and neither am I still in my hey days, nor do I undergo regular exercises!!!
It's not right... But it's now or never
and if I wait, could I ever forgive myself?
sunny days with a beautiful girl
spookysama yes
paul simon
Caitlin Hamilton very Graceland sounding too it
"Cause I'm gonna take it from Simon" - I just heard that as I was listening and reading your comment. I'm guessing there's correlation but I don't know enough about the band or song to say definitively.
It is but in all the right ways.
Just what I thought first time I heard it...very Graceland isn't it?
I showed this song to a guy I worked for in Chicago back in 2013, he was about 60 at the time I believe, he told me this band reminded him of Paul Simon and Garfunkel.
i feel like I'm entering the gay matrix at 3:13
never thought i'd hear the phrase "gay matrix" but now I can't stop thinking about it and how amazing it would be
Lmao love it o can see that same!
I don't like the gays
GAYTRIX RELOADED
I don't get it.
anyone here because of chloe lmao's vine?
Zoe Drummond meeee
Zoe Drummond kind of
I dunno what dat is
How have I not knew about this song until now