Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall (Official Video)

Father of the Bride available 5/3: smarturl.it/fat...
Harmony Hall/2021 available everywhere now: smarturl.it/HH2021
Directed By Emmett Malloy
Lyrics:
We took a vow in summertime
Now we find ourselves in late December
I believe that New Year’s Eve
Will be the perfect time
For their great surrender
But they don’t remember
Anger wants a voice
Voices wanna sing
Singers harmonize
Til they can’t hear anything
I thought that I was free
From all that questioning
But every time a problem ends
Another one begins
And the stone walls of Harmony Hall
Bear witness
Anybody with a worried mind
Could never forgive the sight
Of wicked snakes
Inside a place
You thought was dignified
I don’t wanna live like this
But I don’t wanna die
Within the halls of power lies
A nervous heart that beats
Like a Young Pretender’s
Beneath these velvet gloves I hide
The shameful, crooked hands
Of a moneylender
Cuz I still remember
Anger wants a voice
Voices wanna sing
Singers harmonize
Til they can’t hear anything
I thought that I was free
From all that questioning
But every time a problem ends
Another one begins
And the stone walls of Harmony Hall
Bear witness
Anybody with a worried mind
Could never forgive the sight
Of wicked snakes
Inside a place
You thought was dignified
I don’t wanna live like this
But I don’t wanna die
-
Written by Ezra Koenig
Produced by Ariel Rechtshaid & Ezra Koenig
Additional Production by Rostam Batmanglij

[@snehalmane]

it's unreal how much y'all still have an influence over me

[@dmrsk1899]

Right?! Even after all these years

[@roberthardy5171]

for example?

[@saranohmusic57]

As a songwriter, they influence me so much... Ezra's writing gives me tingles. They're not afraid to go into issues like class, history, philosophy, religion... But they do it with such a light & personal touch. I wish Ezra would listen to my songs and give me feedback

[@TheSodapops1001]

Snehal Mane right?? Hahah

[@stevemark5864]

Snehal Mane they should go on a tour with the band TWIN XL

[@jasonronk6922]

This song helped to save my life, literally. I was suffering immensely from alcoholism and addiction when this song reached that place inside of me that I thought was dead. I called out to the Devine and was answered. I didn’t want to keep living that life and knew I was heading to the grave if I kept going. Soooo much gratitude that music can break us wide open 🙏❤️😊

[@gabbywayne7921]

So grateful to read this. I heard this song the year it came out, trying to sleep on my first night in treatment. It was a sign from God, and I went on to have a long period of sobriety before falling on my face yet again...as I write this I'm waiting to get into a sober house and to pick back up where I left off once and for all. I wish you the best in your journey ❤

[@jasonronk6922]

@@gabbywayne7921 you can do my friend!! You’ve had that experience now it’s time for a new one! Complete surrender…go get it!

[@iaincooper6164]

@@gabbywayne7921 @jasonronk6922 Good luck to you both and remember, even after a setback you're starting from a stronger place. Good things don't generally happen the first time you try. ❤

[@dereksmith348]

It's all about mastering the first day, and sticking with it.

[@markgolden154]

​@@gabbywayne7921 just wanted to check on you. We love you and are pulling for you!

[@AfterPartyAlex]

This song has been stuck in my head for a week. Love the main line. "I don't want to live like this, but I don't want to die." Simple yet profound.

[@randallsample1005]

Wow, that's the line that gets me every time, too.

[@kdarko88]

Yeah definitely. Reminds me a bit of the lyric in their song Capricorn off their new album, Only God Was Above Us: "Too old for dyin' young. Too young to live alone."

[@randallsample1005]

@@kdarko88 Yes, I agree. And I think that Only God Was Above Us is a GREAT album.

[@Sophie-ge7ti]

​@kdarko88 it reminds me of their line from Finger Back "I don't want to live like this, but I don't want to die".

[@aetharf]

director: so what kind of vision do u want for the video? ezra: a cooking show but with snakes director: ezra:

[@JDfromTBC]

ezra: and a Haim sister whipping her hair back and forth

[@peelslowly28]

@@JDfromTBC and a lot of obscure images that may or may not contain clues to the next album

[@emerald_archer]

Whats more dignified than a cooking television program?

[@cicciobambino]

director: you can't just have a snake on a table. ezra: we'll need some green fruit. director: ughh...fine. kiwi, granny smith, honeydew... ezra: CANTALOUPE. Honeydew is the jared leto of fruits.

[@branditaylor4072]

@@cicciobambino XD XD XD

[@willykastilahn]

I love this tune. It's like Hanson is singing a Dead tune, with a little Phish Heavy Things thrown in, in the best possible way!! Lyrics took me a long time to appreciate .

[@smartaMartini]

I just saw them play that eclipse show in Austin, and they did the song during soundcheck and at the end. And I've been listening to it non-stop since then! So good!

[@willykastilahn]

​@smartaMartini This tune makes me think of the people that think I don't think of them. But I do - more than they know...

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

71yo white guy here - I positively LOVE this music. Has elements of classical (piano, 3:04) and it's not the usual brain blender. Thanks.

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

@@thomas79marshall - Because old white guys probably are not generally interested in this music.

[@pochita8275]

I only want to say, the snake is so cute

[@btsjiminface]

hehe maybe you'd like Euphoria by Jungkook (from the HBO Euphoria finale). It has elements of Debussy.

[@kurtbaty9576]

There's an interesting episode on Song Exploder explaining their creative process on this song. Fwiw

[@EminentKnight]

Dad, it's me, Ezekiel. Your son. You went to the supermarket about 10 years ago and mum and I were just wondering when you were going to return with the orange juice? Also, we're out of eggs. So yeah. Eggs as well pls.

[@clint68]

So, going through some stuff and I hear, “I don’t wanna live like this, but I don’t wanna die”. For some reason it made me a little bit happier…

[@mosquitomilk9877]

God that snake was so adorable. I love emerald tree boas

[@bonnieabbzug]

I was thinking the same thing, especially at 5:02.

[@WiloPolis03]

@@bonnieabbzug This made me smile

[@Mendo_xd]

Mosquito milk I hate snakes, Jock!

[@averyamadeusjacobson2650]

not 100% on it being an ebt, no white lightning bolts.

[@WiloPolis03]

You're not a true VW fan unless you know the exact species of snake they use in Harmony hall

[@starxsirius1429]

Raisa Bruner says: " "Harmony Hall" is sweet and nimble, a welcome return to form for a group that always seemed to float atop the currents of pop and rock. Ezra Koenig isn't necessarily joyous here: "I thought that I was free from all that questioning / But every time a problem ends another one begins" he laments. But his often-cryptic lyrics find balance with a tune that is buoyant with rich guitar and piano riffing that will make old-school fans happy. "

[@WippleNut]

Watching this I get mixed feelings between a guy who's inducting me into an environmentalist cult, a guy who secretly wants to murder me, and a guy who's been high for his first time so he wants to cook cosmic pancakes with his pet snake. I like it...

[@JoryStultz1234]

The symbolism is derived from satanic mysticism.

[@user-ys1mb9ho2m]

@@JoryStultz1234 oh that's nice

[@JoryStultz1234]

@NÉHÉMIE BEN ISOCRATÈS Khabala.

[@TrinidadJamesWoods]

@@JoryStultz1234 I was getting that vibe myself. That same imagery is in the majority of music videos these days.

[@letsomethingshine]

@@TrinidadJamesWoods The rich want to push forward a certain narrative that supports their lifestyle: manipulatable Christianity and it's narrow-minded view of opposition.

[@AnotherGradus]

Got a song about corruption eroding society, imbued with a general unease on how imminent it feels-- "let's go back to the 90's and flip some atom pancakes"

[@ecoRfan]

Paul Keefer that’s how nostalgia works. Look to the future, look to the past.

[@WiloPolis03]

I see it as more of a song about escaping a cult

[@daishoryujin95]

Or ivy league colleges. Same thing, really.

[@JackieBurhans]

@@daishoryujin95 Vastly underrated comment.

[@coleOKeefe]

i typed "i dont wanna live like this but i dont wanna die" into the search bar for this song and youtube tried to direct me to the suicide hotline 😂

[@gel_oh]

Vampire Weekend notifs always instantly make my day it's unreal

[@RodrigoVazquez91]

Vampire Weekend has produced music for every season of my life since High School

[@gingerAV]

Watch mid90s wherever streaming platforms are sold.

[@dazeofheaven]

Heading over to Circuit City rn...

[@ganeshsah9413]

This song brings back 90s vibes. Feeling nostalgic :)

[@2009kiera]

Does it remind you of the Charlatans?

[@alicefru]

@@2009kiera YES EXACTLY!

[@juk5555]

Honestly lyrics hit harddd af

[@sensationalstation9138]

That's Danielle from Haim flippin dat hair! ❤

[@AJ-dw9or]

Nicole Zambrano how do u know? I didn’t see her face

[@sensationalstation9138]

@@AJ-dw9or you can kind of see her face towards the end, but vp also posted it on their instagram not too long after. I had a good feeling it was her tho because I heard they were good friends

[@AJ-dw9or]

Nicole Zambrano ah that’s so cool!

[@ambivalent1]

She should be in a hair commercial

[@puremadness]

Aziyah Javia no one else has hair like that

[@jsaving773]

This song is about absolutely everything. Tragic.

[@MaybeWeAintUs]

I just love this band! They are so innovative. Their sound is so unique. They never disappoint.

[@lilnut2388]

If you like this song, you will definitely like Way Back When by Jamison Faulkner‼️‼️

[@Gaurav-kw8xb]

@@lilnut2388 Bro do they pay you to write this ?

[@mirandawright5210]

Ezra's spatula clap appreciation post.

[@niccoloaurelius1587]

Best part of the video.

[@flala2261]

*3:42* 👏 🐸

[@spinachpineapple9784]

Hit two spatulas together, get a frog!

[@marchtenth7869]

🥞

[@bogerr0]

The layers on this video are incredible. Forget the Paul Simon comparisons, there's big time Peter Gabriel vibes here.

[@aherrmie]

Ryan Bogert More Grateful Dead.

[@bogerr0]

@@aherrmie I was thinking more sledgehammer video. But I can see the dead shining through too

[@greatmomentstv7838]

Ted Lasso episode 6 brought me here wonderful song 🔥

[@jamisonelrod4806]

Ezra: “Jonah Hill, eat my science pancake.” Jonah: “ Can I get a plate?” Ezra:

[@MrIcecolddd]

I’m digging this, like the Primal Scream 90s vibe

[@jamesoconnor5876]

Charlatan's more like.

[@davidkohli6117]

Vampire weekend brought me here Ezra is a genius Most big bands have one, but damn, this guy

[@muckpuppy]

"ezra koenig makes you breakfast for 5 minutes and 18 seconds while singing a lil ditty in the company of a really sleepy snake" asmr

[@thekillershuman2333]

My favorite band of all time

[@danieloshea3326]

I love that their videos don't start with an ad. That gets my respect.

[@jquiznos2283]

heard this song by accident on some random playlist. so glad I found it! why didn't anyone recommend it before?

[@CharlieND]

Discovered this song in late 2023. Love at first listen. Really has that feeling of summer and traveling for me.

[@ramosmary26]

i love this band so much. this band has been with me through everything.. me & my ex best friend used to dance in her room jamming out to cape cod kwassa kwassa in our goofy pjs eating korean snacks cause she loved that lol i miss her.. i’m gonna reach out to her.. this was her favorite band.. thank you guys ♥️

[@jakereprah]

Can I just wake up every morning to Ezra making pancakes and singing this song

[@thanosactuallymadesomevali4234]

Jakob Harper I think we could all benefit from that

[@gregoryferguson3575]

The melodies and riffs are dope in this song.

[@TheChai0628]

This is my 58th favorite song of all time!

[@macandchesse7089]

FAVARATE SONG OF ALL TIME

[@SebastianOudot]

I discovered this song after hearing it at the end of the amazing documentary about Michael J. Fox.

[@khushikedia6169]

This song is soo great Why is it so underrated

[@amydurre3723]

I just can't get enough of this band! They are SO GOOD! Keep it up guys. I NEVER give up on good music!

[@icantfeel4083]

*everyone talking about depression and quarantine* *me* PRETTY SNAKE😍

[@Izzy-zw3vx]

I know, hes beautiful 🤩

[@faithhoffman2041]

Vampire weekend is awesome harmony hall is my top favorite song

[@factyouintheask6968]

Me listening to this album: "That's so Paul Simon. Oh wait..that's sort of Steely Dan..But this is like none of those". It all sounds like Vampire Weekend

[@theolcf]

It actually. more like Primal Scream's Loaded. Or maybe not. Whatever it is, it's brillaint.

[@jrhokie]

it feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too

[@georgedunlap3149]

Sounds a lot like touch of gray by the grateful dead to me

[@anemone9480]

I discovered this song and band while shopping and shazamed them and now i'm obsessed 🥹❤

[@barrybennington104]

Catchiest tune by far of the past year... Two awesome solos...piano and guitar. Little Jerry Garcia/ Deadhead love happening here. Great song 💯❗️

[@madelineroy5807]

no jokerman font? 6/10

[@NicosUnic]

Madeline Roy rough stuff folks

[@TheNahrstedt]

There we go haha

[@toddjamison4308]

Best comment

[@patrickcharles1881]

I bought this album before I was scheduled to teach a class in Florence, Italy in the summer of 2019. Played it every morning. Song brings back great memories.

[@shayaan3026]

came from John Mayers insta story, stayed for the song !

[@DanielFerreira-cv9nd]

Shyan me too

[@mariset3971]

Me too

[@fa649]

Me too

[@colecaomusical6978]

I think this is funny cause John listen to things that are not good enough like him

[@johnb2263]

Very much Paul Simon meets The Dead. Very impressed!

[@ZoneTC]

I love vampire weekend so much and i miss them😢

[@RacingWorldTV202]

This song is eerily relevant today, innit?

[@SoStupendousTube]

I had the same thought and came here for that very reason.

[@PuffPrint-ib7dy]

This band proves that a song is beautiful in its rhythm & sound, not in its lyrics

[@GoldenKennyBania]

In my eyes this is the song of 2019.

[@payetteman]

Big Grateful Dead vibes

[@girlofthevalley69469]

Yesss listening to vampire weekend and grateful dead to lift spirits in this macabre time.

[@williamknudsen4856]

I swear I’ve heard this before? This can’t be this new? Why do I get nostalgic when I listen to this? Is this really new?

[@SamuelBuckleyScience]

Yeah

[@spencersuen3360]

this is one of the best indie folk records I've ever heard

[@samccllm]

when the snake goes :V

[@edensylvester13]

yes

[@Naomi-rf1bl]

0:41

[@smashedupwards403]

the way he sings the first two lines, both tone and lyrics remind me of a song from like 20 years ago and i cant put my finger on it and im just going to go insane.

[@CorrectWord]

I cannot convince myself to like this song, reusing the line "I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die" feels like a major betrayal of trust when I loved Finger Back so much and that line had so much power in another song...

[@johnnyjohnnyson4672]

This album is going on four years old now and I still refer to it as their “new” album. Sorry for the sentimental comment but it’s hard to fathom that this much time has already passed since I first listened as a sophomore in college. When this came out my top priority was having fun and now I work in a cubicle. Not trying to bitch btw, have a lot of wonderful things going on in my life right now! Any song from this album is just a literal time capsule and puts me right back to that time. Even saw them live a few months after this came out. Can’t wait for their next album even if it takes another 5 years lol

[@spinachpineapple9784]

Ezra: hits two spatulas together and a frog appears

[@samgilbert2928]

This is spectacular in its qualitative ratio of song to video.

[@mindspinn311]

One of the few modern bands putting out real music.

[@akashchowdhury7207]

Ted Lasso brought me here

[@BrocklyNFL]

Same

[@sallyewing3185]

Time travel me back to the mid-90’s

[@iHateMondays98]

3:43 gives such Grateful Dead vibes I love it

[@cerrror]

Also. this 90's vibe in the video brings back memories!

[@zakaby]

Who has prettier eyes? Vote 1 for Ezra, 2 for that bug moulting in the previous video

[@roberthardy5171]

how do i select the numbers?

[@zakaby]

@@roberthardy5171 you select them in your hearts, or you write the number in a comment.

[@toddmarshall2925]

2

[@zakaby]

@@toddmarshall2925 oof that's harsh

[@tortillaman2491]

They sound like the Dead. Cool stuff.

[@theoldblood3804]

"we took a vow in summer time now we find ourselves in late December I believe that new years eve will be the perfect time for that great surrender" BRUH

[@Regularguy924]

Literally was my relationship cycle this past year LMAO

[@WanderingLB]

I have a "Senior picture" taken in summer of 1996 that is almost identical to Ezra's clothing here. Crazy how everything comes back

[@princechauhan6441]

Just forget the lyrics and tone of this song is killing 😶😍

[@Lesleales]

3:22 snake is yawning, kinda cute.

[@RobRobertTheMusicMan]

This does make a great companion to the band Happy Mondays kind of music

[@MrWesleypenteado]

Love this song and love it when it was played in the movie Palmer.

[@whatevadad1312]

3:06 me seeing this video in my recommended

[@Swoovs1]

I like this song

[@keeleycooke2469]

what about that green tree python says WICKED SNAKE it is adorable

[@ohflan]

That was hella weird. I like it.

[@---gh0st---]

Crazy to think I saw these guys live for the first time 11 years ago Still making great music

[@jeresey]

Im here because John Mayer keeps on fangirling on this song

[@clairebear9100]

This song makes me so nostalgic of a time when you were driving home in the sunset with your hand out the window

[@CaptainJeoy]

Ted Lasso brought me here. Such a beautiful song.

[@tomiwaaina5499]

best vampire weekend song ever

[@diwaspoudel3812]

I came here because of John Mayer. And i love it ❤🤩

[@jejakaresah]

suuuuuuccchhhhhh a beatiful songggggg. rhythms of the 90s was so dope!

[@iamavoidtrippergutterslush666]

This is the greatest thing today!! 3;) \,,/ Ty Great Spirit!

[@ChrMmn]

I get such a Greatful Dead vibe. "I don't want to live like this but I don't want to die" is so poignant, long before the pandemic. It's how addiction & depression feel. There's always another problem on the horizon within the worried mind.

[@ChrMmn]

​@Samuel Powell I just happened to listen to this song for the first time in months, got your response from earlier today, and l listened to Beaches by Lonely Gimmick. I dig it & hear the similarity. Thank you for the recommendation!

[@mertman1]

Nice use of sacred geometry.

[@benjaminabela7150]

Is anyone else getting Bon Iver 22, a million vibes from this?

[@animemangaluv13]

Yep

[@smoothdesign1]

Healing.

[@highlonesome7482]

This song reminds me so much of that cheerful, Greatful Dead sound 😀

[@highlonesome7482]

@Samuel Powell I'll check it out! Thanks!

[@TheScunneredMan]

Underrated band.

[@emmataylor627]

boy do i love this song

[@cakredi4132]

*Len's Steal My Sunshine 2.0*

[@asherf1161]

Cak Redi I love this. I love you for this.

[@bsolis808]

Exactly what I was thinking. I knew I had heard this before.

[@DavidDurney]

This is just the absolutely best video ever.

[@Emenus_Sleepus]

Ted Lasso!

[@doccritical1148]

the best part of this music video was being blessed with the cutest tree boa yawns I've ever seen

[@ValwithaVee]

This has a "The Killers" sound to it. I LOVE IT!

[@AlviNavidlv]

States my life so perfectly right now (21/11/23)

[@willthomsen7569]

Beneath THESE very gloves I hide the shameful crooked hands of money lenders hahahha this kid is SO awake I love it