New Slang

Released in 2001 by The Shins, New Slang is one of our top ten favorite songs of all time.  James Mercer wrote the lyrics in an effort to describe his urge to get out of his hometown, job, relationship and life.  The words are presented in a manner that encourages the listener to envelope this sense of angst of one's surroundings.  The melody is timeless.  A song for eternity, this musical gift from The Shins will follow us around forever.

New Slang by The Shins has a rather sordid history with The Efts.
Shannon of The Efts was listening to the original Shins version when he flipped
his pickup truck into an icy creek several winters ago.  As the cab of
the truck filled with slushy ice-cold water, he frantically tried to
get the truck started so he could escape through the power windows.
With a final focused attempt to start the vehicle, the windows opened
and The Shins poignantly reminded him that he could dance like the
king of the eyesores and the rest of our lives would a' fared well.

Lyrics:


Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth.
Only, i don't know how they got out, dear.
Turn me back into the pet that i was when we met.
I was happier then with no mind-set.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the king of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries.
Hope it's right when you die, old and bony.
Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall,
Never should have called
But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely.

And if you'd 'a took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the kind of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.

God speed all the bakers at dawn may they all cut their thumbs,
And bleed into their buns 'till they melt away.

I'm looking in on the good life i might be doomed never to find.
Without a trust or flaming fields am i too dumb to refine?
And if you'd 'a took to me like
Well I'd a danced like the queen of the eyesores