Giving Up the Gun
Vampire Weekend * Track #8 On Contra
Download "Giving Up the Gun"
Album Contra
Giving Up the Gun by Vampire Weekend
Release Date
Performed by
Vampire WeekendProduced by
RostamWrited by
Ezra KoenigAbout
“Giving Up The Gun” is technically an update of Ezra Koenig’s 2004 “Giving Up Da Gun” by L'Homme Run, a comedic rap duo that Koenig created during while attending Columbia University.
In an interview with NME, Koenig talked about the idea for the song:
“I got the idea for the song from a book my D...
Giving Up the Gun Lyrics
[Chorus]
Your sword's grown old and rusty
Burnt beneath the rising sun
It's locked up like a trophy
Forgetting all the things it's done
And though it's been a long time
You're right back where you started from
I see it in your eyes
That now you're giving up the gun
[Verse 1]
When I was seventeen, I had wrists like steel
And I felt complete
And now my body fades behind a brass charade
And I'm obsolete
But if the chance remained to see those better days
I'd cut the cannons down
My ears are blown to bits from all the rifle hits
But still I crave that sound
[Chorus]
Your sword's grown old and rusty
Burnt beneath the rising sun
It's locked up like a trophy
Forgetting all the things it's done
And though it's been a long time
You're right back where you started from
I see it in your eyes
That now you're giving up the gun
[Verse 2]
I heard you play guitar down at a seedy bar
Where skinheads used to fight
Your Tokugawa smile and your garbage style
Used to save the night
You felt the coming wave, told me we'd all be brave
You said you wouldn't flinch
But in the years that passed, since I saw you last
You haven't moved an inch
[Chorus]
Your sword's grown old and rusty
Burnt beneath the rising sun
It's locked up like a trophy
Forgetting all the things it's done
And though it's been a long time
You're right back where you started from
I see it in your eyes
That now you're giving up the gun
[Bridge]
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
(I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on
I see you shine in your way
Go on, go on, go on)
[Chorus]
Your sword's grown old and rusty
Burnt beneath the rising sun
It's locked up like a trophy
Forgetting all the things it's done
And though it's been a long time
You're right back where you started from
I see it in your eyes
That now you're giving up the gun
Giving Up the Gun Q&A
Who wrote Giving Up the Gun's ?
Giving Up the Gun was written by Ezra Koenig.
Who produced Giving Up the Gun's ?
Giving Up the Gun was produced by Rostam.
When did Vampire Weekend release Giving Up the Gun?
Vampire Weekend released Giving Up the Gun on Fri Feb 19 2010.
What did Vampire Weekend say about "Giving Up the Gun"?
Rostam said during a Twitter Q&A on the 7-year anniversary of Contra’s leak that it was Ezra Koenig’s idea to rework the original “Giving Up Da Gun” for VW, and that they decided to put it on Contra rather than their eponymous debut because its electronic production fit better.
i think we felt...