This song sets up the rest of the album by introducing its central theme: Dave’s ex-wife’s battle with cancer. “Vital Signs” focuses on his initial reactions to the diagnosis. The song takes on a tone of denial and hope, and Dave resolves to fight alongside his partner to help her beat the cancer.
[Verse 1]
Your body cold, but there's vital signs
And they picked your name out from the line
The sweetest thing assurance buys
Is the lesser deep and dark as our demise
Taken now, into the dust
They broke into your pickup truck
And I see the lights surrounding us
This city's like the only thing I trust
[Chorus]
So it's back to life
Growing still beneath the dark, woah
And we can run, or we can try, or we can find
Find a way to dive
To dive
To dive
[Verse 2]
And no one's dying at your age
And this whole county is a cage
Of borderlines and bitter rage
It's coming for us now, this final thing
And what is pain if there's a lot?
And I found a wife, and I found a job
Oh, when the money comes, the money stops
They're coming for us now that the money's gone
[Chorus]
So it's back to life
Growing still beneath my soul
We can run, or we can try, or we can find
Find a way to dive
To dive
To dive
When I just want to see some vital signs
[Interlude]
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Verse 3]
We were taught to fall asleep
And shut our eyes from everything
And see the way our little hearts
Could beat away the scary parts
Now we're old and full of life
And full of fear with little time
And we are ill, but that's today
Tomorrow, "ill" could go away
And something, somewhere
Called home
Paces back and forth, oh ohhh
[Verse 1]
Your body cold, but there's vital signs
And they picked your name out from the line
The sweetest thing assurance buys
Is the lesser deep and dark as our demise
[Outro]
And I will feed you with my own two hands
And I will feed you with my own two hands
Vital Signs was written by David Le’aupepe.
Vital Signs was produced by Kevin McMahon.
Gang of Youths released Vital Signs on Fri Apr 17 2015.