02-07-19
From their seminal album, Robbers and Cowards, released in 2007, Cold War Kids made a bold choice in beginning their recording careers with We Used to Vacation. Literally from the first second, I heard Cold War Kids via this song I was captivated. As time went on and I was afforded the opportunity to see them I was able to really understand the power of remorse displayed in the live renditions of this song.
Told from the narrative point of view of a gentleman who is battling alcoholism, he tells a story of how he had supposedly sworn off drinking due to him and his family narrowly escaping a fatal car crash. Unfortunately, the weights and pressures of life seem to be too much for him, and he continues to go back to his familiar crutch. He rationalizes his actions constantly by pointing out all the things that could be worst as if to say “as long as I continue to do the bare minimum then all is fine, “this will all blow over in time.””
Having seen this behavior before I can see the scene being painted so vividly, one of an abject drunkard at a barstool, espousing his stories as if confessing to a priest, looking for absolution from any stranger foolhardy enough to listen. I know the pain is often driving that person’s actions; pain that usually comes from a sense of remorse. In this particular situation, this person drinks to deal with the pain of life, while slowly increasing the pain of their experience with each sip.
Remorse can often create a pit, one which pulls us deeper and deeper with every breath—that is if we let it. As is the case with every emotion, each one serves a purpose, however, to allow one to take complete hold is a dangerous thing, especially one so profoundly conflicted such as remorse. We have to take the hard steps to get ourselves out of a state of remorse, which in its own right is a fortunate reality. When we feel at our deepest points, everything that feels like work is likely some form of progress, this may not make it any more comfortable, but it certainly has helped me to feel like I’m doing more than spinning my wheels.
Lyrics:
I kissed the kids at noon
Then stumbled out the room
I caught a cab, ran up a tab
On 7th and Flower
Best recital, I had to run
Missed my son’s graduation
Punched the Nickle’s boy
For taking his seat
He gets all that anger from me
Still things could be much worse
Natural disasters on the evening news
Still things could be much worse
We still got our health
My paycheck in the mail
I promised to my wife and children
I’d never touch another drink
As long as I live but even then
It sounds so soothing
This will blow over in time
This will all blow over in time
I’m just an honest man
Provide for me and mine
I give a check to tax deductible
Charity organizations
Two weeks paid vacation
Won’t heal the damage done
I need another one
Still things could be much worse
Natural disasters on the evening news
Still things could be much worse
We still got our health
My paycheck in the mail
I promised to my wife and children
I’d never touch another drink
As long as I live but even then
It sounds so soothing to mix a gin
And sink into oblivion
I promised to my wife and children
That accident left everyone a little shook up
But at the meetings I felt so empty
This will blow over in time
This will all blow over in time
Mm la da da da da ah da da da da ah oh
Ah la da da da la da da da da ah la da da da ooh