An oldie but a goodie, as they say. Classic track from way back.

They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock

These days my life I feel it has no purpose
But late at night the feelings swim to the surface

‘Cause on the surface the city lights shine
They’re calling at me, come and find your kind

Sometimes I wonder if the world’s so small
That we can never get away from the sprawl

Living in the sprawl, dead shopping malls rise
Like mountains beyond mountains
And there’s no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights

We rode our bikes to the nearest park
Sat under the swings and kissed in the dark

You shield my eyes from the police lights
We run away, but we don’t know why

The black river, your city lights shine
They’re screaming at us, “We don’t need your kind”

Sometimes I wonder if the world’s so small
That we can never get away from the sprawl

Living in the sprawl, dead shopping malls rise
Like mountains beyond mountains
And there’s no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights

They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock
Sometimes I wonder if the world’s so small
Can we ever get away from the sprawl?

Living in the sprawl, dead shopping malls rise
Like mountains beyond mountains
And there’s no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights

“The song was inspired by Mountains Beyond Mountains, the story of Paul S. Farmer, one of the founders of Partners In Health, an organization to which Arcade Fire hopes you’ll donate.”