Songfacts®:

• "Capricorn" is a wistful and subdued song by Vampire Weekend that reflects on the passage of time and the complexities of existence.
  
  Capricorn
  The year that you were born
  Finished fast
  And the next one wasn't yours
  
  Spanning December 21st to January 19th, the astrological sign Capricorn marks the 10th position in the zodiac. Those born in the final weeks, dubbed "December Capricorns," experience a birth year that seems to vanish rapidly, potentially shaping their perception of time and beginnings.
• Vocalist Ezra Koenig addresses someone here who is full of unease and confusion. The line, "The world looked different when God was on your side," paints a picture of optimism fading, replaced by a bleak reality. Stuck in the tide, this person feels powerless to change their circumstances.
  
  Hope whispers in the distance: Despite the darkness, "Capricorn" isn't devoid of hope. The line "Good days are comin', not just to die" offers a glimmer of light, urging the listener to persevere. Koenig's soothing "Listen, baby, you don't have to try" suggests accepting the unchangeable while holding onto hope for the future.
• Vampire Weekend recorded "Capricorn" for their fifth album, Only God Was Above Us. Koenig wrote most of the lyrics for the record in 2019 and 2020 and produced it with his go-to collaborator, Ariel Rechtshaid. It was mixed by Dave Fridmann and mastered by Emily Lazar.
• Vampire Weekend took the album title from a newspaper headline seen in the 1988 photograph Subway Dream 11 by Steven Siegel.
• "Capricorn" was released as the lead single from Only God Was Above Us alongside "Gen-X Cops." "Capricorn" is meditative and melodic, with a contemplative tone contrasting with the punk-influenced "Gen-X Cops."
• In the "Capricorn" video, Vampire Weekend's longtime creative director, Nick Harwood, conjures up the gritty energy and neon-soaked nostalgia of late '80s New York City.
• Vampire Weekend performed "Capricorn" while appearing as the musical guests on the May 11, 2024, episode of Saturday Night Live. It was the first time the New York band played on the sketch show in 11 years, and their fourth overall.