I sang this song to my newborn daughter every night as she screamed, thrashed and wailed with colic. Nothing could soothe her, but singing these beautiful, timeless words at least put me at ease, which helped get us through those nights. Tonight, 4 years later, a random night when she was feeling sad and lonely and missing her mama who was gone for the evening, she couldn't fall to sleep. This song came to mind, so I sang it to her once again. She instantly nodded off to dreamland, with the sweetest look on her face. That's what this song is. This song will forever be a part of me and I hope someday my daughter will find the same beauty and peace in it that I have.

Feels like a good song to listen with your best friend whom you haven't seen for years while playing basketball in your old high school.

This song makes me think of the end of the semester in college; I had an ecology class that did a lot of camping trips, it was popular with foreign students since it was used to promote the school in other countries. We were driving back to school from a camping trip at dusk and it was when the weather was just starting to feel like summer, we had all gotten a lot closer on this trip since it was so long, despite the cultural/language barriers that made it more awkward at the beginning of the class. One of my new foreign friends fell asleep with her head on my shoulder and this song came on, and at that time I knew I'd remember that moment for years to come. I have no clue what all those people are up to now we didn't keep in touch, but I still remember that time of our life fondly and this song always takes me to that time.

I don't know why but this song always makes me feel like it's all going to turn out ok. Like it just has to

I wonder if when someone makes a song this good they have any idea how much of an impact it will have in people's lives.

Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth. Only I don't know how they got out, dear. Turn me back into the pet I was when we met. I was happier then with no mind-set. And if you'd 'a took to me like a gull takes to the wind. Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree And I'd 'a danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well. New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries. Hope it's right when you die, old and bony. Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall, Never should have called But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely. And if you'd 'a took to me like a gull takes to the wind. Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree And I'd 'a danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well. God speed all the bakers at dawn May they all cut their thumbs, And bleed into their buns 'til they melt away. I'm looking in on the good life I might be doomed never to find. Without a trust or flaming fields am I too dumb to refine? And if you'd 'a took to me like I'd 'a danced like the queen of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well. Edit: I come back three years later to find that over 350 beautiful people liked these amazing lyrics. Thank you all so much

i love coming to this video and reading everyone’s beautiful memories and reasons this song is important to them. Makes my soul feel warm

Gold teeth and a curse for this town Were all in my mouth Only I don't know how they got out, dear Turn me back into the pet I was when we met I was happier then with no mindset And if you took to me like a Gull takes to the wind Well, I'd've jumped from my trees And I'd've danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would've fared well New slang when you notice the stripes The dirt in your fries Hope it's right when you die, old and bony Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall Never should have called But my head's to the wall and I'm lonely And if you took to me like a Gull takes to the wind Well, I'd've jumped from my trees And I'd've danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would've fared well Godspeed, all the bakers at dawn May they all cut their thumbs And bleed into their buns 'til they melt away I'm looking in on the good life I might be doomed never to find Without a trust, a flaming field Am I too dumb to refine? And if you took to me like Well, I'd've danced like the queen of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would've fared well

this is the kinda song that should be played automatically whenever there's a peaceful silence between you and someone you like.

I remember sitting in my shrink’s waiting room when Natalie Portman recommended this song to me.

Love this song. Always gave me a Simon and Garfunkel vibe.

I remember listening to this in 1673 when I was just 15 years old. We'd just finished burning my sister at the stake for practicing Witchcraft. The summer air was peacefully warm and the sun was just setting. Then this song started playing. I don't know what it was playing on, as no radio's had been invented yet, but still, we all stood there and listened, feeling peaceful and optimistic. What a beautiful evening it was. Every time I hear this song, I'm immediately transported back to the edge of those cliffs looking out at the blood orange sun setting over the ocean whilst watching my sister's ashes drift lazily into the evening sky. Memories. 💭

Feeling nostalgic about a song that 12 years ago made me feel nostalgic.

My dad killed himself two weeks ago and we always listened to this song. The shins will always have a place in my heart

"You gotta hear this one song, it'll change your life I swear" Thanks Natalie Portman, it definitely did

If any of you were wondering, here's all the things this video is referencing (there's some I missed though) 0:00 Husker Du - Zen Arcade album cover 0:13 The Replacements - Let it Be album cover 0:17 Husker Du - New Day Rising album cover 0:20 Slint - Spiderland album cover 0:24 Sonic Youth - Sister album cover (bottom right on back cover) 0:28 Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime album cover 0:35 Squirrel Bait - Squirrel Bait (EP) album cover 0:51 -Sonic Youth (again) 1:04 Cat Power - Nude as the News music video 1:13 Cat Power- Moon Pix album cover 1:38 Slint - Spiderland (again) 1:51 Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime (again) 2:29 Husker Du - New Day Rising (agian) 2:42 Sonic Youth - Sister (again) 3:08 Sonic Youth - Sister (again) 3:28 Slint - Spiderland (again) 3:32 Minutemen - Double Nickels (again) 3:35 Husker Du - Zen Arcade (again) 3:39 Replacements - Let it Be (again) You're welcome

All the feels come rushing back with this one.

I disagree with labeling this song “sad” lol. I have listened to this song for years in many different moods and it was always the perfect song for every mood ❤️

Garden State turned me onto The Shins way back. Been listening ever since :)

One of the best songs in the world, a true feel good song and timeless. Thank you for this song.

I delivered a pizza to some guy and his downstairs neighbors was blaring this album. I remarked that it was a good album and the upstairs guy I was delivering it to says, "Yeah, if he didn't listen to it literally NON-STOP, EVERY DAY."

I have literally been looking for this for 10 years

This song reminds me of a specific winter in my life. There is such a bitterness and apathy in this song. I was very lonely then.

This boy is the vocalist of Broken Bells!! I WAS TODAY YEARS OLD!!!!!!!

This song reminds me of my lost youth and the chances I didn't take and the nights that never were. The days when I was naive and in love. The days of newly lost innocence and despair. The joy and the pain of the youth that is now gone forever. I'm tipsy good night.

Makes me feel grateful to be alive. My best friend who died showed me it and 10 years later i just listen to it now... Thank you life for letting me live on.

My mother played this song while i was in the womb, this song gives me such comfort. So beautiful

This song reminds me of my son and I, living on south jackson street when he was in elementary school. When I'd get home from work and jiggle the door knob, I'd hear his little feet running across the hardwood floor and he'd sling open the door, throw his little arms up and yell "MOMMY!" And give me the hugest hug around the neck. It's one of my favorite memories. ♥️ He's 21 now. 6'4. Still gives me the strongest best hugs. He doesn't need me anymore like he did, but it's ok. I still have this song.

"I was happier then with no mindset." - truer than ever

when your in the car play this song n you'll instantly act like your in a depressing nastolgic movie scene.

Two years ago my dad was playing it in the kitchen when I came down just to say hi. I immediately demanded he tells me what song was playing. I had finally found it. It took me 14 years of my life but finally I had found it.

This song reminds me of rehab in the mid 2000s. All the good people and friendships made along the way, that meant the world to me. Sadly few are still around. It's a bittersweet tune for me, but always moving and beautiful.

At the Shins concert in Boston a couple months ago I was front and center, and James Mercer accidentally dropped his guitar pick on my head. Best souvenir ever!

It's been a while since I've found a song that makes me want to stare at the ceiling while laying down

I first heard this song while boating with my high school buddies at the reservoir in the summer of 2002. If I close my eyes I start to smell the lake and it's like no time has passed at all.

I don't know what it is about this song.. I'm currently 23 years old and remember when my dad would always play it when I was younger. It's comforting. I'll go years without listening to it but whenever I do listen to it, I feel like no time has passed and I'm still a kid. Love it.

Whenever I meet a new guy I send him this and depending on his response I’ll know if we can date.

Idk what it is about this song. I feel like I could listen to it forever. It just seems to connect with something deep inside. Its like it somehow reflects all my hopes and dreams but also all of the disappointment and longing at the same time. Absolute masterpiece. The Shins are the best.

I can’t express how fortunate we were to see these guys a few years ago here in our hometown of Bend on a late summer night with the sun setting with the love of my life of 30+ years. Truly one of the greatest nights of my life. She had been given a clear bill of health after multiple brain tumor surgeries. I feel like god blessed us that evening.

3 years ago this month, i lost one of my greatest friends. this was his favourite song. every year, near the anniversary, i come back to this song and i say out loud "i love and miss you so much, Damion". you are such a beautiful memory in my head. i'll cherish you forever. i'll love you forever. naming my first-born son after you. ❤️

I must have listened to New Slang a thousand times, but today is the first time in several years I've listened to a Shins song. I burst into tears.

Manager: OK Shins, we have only $25 left budgeted to make the music video... Shins: np

They did not have to go this hard on this. I love the music video, whole song gives off nostalgic vibes.

Greatest indie song ever written. Change my mind.

I only met her twice, they were the best twice ever. But she wasn't ready... I don't know if I was either but she was just...just so beautiful. Her short dark hair, blue eyes, mesmerising smile. If you ever read this and are ready, let me know, I'm waiting. X

"Should we fade this song out or end it cold?" "Yes"

This makes me feel a whole different type of nostalgia, I literally can't explain it.

When someone writes one of these songs that you know will outlive you, it's something special. You have a moment where you think: this is a song that can fix everything that's wrong...and it should, but people are by and large too shallow to feel what a song can give, and they miss it. It is forgotten

I regret spending a whole life without this song

I've spent 10 years with this song, and met many people sometimes loved one. However this song didn't step into my personal memory so far. Every time I listen to this song, it reminds me the first memory of listening to this. It was a lecture hall in my college,few people was there,and I felt nostalgia but I still don't know for what.

This thing can never get old . What a masterpiece . Even listening to them and put them on repeat in 2024 . What a memory for me . God bless you guys

30 something transported back to my teen years with this...

My interpretation of this song, which might mean nothing to anyone is of an innocent wish for just a connection to someone or something but not wanting to push too hard to make it work out. Then you watch the moment fade away knowing there wasn't much you could do but you mourn it just the same.

This song makes me feel like I'm missing a life that I can remember little bits and pieces of. The effect music can have on someone is crazy, yeah? Any more songs that make you feel like this song does, please do not hesitate to let me know. I show this song to other people and most of them don't really like it as much and I'm like... Are you crazy?

Good song to drink coffee to while playing tennis and smoking a joint. While on college summer vacation back home

I like how this song played in the latest Spider-Man game, and in the first The Amazing Spider-Man movie, a other song by The Shins, No Way Down, plays. I’m not sure if that was an intentional reference to TASM, but I hope it was.

apparently Zach braff heard these guys and thought "This is the only music I need"

This is one of the few songs I have difficulty listening to because of its affect on me. When I listen to it, I can't function, I can only stare at walls or the sky or out the window because trying to do something else feels so wrong to me and I get distracted by it so easily. Typing this is hard enough. This is honestly the best song I've ever heard and I have no problem saying that it touches my heart in a way that is beyond beautiful.

this song became a part of my soul the first time i heard it in Garden State, then all of the shins songs did. They will always remind me of a teenage angst sad puberty period with a tiny vibe of hope.mostly bad memories, but still precious i always come back after 2- 3 years and listen this album, it really had a huge impact in me, thank you guys

I first heard this song driving through the Nevada emptiness with Windows down, the middle of a warm starry night. Something so IDK, just beautifully simple and melodic about it made me feel high af even with nothing in my system. Was a perfect moment in a great period of life. Such a great song.

It literally feels like Zach Braff heard this song and thought, yeah I can write the movie equivalent of that. Like life its sad, happy,meanigful but dumb, makes you feel things but makes you wish you couldnt feel.

Am I the only one to think it's refreshing to see a comments page that isn't full of people arguing about how stupid other nations are, how crap the music is or how so and so is better? It's nice to see comments where people are actually talking to each other without resorting to insults. Wonder if it's the music!

My dog died yesterday. I'll forever miss my best boy and all of our adventures. This song goes out to you Max. I miss you.

In my memories I’ll always be 27yo, singing this song walking through the streets of Dublin enjoying the windy and rainy Irish weather that I love so much.

Walking on Amsterdam somewhere in Upper West Side on a windy autumn day. This song just perfectly blinds out all the city bustling

James Mercer is a lyrical genius.

To my best friend, Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of you since you left this world on August 20th. There's always something that reminds me of you, whether it's big or small, everyday. So, many things that I want to talk to you about that I'll never get to. So many plans we made that we'll never get to do. I would even settle listening to this song with you for the 100th time. I miss you buddy, and there won't be a day that goes by that I won't.

40 year old black guy.... I don't know much about the Beatles but when I discovered these guys and this song in particula ..their my Beatles. I don't know if that makes sense

“I guess the key to a lot of things is balance. Whether it’s balance of power, balance in love, and sometimes, just balance. For some of us it seems too far out of reach, too difficult to achieve. But the important thing is just to never stop trying, especially if you like girls named Alex... And chicken salad.” -JD (Scrubs S01E13 “My Balancing Act”) Scrubs introduced me to The Shins, and I’m forever grateful to have both of them in my life!

Loving music all my life... I was two years old when I started dancing listening to my dad's 1956 rockola jukebox. I think that the Shins are old souls and deserve to be recognized more.

This song makes me wanna become the best version of myself

Yes, this song changed my life

I’ll share something too because apparently everyone has memories about this song, and the comments are pretty heartwarming so I thought I’d add. I first heard this song when I was in rehab and I was in my last few months there. It was an incredibly hard time in my life and I have never fought so hard for anything. I used to listen to it whenever I was allowed to have my phone and it always comforted me in a strange way. When I got out and I finally had a roof above my head, let alone one I could call my own I still listened to it a lot. I eventually started studying music, fell pretty madly in love with a beautiful girl and seeing as she was the singer in the band I was assigned to in school, I wanted to share a bit of myself with her. We were playin covers, so I recommended new slang. We didn’t end up keeping it in the set because of some difficulty with backing vocals, and so this song slowly started fading out of my life. Me and the girl got into a rushed relationship, and to keep it short we were too different wavelengths trying to talk to each other. I became caught up with school, my girlfriend and just life in general, and because I wasn’t living right I eventually relapsed into drug use. Me and her broke up, I lost the house I worked so hard for because of my own stupidity and I went fully off the rails again. People learn though, and even though I’m not where I want to be, I am clean, I have the best relationship I’ve ever been in. This time it’s not rushed, and this time I have a lot of experiences that have made me learn about myself and the world around me. I was sitting at the coffee table listening to music just now, and guess what came on. It’s been almost a year since the things I just wrote out happened, so that’s how long it’s been since I’ve heard new slang. And this time, I’m gonna make life work. I know I will. Thank you for reading.

Bless, this little song's such an innocent throwback to the 60s and 70ss summer of love.

Some songs transport you to a place and time, for me New Slang brings me back to 18 years old in San Francisco. This song played on repeat as I rode Bart to classes and bay area explorations with friends. Brings back memories of adventure, freedom, and a bit of melancholy looking back all these years later.

This makes me remember sitting by the side of a canal in Amsterdam sometime in the early 2000s, in the evening, happily stoned, listening to this on my ipod touch or whatever it was back then..

Album covers: 0:06 Husker Du - Zen Arcade 0:14 Replacements - Let It Be 0:17 Husker Du - New Day Rising 0:21 Slint - Spiderland 0:25 Sonic Youth - Sister (back cover, lower right photo) 0:29 Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime 0:35 Squirrel Bait - [self-titled EP] 1:14 Cat Power - Moon Pix 3:14 David Bowie - Diamond Dogs What am I missing?

This song was playing at a smoothie stand on the beach in Pacific Beach, California. I asked the barman for the title, he gave it to me, and I tipped him a dollar. He looked so genuinely surprised and grateful, it made my day.

Apparently it’s not just me. This song reminds me of a time and a place. And a feeling. A good one

I'm feeling nostalgic about something I don't know what it is. I'm just looking at my old workplaces, my old university, the house where I used to live 10 years ago etc... using Google Maps while listening to this song... so weird lol.

This song makes me feel invincible.Honestly, I feel like I can do anything while listening to this, it's beautiful.

This song was so ahead of its time. It always gave me 2011-2012 alternative vibes

NEW slang is old and regardless stays timeless. never fails putting a smile on my face on downtrodden days. certain songs just have that effect on me....like hearing led zeps rain song.....we all have songs like that...agree or disagree but we are still all here enjoying music. one wastes a lot of time in youth thinking that he or she is the ONLY one that gets it. damn, i never rant

It's like "I guess we're all sort of fcked but hey, life's still pretty sweet."

I just discovered this song by accident yesterday while building a Spotify Playlist and played it the first time while I was on a plane that was flying down the gulf coast at sunset. I don't think I've had a song hit so hard.

I will remember 2010-2011 and the good things about the EOI.I miss you always ❤

this song blew my mind in 6th grade, i couldn't stop listening. one of the first songs i truly loved. still do.

I had to pull the car over the first time I heard this song. It is just so beautiful I was blinded and overcome with emotion. I hope I will never stop being so affected by it.

I'd like to put on my headphones , go on a walk outside in a place where i can see stars and just make me realise myself that it doesn't always have to require someone else to have fun or enjoy life or feel good about yourself. And even being alone , you can remember the good times and feel good about yourself , others , and everything around you. Blissful song

This hast to be my favorite rare song they never play on the radio hardly anymore!😂

peter the type of spider to say "i needed this" when he plays basketball with his best friend

There are some epic record cover references: husker du, the replacements, slowdive, minutemen, slint. My god, so good.

this song helped me through on my struggles adapting into internship and juggling between university and work. night driving while crying with this song blasting in the background really hits different.

This is the kind of song that adds that certain "spice" to your day, making you feel at one with the world again.

This song was an integral part of my day 20 years ago

I don’t know why I listen to sad music when I’m sad. I guess it just resonates with me in a way that happy music can’t.

This songs takes my hand and guides my soul through my past when I was young and innocent, when] days were full of happiness and adventure, and when responsibilities were a foreign concept; just a kid discovering the world one day at a time.

Fuck, this song man. It's so beautiful. As a piece of communication, it just captures "that feeling" so perfectly. That amazing human experience. Those feelings of uncertainty, doubt, hope, gentleness, love. It's an amazing song.

This song makes me think of that one time that I ordered pizza. Saw my delivery driver's VIA tracker getting lost. I ran outside in the rain to catch him. While he gave me my pizza, this song was playing. It pretty much means that everything will be fine and pizza is life.

You know.. I've listened to some really depressing and dark music in my life: Elliott Smith, Scott Walker, Some Radiohead, some Swans, Late Joy Division etc, but none of them really affected me.. in fact I found them to be beautiful. But for some reason from the moment I heard this song it just hit me so strong and I was moved to tears from that first time. That was a very long time ago, and it still holds that same spell over me. It's hard to listen to it without chocking up. I still wonder why