Telephones

"Telephones" by Vacations is a poignant exploration of modern relationship decay, fueled by digital communication and self-doubt. At its heart, the song addresses the feeling of emotional distance despite being constantly connected via technology. The central metaphor of the telephone represents a lifeline that has become a tether, offering connection without intimacy. The narrator feels trapped in a cycle of waiting for calls and staring at screens, which only serves to amplify their loneliness rather than alleviate it.

The chorus line, "I wish I could be a better reason to leave," is particularly significant. It reveals a deep sense of insecurity and unworthiness. The protagonist feels they are not enough—not even enough of a "reason" for their partner to make a clean break. It suggests a passive ending to a relationship where neither party has the strength to cut the cord, leading to a slow, painful drift rather than a dramatic split. This sentiment resonates with the "ghosting" culture and the ambiguity of modern dating, where relationships often fizzle out through unanswered texts and missed calls rather than clear conversations.

Implicitly, the song also touches on depression and social anxiety. The lyrics about loneliness following the narrator "everywhere" suggest that the relationship struggles are exacerbated by personal mental health battles. The upbeat musical backing provides an ironic contrast to these heavy themes, perhaps symbolizing the mask one wears in public or on social media while internally struggling.

The narrative of the song unfolds with the protagonist waking up to the morning light, immediately confronted by a sense of digital intrusion and emotional distance. The opening scene depicts a moment of hesitation and paralysis; as the phone rings or notifies them, they feel their thoughts crawling back to a state of dependency and longing. The lyrics describe a routine where the narrator falls into the night, fixated on the screen's bright shine, suggesting a cycle of scrolling or waiting that consumes their time and mental energy.

In the chorus, the emotional core of the song is revealed through a confession of inadequacy. The narrator expresses a desire to be a "better reason to leave," implying they feel like a burden or an insufficient partner in the relationship. This line suggests a complex mix of self-deprecation and a wish for the other person's happiness, even if it means their own abandonment. They acknowledge their own role in the stagnation of the relationship, feeling unable to move forward yet unable to let go.

The second verse deepens the theme of inescapable isolation. The narrator describes loneliness as a physical entity that follows them everywhere—from bars to cars to sidewalks and stores. There is no refuge from this feeling, emphasizing that the issue is internal rather than just circumstantial. The song concludes with a repetitive, almost hypnotic refrain about the partner calling on the telephone. This repetition mimics the incessant, nagging nature of unresolved communication, where the act of calling happens, but true connection remains out of reach, leaving the narrator "miles away" both physically and emotionally.

"Telephones" was written by Campbell Burns, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the Australian band Vacations. It was released in 2018 as part of their debut studio album, Changes. The creation of the song and the album traces back to the band's DIY roots in Newcastle, Australia. Burns initially started Vacations as a solo bedroom recording project before it expanded into a full band.

The album Changes was written during a transitional period in Burns' life, marked by him moving out of his family home and navigating the shifts in his personal relationships and environment. The song was recorded with a focus on capturing a specific lo-fi, jangly aesthetic that pays homage to 80s indie pop and surf rock, but with a modern, introspective twist. Burns has noted in interviews that the song deals with phone addiction and the anxiety of digital communication, reflecting his own experiences with staying up too late staring at screens.

Interestingly, the song became a sleeper hit. While it was popular within the indie scene upon release, it exploded in popularity years later, around 2020-2022, thanks to TikTok. The song went viral globally, leading to it being certified Platinum in the United States and Canada, a massive achievement for an independent Australian band. This late viral success surprised the band and significantly altered their career trajectory, leading to sold-out tours in North America.

The song follows a standard 4/4 time signature with a tempo of approximately 75 BPM (Adagio), giving it a laid-back, grooving feel. The rhythm section (bass and drums) plays a steady, uncomplicated beat that drives the song forward without overpowering the melodic guitar work. This steady groove encourages a "sad dance" reaction from the listener.

Lyrically, the song uses a mix of simple end rhymes (e.g., "leave" / "me") and slant rhymes. The rhyme scheme in the verses is relatively loose, reinforcing the conversational and confessional tone of the singer. The rhythm of the vocal melody is syncopated, often dragging slightly behind the beat or anticipating it, which contributes to the "woozy" and relaxed atmosphere. This rhythmic looseness mirrors the narrator's feeling of aimlessness and drifting.

Musical Techniques:

• Jangle Pop Guitar: The track is defined by its chorus-laden electric guitar riffs (likely using a pedal like the Boss CE-2 or similar modulation). This creates a "watery," shimmering sound that evokes nostalgia and a dreamlike state (dream pop).
• Lo-Fi Production: The vocals are mixed to sit slightly back in the track, often with a touch of reverb or delay, giving them a distant, "bedroom pop" quality. This stylistic choice enhances the theme of isolation.
• Harmonic Language: The song utilizes Major 7th and Minor 7th chords (e.g., Gmaj7, Em7), which are staples of jazz and indie pop. These chords add a layer of emotional complexity—sounding bright but with a hint of melancholy or wistfulness.

Literary Techniques:

• Juxtaposition: The primary technique is the contrast between the upbeat, sunny instrumentation and the depressive lyrics. This creates a bittersweet irony, suggesting a facade of happiness covering inner turmoil.
• Repetition: The phrase "She says she calls me on the telephone" is repeated like a mantra, mimicking the repetitive, circular nature of obsessive thoughts and the constant notifications of modern life.

"Telephones" is a prime example of the modern "sleeper hit" phenomenon driven by social media. Released in 2018 to moderate acclaim within the indie sphere, it found a massive second life on TikTok around 2020-2022. The song (and sped-up versions of it) became the soundtrack for hundreds of thousands of videos, often featuring nostalgic montages, travel clips, or sentimental content.

This viral fame catapulted Vacations from a local Australian band to a global touring act. The song has achieved Platinum certification in the US (RIAA), Canada, and Australia, a rare feat for an independent band. Culturally, it fits into the broader "Bedroom Pop" and "Indie Surf" revival, resonating deeply with Gen Z listeners who identify with its themes of digital anxiety and relationship ambiguity. It has become a staple of "sad indie" playlists and is the band's signature song, often closing their live sets where fans famously light up the venue with their phone flashlights—a meta-commentary on the song's title.

The song employs several key symbols to convey its themes of distance and disconnection:

• The Telephone: The titular symbol represents the paradox of connectivity. While designed to bring people together, in the song, it serves as a source of anxiety and a reminder of distance. The "shine so bright" of the screen is a hypnotic, almost artificial light that replaces the warmth of genuine human interaction.
• "A Better Reason to Leave": This metaphor speaks to the value of the self in a relationship. The narrator views themselves as a commodity or a circumstance that is insufficient. It symbolizes low self-esteem and the feeling of being a "burden" that isn't even heavy enough to justify the effort of discarding.
• "Miles Away": While likely literal in the context of a long-distance relationship or touring, this phrase functions as a metaphor for emotional detachment. Even when the phone connects them, the narrator remains "miles away" in spirit, unable to bridge the gap.
• Morning vs. Night: The lyrics contrast "rising with the morning" and "falling into the night." Morning represents the harsh reality and the immediate return of anxiety, while night represents a time of passive consumption and sinking into digital addiction.

"I wish I could be a better reason to leave"

This is the emotional hook of the song. Its recurrence emphasizes the narrator's fixation on their own perceived inadequacy. It transforms the song from a simple breakup track into an examination of self-worth.

"She says she calls me on the telephone"

This phrase is repeated extensively towards the end of the song. Musically, it serves as a rhythmic mantra. Thematically, it highlights the futility of the action. The call is happening, the action is stated, yet the connection is never truly described as successful or fulfilling. It becomes background noise, much like the constant hum of technology in our lives.