Released: 2019
“HEY CHILD” by X Ambassadors pulsates with nostalgia, regret, and a call to resilience. The song tackles themes of youthful rebellion, shared history, and the yearning for brighter days, delivered with the raw emotion that’s characteristic of the X Ambassadors.
The opening lines, “I heard you got arrested in the street last night / You called me with a voice I didn’t recognize” paint a vivid picture of a close acquaintance on a self-destructive path. It’s steeped in echoes of a shared past, with the protagonist voicing concern over their friend’s behavior. When X Ambassadors sing “So you’re numbin’ the pain, stuck in your ways / Since we were kids it was like this,” they’re bemoaning a personal history of self-sabotage and recklessness.
Nevertheless, there’s an undercurrent of solidarity that runs through the song. The repeated chorus, “Hey child, hey child / We were born wild / Let your neon lights / Keep shinin’ bright” speaks to an inherent wildness and individuality. ‘Neon lights’ here symbolizes an unapologetic uniqueness, an inner flame that hasn’t been extinguished by life’s hardships. This is an encouraging call to his friend to not let their inner light dim.
The verse “Back in ’06, selling weed to the freshman kids / You were the yin to my yang, were never separate” suggests a bond formed in youth, a connection forged in shared experiences. Their actions are portrayed as brazen and defiant, illustrating their ‘wild’ nature.
The line “Brother’s got a baby on the way now / I hope that you’ll meet him someday” sets a tone of a desire for change, hoping for the destructive cycle to be broken. This idea is reinforced in “I hope he don’t make the same mistakes we made,” underscoring a sense of regret and a longing for betterment.
Throughout “HEY CHILD”, X Ambassadors highlight the duality inherent in wildness—both its liberating power and its potential for devastation. However, the core message is one of optimism, urging the ‘child’ to let their vibrant, distinctive ‘neon lights’ continue to shine, regardless of the darkness they might face. This isn’t just a song—it’s an anthem to resilience, individuality, and the strength of relationships built in adversity.
