God, he called for rain
So I built a ark, but no rain came
I was ashamed

Man, he called for war

So I built a gun and I joined the corps
But I was unsure

Love, she asked for more
But what I gave only made her poor
I wasn't sure

The dove, she promised land
As she laid the branch right into my hand
There was no land

Oh, what does it mean to be here?
Well, I know because I can and I will
Yes, I know because I can and I will

Oh, what does it mean to be here?
Well, I know because I can and I will

Oh, what does it mean to be here?
Well, I know because I can and I will
Yes, I know because I can and I will

Overall Meaning

In The Ark, Dr. Dog delves into the theme of humanity's search for meaning and purpose. The song uses the biblical tale of Noah's Ark as a metaphor for the singer's own struggles. The first verse talks about how God called for rain, and the singer built an ark preparing for the flood, but no rain came making him feel ashamed. This is a reflection of the singer's own search for direction and meaning in life, and how he struggles to find it.

In the second verse, the singer builds a gun and joins the army in response to Man's call for war, but he is unsure about his decision. He is uncertain about his purpose in life and his actions, just like in the first verse. The third verse talks about Love asking for more, but the singer's actions only make her poor. This reflects his struggle to understand what actions would make his life and relationships better.

The chorus repeats the line "Oh, what does it mean to be here?" several times, underscoring the singer's search for meaning and purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

God, he called for rain
I was following a higher power's instructions and preparing for something that never came

So I built a ark, but no rain came
I took drastic action to prepare for something that never happened, leaving me feeling foolish

I was ashamed
I felt embarrassed by my actions, which seemed pointless in hindsight

Man, he called for war
I felt societal pressure to participate in violent conflict

So I built a gun and I joined the corps
I armed myself and became a soldier, feeling conflicted about my involvement

But I was unsure
I was uncertain about the right course of action and my place in the war

Love, she asked for more
My partner wanted a deeper commitment or greater effort from me

But what I gave only made her poor
My efforts to satisfy my partner fell short and caused her more harm than good

I wasn't sure
I was uncertain about how to provide what my partner needed

The dove, she promised land
A symbol of hope promised me a brighter future

As she laid the branch right into my hand
This promise was tangible and gave me hope

There was no land
This hope turned out to be unfounded, leading to disappointment

Oh, what does it mean to be here?
The singer is contemplating the meaning of life or existence

Well, I know because I can and I will
Despite uncertainty about life's meaning, the singer asserts their power to make choices and take action

Yes, I know because I can and I will
The singer repeats their conviction to take control of their own life despite the unknowable nature of existence

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