Field recordings can be either of two varieties. Field recording of natural sounds, also called Phonography (a term chosen to illustrate its similarities to photography), was originally employed as a documentary adjunct to research work in the field and foley work for film. With the availability of high-quality portable recording equipment, it has subsequently become an evocative art in itself. Both processed and natural phonographic recordings (such as the Environments series) are available.
Field recordings can also refer to on-site recordings of musicians, such as those pioneered by John Lomax, Nonesuch Records and Vanguard Records, where the use of a recording studio for these recordings is impractical.
Man of Oil
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We′ll get along
If we lead 'em together in the armory
On my knees
My head on your queasy stomach
Can not keep my chin up
I woke to sweats in the night
Strange sensation to feel alive
I find it so hard to tell you
I′m afraid to forget the smell of you
Wizard with a wand
Competing with the lightning
Coward and also a king
And a man of oil
Floating logs on the dark stream
Move me unlike apologies I'm texting
Broken limbs filled with smooth snakeskin
On a Ferris wheel far from cash, love
You've got to have the tough guts
So you′re hung like a human
And watch the young nuts grow
I find it so hard to hear you
Say you think that I never hear you
Wizard with a wand
Competing with the lightning
Coward and also a king
And a man of oil
I woke to sweats in the night
Strange sensation to be alive
I find it so hard to tell you
I′m afraid to forget the smell of you
Wizard with a wand
Competing with the lightning
Coward and also a king
And a man of oil
The lyrics to Animal Collective's song Man of Oil are somewhat surreal and open to interpretation. At its core, the song seems to be about the complexities of human relationships and the struggle to maintain them. The first verse begins with a call for peaceful songs that will help people get along. The imagery of leading them in the armory hints at the possibility of conflict, suggesting that these songs are necessary to prevent violence. The second half of the verse becomes more intimate, with the singer kneeling next to their partner who is experiencing some form of distress.
The second verse seems to jump suddenly into a different scenario, with a wizard with a wand competing with lightning. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for someone attempting to control nature or the natural order. The mention of being both a coward and a king suggests internal conflict within this figure. The final lines of the verse refer to a man of oil, which again is open to interpretation – it could be a reference to someone with wealth and power, or it could be a reference to the oil industry and its environmental impact.
The chorus repeats the same lines twice, with the wizard with a wand, the lightning, the coward/king, and the man of oil all described again. The final verse is more surreal than the others, with the imagery of floating logs on a dark stream and broken limbs filled with smooth snakeskin. The mention of a Ferris wheel suggests a theme park or carnival environment, but the lines "far from cash, love" indicate that this is not necessarily a joyful setting. The verse ends with a call for "tough guts" to watch the "young nuts" grow, which is another line open to interpretation. Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the complexities and difficulties of relationships and human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Peaceful songs
The hope for a harmonious future.
We'll get along
Working together to achieve the peaceful ideal.
If we lead 'em together in the armory
Taking collective action to accomplish the goal.
On my knees
A vulnerable position.
My head on your queasy stomach
Intimacy with unease.
Can not keep my chin up
Feeling defeated.
I woke to sweats in the night
A disorienting, anxiety-filled experience.
Strange sensation to feel alive
A heightened awareness of the present moment.
I find it so hard to tell you
Difficulty expressing oneself.
I'm afraid to forget the smell of you
A fear of losing a cherished memory.
Wizard with a wand
A powerful figure with magical potential.
Competing with the lightning
Challenging forces beyond one's control.
Coward and also a king
The duality of one's identity.
And a man of oil
The destructive power of human industry.
Floating logs on the dark stream
Effortless surrender to the natural world.
Move me unlike apologies I'm texting
Real emotion surpasses the limitations of digital communication.
Broken limbs filled with smooth snakeskin
The unexpected beauty of pain and hardship.
On a Ferris wheel far from cash, love
The ups and downs of life's experiences.
You've got to have the tough guts
The importance of strength and resilience.
So you're hung like a human
Embracing one's humanity and imperfections.
And watch the young nuts grow
Nurturing the growth of new ideas and perspectives.
I find it so hard to hear you
A breakdown in communication.
Say you think that I never hear you
Feeling misunderstood and unacknowledged.
Writer(s): Animal Collective
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.