ANIMA!’s debut album Not At This Time is out on Friday January 13, 2023. Also available in immersive Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, the three lead up singles feature their powerful female vocal, uplifting beats and their signature colorful sound world that they have become most celebrated for.
Pencils
ANIMA! Lyrics
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Take that pill and fill those arms until they're tired and sore
I need this every now and then
And I need this til I need again
Just when I finally found that thing,
That high, everything I was looking for
The battles cry out cause I know in my core
I won't
No
No
Dress it up, and paint it red, and call it what you want
Hunger talks, and hunger asks, and I can not turn it off
It haunts me every now and then
But it holds me til it hurts again
Just when I finally found that that
Thing, that high, everything I was looking for
Just for a moment in time I'm fine hear
The bells cry out cause I know in my core
I won't
Just when I finally found that that
Thing, that high, everything I was looking for
Just for a moment in time I'm fine near
The battles cry out cause I know in my core
I won't
Just when I finally found that thing
No
Everything I was looking for
ANIMA!'s song "Pencils" is a soulful and introspective exploration of the human desire for sensation and fulfillment. The song speaks to the common theme of seeking happiness through external possessions and experiences. The opening lines, "Build a house and buy a car and find a body that's warm / Take that pill and fill those arms until they're tired and sore," seem to suggest that people are constantly searching for something to fill a void, whether it be material possessions or temporary thrills. The repetition of the line "I need this every now and then / And I need this til I need again" further emphasizes the fleeting nature of these desires and urges.
The chorus of the song speaks to the dichotomy of the search for happiness and the struggle to maintain it. The lines "Just when I finally found that thing / That high, everything I was looking for / Just for a moment in time I'm fine near / The battles cry out cause I know in my core / I won't" suggest that even when one finds what they think will bring them happiness, it is never a permanent solution. The battles within oneself and external forces will always threaten to take away that happiness.
The second verse continues the theme of the struggle for fulfillment, with lines such as "Dress it up, and paint it red, and call it what you want / Hunger talks, and hunger asks, and I can not turn it off" emphasizing the relentless nature of the search. The repeating chorus drives home the message that the quest for happiness is constant and unrelenting.
Overall, "Pencils" is a poignant reminder that true happiness comes from within and cannot be found through external possessions or experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Build a house and buy a car and find a body that's warm
Strive for material possessions and physical comfort
Take that pill and fill those arms until they're tired and sore
Indulge in temporary pleasures and escapism
I need this every now and then
Acknowledge the desire for instant gratification
And I need this til I need again
Admit that the cycle will continue
Just when I finally found that thing,
Despite achieving some level of satisfaction
That high, everything I was looking for
Through fulfilling those desires
Just for a moment in time I'm fine near
Only temporarily content
The battles cry out cause I know in my core
The internal conflict persists
I won't
But I cannot resist the temptation
Dress it up, and paint it red, and call it what you want
Disguise the emptiness with external characteristics
Hunger talks, and hunger asks, and I can not turn it off
The craving for more continues
It haunts me every now and then
The desire remains
But it holds me til it hurts again
The satisfaction is short-lived
Just when I finally found that that
Although trying to fill the void
Thing, that high, everything I was looking for
With temporary fixes
The bells cry out cause I know in my core
The true problem still exists
I won't
But I cannot help myself
Just when I finally found that that
Even though I tried
Thing, that high, everything I was looking for
Through various means
Just for a moment in time I'm fine near
Despite experiencing fleeting happiness
The battles cry out cause I know in my core
The internal conflict persists
I won't
And I know I'll continue the cycle
Just when I finally found that thing
The ultimate solution still eludes me
No
But I still hold onto hope for something better
Everything I was looking for
Which will truly fill the emptiness within
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.