Prone to downtime due to Keenan's other musical commitments, the band has featured a variety of musicians throughout alternating periods of activity and inactivity, and has changed line-ups on each album, leaving Keenan and Howerdel the only constant members. The original incarnation of the band included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Josh Freese on drums. Primus drummer Tim Alexander had briefly stood in as a drummer prior to Freese in the band's initial live shows; however, this was prior to releasing any material. Band collaborator and producer Danny Lohner and Marilyn Manson bassist Jeordie White were also members for a short period in the early 2000s. The band's current lineup features the Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, bassist Matt McJunkins, and drummer Jeff Friedl, the latter two also being contributors to the related Puscifer and Ashes Divide projects. Despite the varied cast and numerous lineup changes, the stylistic content of A Perfect Circle's songs has remained consistent with Howerdel as music composer, and Keenan writing lyrics and vocal melodies. The band's studio albums have been generally well received critically and commercially, with their first three studio albums selling 4 million copies collectively as of 2005.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Perfect_Circle
Studio albums
Mer de Noms (2000)
Thirteenth Step (2003)
Emotive (2004)
Eat the Elephant (2018)
Eat The Elephant
A Perfect Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This task ahead, this task at hand
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking, I'm frozen
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just take the swing
Just take the buy
Just go all in
Where to begin eludes me
Ruling ever deeper
This mass of endeavour
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking
Just take the step
Just take the swing
Just take the buy
Just go all in
Take the step
Take the swing
Take the buy
Just take the buy
Take the step
Take the swing
Take the buy
Just go all in
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just begin
The lyrics to A Perfect Circle's song "Eat the Elephant" express the overwhelming feeling of being confronted with a daunting task that seems almost impossible to take on. The opening lines set the tone for the song - "Looming, omnipresent, this task ahead, this task at hand, ominous and daunting, crippling undertaking, I'm frozen". The weight of the task is already bearing down, causing almost paralyzing fear and doubt. The singer is unable to see the path ahead or know where to even start.
The chorus of the song provides a solution - "Just take the step, just take the swing, just take the buy, just go all in". The sense of urgency in these lines is palpable - the singer knows that there is no other option but to act, to make a move, to jump in with both feet. The repetition of these lines reinforces the message and provides a stark reminder of what needs to be done. The song ends with a simple plea - "Where to begin eludes me, without you to remind me, just begin." It's a call to action, a reminder that the only way to tackle a difficult task is to take the first step.
As a whole, "Eat the Elephant" is a powerful message about overcoming fear and taking on challenges head-on. It's a reminder that even the biggest tasks can be tackled one step at a time and that the only way to succeed is to start.
Line by Line Meaning
Looming, omnipresent
The task ahead is looming over me and it feels like it's everywhere I go, impossible to avoid.
This task ahead, this task at hand
Referring to the challenge or problem that needs to be addressed or solved.
Ominous and daunting
The task seems threatening and difficult, causing feelings of dread or apprehension.
Crippling undertaking, I'm frozen
The task feels so overwhelming that it's difficult to take any action, leading to paralysis or being frozen.
Where to begin eludes me
I don't know where to start or how to approach this problem.
Without you to remind me
I don't have anyone to guide me or give me direction.
Just take the step
Take action, even if it's just a small step forward.
Just take the swing
Similar to above, take action and make an effort to move forward despite uncertainty or fear.
Just take the buy
Make the investment, take the chance, commit to the task or goal.
Just go all in
Fully commit to the task or goal, without holding anything back.
Ruling ever deeper
The task is becoming increasingly difficult and all-consuming.
This mass of endeavour
Referring to the entire effort needed to complete the task or reach the goal.
Take the step
Similar to above, take action and start moving forward.
Take the swing
Similar to above, continue making an effort despite the obstacles or uncertainty.
Take the buy
Invest your time, energy, and resources into the task or goal.
Just take the buy
Fully commit and take the necessary action to achieve the goal or complete the task.
Just go all in
Fully commit and give your all to overcome the challenges and achieve your goal.
Where to begin eludes me
Repeating the same line to emphasize the confusion and uncertainty about how to start the task.
Just begin
Stop overthinking and start taking action, even if it's just a small step forward.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Maynard James Keenan, William L Howerdel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mostafa Hossain Tuhin
Looming, omnipresent
This task ahead
This task at hand
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking, I'm frozen
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just take the step
Just take the swing
Just take the bite
Just go all in
Where to begin eludes me
Ruling ever deeper
This massive endeavor
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking
Just take the step
Just take the swing
Just take the bite
Just go all in
Take the step
Take the swing
Take the bite
Just take the bite
Take the step
Take the swing
Take the bite
Just go all in
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just begin
unknown 23885
Looming, omnipresent
This task ahead
This task at hand
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking, I'm frozen
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just take the step
Just take the swing
Just take the bite
Just go all in
Where to begin eludes me
Rooting ever deeper
This massive endeavor
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking
Just take the step
Just take the swing
Just take the bite
Just go all in
Take the step
Take the swing
Take the bite
Just take the bite
Take the step
Take the swing
Take the bite
Just go all in
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just begin
Adam the awesome person
[Verse 1]
Looming, omnipresent
This task ahead
This task at hand
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking, I'm frozen
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
[Chorus 1]
Just take the stab
Just take the swing
Just take the bite
Just go all in
[Verse 2]
Where to begin eludes me
Rooting ever deeper
This massive endeavor
Ominous and daunting
Crippling undertaking
[Chorus 1]
Just take the stab
Just take the swing
Just take the bite
Just go all in
[Chorus 2]
Take the stab
Take the swing
Take the bite
Just take the bite
Take the stab
Take the swing
Take the bite
Just go all in
[Outro]
Where to begin eludes me
Without you to remind me
Just begin
Thief Of Dreams
If you are a lover of the earlier albums and listened to this once and thought, "Wait, what?!" My advice is to throw it on repeat and close your eyes and listen. This album is fucking amazing!
jake Parrish
I do that with all of his albums. They all just get better over time !
kendra winters
So perfectly said my friend
plfish77
Truly is amazing.
Deiradinn Draven
That's kinda the APC experience.
Jessica Durham
Truly is
Stay Human
People who complain about this album, probably know only few APC songs. I actually miss the harder side of APC, but this new album is pure beauty.
stuart sneddon
Push the envelope. Watch it bend.
itookallthenames
@Joe P it has its moments, for me many of the songs are too long
Chris Jones
@Michael Wiese yes