In addition, Belew is well-regarded for his contributions, particularly on guitar, to various other artists' recordings. In 1977, he performed with Frank Zappa, appearing in Zappa's 1979 concert film Baby Snakes, as well as Zappa's controversial album Sheik Yerbouti. He also supported David Bowie on his "Heroes" tour that was released as "Stage". He also played on the 1990 Sound + Vision tour. On both tours he was musical director, playing guitar and singing backing vocals.
Belew's other session credits include the 1980 album Remain in Light by the Talking Heads, Lights Out by Peter Wolf, and Paul Simon's landmark 1986 album Graceland. He worked with Laurie Anderson during the mid-1980s, appearing in her concert film Home of the Brave. During the 1990s, he contributed to three Nine Inch Nails albums, The Downward Spiral, The Fragile, and Ghosts. He played synthesized guitar on the song "God Shuffled His Feet" by Crash Test Dummies in 1993.
In the late-1980s, Belew formed the pop band The Bears with ex-Raisins members and released two albums, The Bears and Rise and Shine. A third album, Car Caught Fire, followed in 2001.
He features prominently on Tori Amos's 2001 cover album, "Strange Little Girls". He also contributed his lead guitar stylings to Porcupine Tree's album Deadwing (2005) as well as to a track ("I Can't Get Behind That", also featuring Henry Rollins) on the 2004 Ben Folds-produced William Shatner album Has Been.
The Lone Rhinoceros
Adrian Belew Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There ain't one hell of a lots of us
Left in this world
I stand alone in my concrete cell
Where people stare and toss me Coke cans
I guess it's better than being poached
But I'd give my horn just to see my homeland
I'm a lone rhinoceros
There ain't one hell of a lots of us
Left in this world
They say I am ugly,
Call me a beast
I hear them snicker
When I'm half asleep
Is beauty such a big commodity
I always heard it was only so deep
I'm a lone rhinoceros
There ain't one hell of a lots of us
Left in this world
I know the zoos protect my species
They give me food, collect my feces
But I can't help it, I miss the past
I'll never again see my good old mudbath
Adrian Belew's song "The Lone Rhinoceros" tells the story of a rhinoceros who is stuck in a zoo, away from its homeland. The lyrics express the rhino's feelings of loneliness and longing for its natural habitat.
The first verse highlights the rhinoceros' struggle with its endangered status as one of the last remaining rhinos on the planet. The second verse describes the rhino's existence in captivity, with people gawking at it and treating it like a spectacle. The rhino acknowledges that at least it's not being killed for its valuable horn, but the desire to return to its natural environment is strong.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm a lone rhinoceros/There ain't one hell of a lots of us/Left in this world" to emphasize the rhino's isolation and rarity. The third verse addresses the rhino's appearance and the way that society has labeled it as ugly and beastly. The rhino questions the value of physical beauty and suggests that there is more to it than that.
Throughout the song, the rhino is portrayed as a victim who has been forced into a life that is not its own. It is clear that the rhino would rather be living in the wild, engaging in activities such as rolling around in mud.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a lone rhinoceros
I am a solitary creature
There ain't one hell of a lots of us
There are very few of us left
Left in this world
Existing in this world is rare
I stand alone in my concrete cell
I am isolated in this human-made environment
Where people stare and toss me Coke cans
Humans view me as an entertainment object and don't respect my space
I guess it's better than being poached
Although captivity isn't ideal, it's still better than being hunted
But I'd give my horn just to see my homeland
I would give up the very reason for my captivity to see where I truly belong
They say I am ugly,
Humans judge me based on their own narrow standards of beauty
Call me a beast
Humans label me as a savage creature
I hear them snicker
I can sense the disrespectful way that they talk about me
When I'm half asleep
Even when I am unaware, the humans still mock me
Is beauty such a big commodity
Is physical appearance really the most important aspect of being alive?
I always heard it was only so deep
I was always taught that there is more to life than superficial attractiveness
I know the zoos protect my species
I understand that zoos are trying to save our endangered population
They give me food, collect my feces
They provide for my basic needs and also study my waste to learn about my health
But I can't help it, I miss the past
Although I appreciate the zoo's efforts, I still long for my natural habitat
I'll never again see my good old mudbath
I can never again experience the simple pleasures of being at home in the wild
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@debbiewall2160
Thank-you. The animals need all the help they can get.
@projekctgonzo
Overlooked musical genius. It´s great to find all the love he deserves on this virtual spaces, tho´
@gatekeeper65
I thank the stars and dumb luck that Adrian Belew was born and thrust onto us.
@cheaplaffsarefree
I got this on vinyl when it came out. Lost it in a move some decades later :(
@guitarzan2626
To me he made the best sound for the talking heads.
@mike196212
I have this lp on cassette. Haven't listened to it in years. This reminds me how good it is.
@patwiggins6969
Used to listen to this in late eighties. My brother left it to me when he joined the army. Good stuff!
@patwiggins6969
Haven't heard it in forever but it's stayed with me for 3 decades now. One of those songs you never forget
@Tx1113
One of the coolest songs ever written!!
@lanacheng8709
This song made me cry...one of his best and most tender-hearted.