1
Animal Collective Lyrics


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Panda Bear (repeated throughout verses): I want to cry
I caught you in the eye
That disconnected trouble
Respect the hive
It seems like days since you rejected
Your mom and I
We'll hope you dance to your bad weather
Young love is fine
Just please respect
The candles as they line

Panda Bear: I won't waste a cry

I know that we'll decide
You wonder why it can't stay simple
Your mom and I
To pet your head
And dress your letters
Don't worry about why
And split your head
And sleep unmolded




Young love is blind
Just please respect the candles in a line

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Animal Collective's song #1 are ambiguous, covering a range of themes from love to anxiety, from independence to the inevitability of change. The main focus of the song seems to be a message to a child, urging them to respect the power structures around them, while at the same time encouraging them to take risks and embrace the future. The line "respect the hive" can be interpreted as both a warning to the child to be careful not to upset authority figures, and also as a positive injunction to respect the collective power of a community, and to see oneself as part of something larger.


The lyrics also contrast the relative simplicity of childhood and young love with the complexity and uncertainty of adulthood. The line "You wonder why it can't stay simple" reflects the singer's own nostalgia for a time when things felt more straightforward and less fraught with ambiguity. "Young love is fine," however, acknowledges the importance of pursuing love and passion even in the face of such uncertainty.


One interpretation of the song is that it reflects the parent's struggle to let go of their child and allow them to explore the world on their own terms, even as they try to protect and guide them. The repetition of the line "respect the candles as they line" can be seen as reflecting a desire to maintain order and structure even as things change and evolve.


Line by Line Meaning

I want to cry
I am feeling emotional and overwhelmed


I caught you in the eye
I have your attention and focus


That disconnected trouble
The issue is not easily solvable or understood


Respect the hive
Acknowledge and appreciate the collective and interconnected nature of society


It seems like days since you rejected
I am still reeling from your rejection


Your mom and I
We, as parents, are concerned for you


We'll hope you dance to your bad weather
We hope you can still find joy and happiness amidst difficulties


Young love is fine
Being in love at a young age is acceptable and valid


Just please respect
Please treat others with kindness and consideration


The candles as they line
The small moments and details in life are important and deserving of recognition


I won't waste a cry
I won't let myself succumb to negative emotions


I know that we'll decide
I am confident that we will come up with a solution


You wonder why it can't stay simple
You are questioning why life is so complicated


To pet your head
To comfort and soothe you


And dress your letters
To carefully craft and express your thoughts and emotions


Don't worry about why
Don't overanalyze or stress about the small details


And split your head
To explore and expand your mind


And sleep unmolded
To rest deeply and peacefully


Young love is blind
Being in love at a young age can sometimes make us unaware of potential issues


Just please respect the candles in a line
Please appreciate and value the small yet significant moments in life




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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