The band has released fourteen albums: "Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished" (2000), "Danse Manatee" (2001), "Campfire Songs" (2003), "Here Comes the Indian" (2003), "Sung Tongs" (2004), "Feels" (2005), "Strawberry Jam" (2007), "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (2009), "Centipede Hz" (2012), "Painting With" (2016), "Tangerine Reef" (2018), "Crestone" (2021), "Time Skiffs" (2022), and "Isn't It Now?" (2023). They also composed and performed the soundtrack for the 2022 film, The Inspection, directed by Elegance Bratton and produced by A24.
Prior to "Here Comes the Indian", the group's albums were not credited to the band name "Animal Collective" but instead to "Avey Tare & Panda Bear" (for "Spirit"), "Avey Tare, Panda Bear & Geologist" (for "Danse") and "Campfire Songs" (for "Campfire Songs").
The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. Although the band is often classified as psych folk or noise rock, it is hard to define the Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with diverse styles and ideas from album to album. The group also runs the record label Paw Tracks on which they have released their own material as well as material by artists such as Ariel Pink, Terrestrial Tones, and The Peppermints. Paw Tracks' latest signee is Tickley Feather, with whom the band recently toured.
Bat You'll Fly
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fluorescence I found in sweet sad mouth
Weather was the Indian way
I bet you never have drov
(And run on to the village) I'll follow
('Cause happiness ain't bein') a swallow
(Am I late instead
Found your Velcro shoes
It's a holiday
And run on to the village, I'll follow
'Cause happiness ain't bein' a swallow)
I'm tired, faint
On the old
Beware, it's there, she's here, smile
You'll find reasons
To power all the seasons
Power hope infuses the blood
The child dies
(Don't you worry, I'm your brother
Finch rise early, but you'll recover
I said, I said, I said, I said
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma)
Look who's got a beautiful place
On the Avenue Saigon
Usually we have socks
And my compass to outdoor
(And crouch under a bush) like a mate-uh
('Cause happiness ain't lovin') it's winter
(On a summer day
There's a village way
And the leaves are golden
And the trees are colder
And crouch under a bush like a mate-uh
'Cause happiness ain't lovin' it's winter)
No more, bye. Thrown back out
Your plan on your hands, must carve into shape
Streets are powered with people lovin'
Words are destined to break down and bats will fly
(And if there's trouble, I'm your brother
You'll talk subtle, but that's a cover
I said, I said, I said, I said
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma)
Lame, lame
The doctor only picks what he wants
Sage
So give it to the preacher now
Mad in here, was welling from the westering wing
A moment rang
Your mother's said your girl is gone
(I could have told you (to be livin' in the (place like one?)
I could have told you (you better let the building run)
I could have told you (to be livin' at the building now)
I could have told you (to be livin' in a building)
Swallow do you want to come home
And we'll ride in my buggy
Take me 'cross the Indian waves
And we'll swim with the great whites
(But you can still think back to) the wild
('Cause happiness was being) a child
(Now house is bare
And your mother, lonely
And your village cries
'Cause the kid is older
But you can still think back to the wild
'Cause happiness was being a child)
My bones see for your eyes.
When you retire, she's here, smile
You'll find razors, the doubt always saves 'em
I am the reason that the child dies
(Every morning I'm your brother
Memories push you to paint another
I said, I said, I said, I said
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma)
Bang, nail, a doctor only preach like one
Space, so give it to the preacher now
Madeline, is hanging from the west-wing field, and
A moment rang and the moment said, "your girl is gone"
(I could have told you (to be little in the pouring down)
I could have told you (to be little in the living red sun)
I could have told you (to be livin' in the pounding drum)
I could have told you (to be livin', off far away)
Don't you pray if it's only the play then
Writhe its stampings into the ground, yeah
I won't wait for you in a mural if
You won't wait for me in Albania
I feel so elusive in Houston
You feel so exclusive in Houston
The lyrics to Animal Collective's song "Bat You'll Fly" are a bit abstract and can be open to interpretation, but the central theme seems to be about the transition from childhood to adulthood and the loss of innocence that comes with it. The lyrics mention a variety of images, including Indian weather, fluorescent lights, village life, and swimming with great white sharks. The song seems to be about trying to hold onto moments of joy and simplicity from childhood, but realizing that those moments are fleeting and can't be recaptured.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "happiness ain't" followed by various things, such as being a swallow or loving winter, emphasizing the idea that happiness can't be pinned down or defined. The song also includes several repeated lines, such as "I said, I said, I said, I said" and "Ma ma ma ma," which add to the dreamlike atmosphere of the song.
One interesting fact about "Bat You'll Fly" is that it was released as a B-side to Animal Collective's 2007 single "Fireworks." The song gained a cult following among fans of the band, many of whom appreciated its dreamy, experimental sound.
Another intriguing fact is that the song's title is based on an old saying, "Build a belfry and the bats will come," which means that if you create something, people will come to it. Animal Collective's take on the saying suggests that sometimes the thing that comes to you isn't what you expected, hence the addition of "you'll fly" to the phrase.
Animal Collective's music is often praised for its unique sound, which blends elements of indie rock, electronic music, and experimental sounds. "Bat You'll Fly" is a good example of this innovative approach, with its mix of electronic beats and live instrumentation, dreamy synths, and abstract lyrics. The band is known for their distinctive vocal harmonies, which are also on display in this song.
Another interesting fact about "Bat You'll Fly" is that the lyrics were written by Animal Collective member Avey Tare (real name David Portner). Tare has cited a range of influences for his songwriting, including surrealist poetry, visual art, and psychedelic rock.
Like many Animal Collective songs, "Bat You'll Fly" has a somewhat mystical, dreamlike quality to its lyrics. This is in part due to the band's interest in spiritual practices like meditation and yoga, which they've discussed in interviews. The band members have also talked about their use of altered states of consciousness to inspire their music.
Animal Collective has been active since the early 2000s and has released a number of critically acclaimed albums over the years, including "Merriweather Post Pavilion" and "Feels." The band has been praised for their innovative approach to music-making and their willingness to take risks and experiment with different sounds and styles.
Overall, "Bat You'll Fly" is a fascinating and engaging song that rewards careful listening and interpretation. With its dreamy lyrics, unpredictable instrumentation, and singular vocal harmonies, it's easy to see why the song has become a fan favorite over the years.
Chords (from Ultimate Guitar):
Verse: G, D, E minor, C
Chorus: G, A minor, E minor, D, A minor, C, G, D
Line by Line Meaning
Abby listen to the click of the
Fluorescence I found in sweet sad mouth
Abby, pay attention to the sound of the fluorescent lights I discovered in someone's mouth that's both sweet and melancholy.
Weather was the Indian way
The weather was like that of the Indian region.
I bet you never have drov
(And run on to the village) I'll follow
('Cause happiness ain't bein') a swallow
I doubt you've ever driven before, but if you head to the village, I'll follow. Flying like a bird doesn't make us happy.
(Am I late instead
When you wake up late
Found your Velcro shoes
It's a holiday
And run on to the village, I'll follow
'Cause happiness ain't bein' a swallow)
Am I running behind schedule today? You overslept, found your easy-to-fasten shoes, it's a day off, but let's still head to the village. Being able to fly doesn't bring happiness.
I'm tired, faint
On the old
I'm feeling exhausted, weak, and weary.
Beware, it's there, she's here, smile
You'll find reasons
To power all the seasons
Power hope infuses the blood
The child dies
Be cautious, it's there, she's here, put on a smile. You'll discover reasons to fuel all of the seasons. The strength of hope fills the blood. The child perishes.
(Don't you worry, I'm your brother
Finch rise early, but you'll recover
I said, I said, I said, I said
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma)
Don't be concerned, I'm here for you, like a brother. The finch rises early, but you'll heal. I said it four times. Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma, ma ma.
Look who's got a beautiful place
On the Avenue Saigon
Usually we have socks
And my compass to outdoor
(And crouch under a bush) like a mate-uh
('Cause happiness ain't lovin') it's winter
Check out who owns a splendid property on Saigon Avenue. Usually, we have our socks and compass to go outdoors. We crouch under a bush like a mate. Loving isn't what makes us happy; it's winter.
(On a summer day
There's a village way
And the leaves are golden
And the trees are colder
And crouch under a bush like a mate-uh
'Cause happiness ain't lovin' it's winter)
During a summer day, there's a path to follow in the village. The leaves are golden, but the trees are still chilly. We still huddle under a bush like a mate. Loving someone doesn't bring happiness; it's winter.
No more, bye. Thrown back out
Your plan on your hands, must carve into shape
Streets are powered with people lovin'
Words are destined to break down and bats will fly
That's it, bye. You're tossed out again with your plan in your hands, ready to shape them. The streets are empowered by people loving one another. Words are fated to fail, and bats will fly.
(And if there's trouble, I'm your brother
You'll talk subtle, but that's a cover
I said, I said, I said, I said
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma)
And if there's an issue, I'm there for you as a brother. You speak softly, but that's only a front. I said it four times. Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma, ma ma.
Lame, lame
The doctor only picks what he wants
Sage
So give it to the preacher now
Mad in here, was welling from the westering wing
A moment rang
Your mother's said your girl is gone
Lame, lame. The doctor only chooses what they prefer. Give it as a gift to the preacher now. Madness is brewing here, emanating from the west wing. A timepiece chimed, your mother said that your girl is no longer here.
(I could have told you (to be livin' in the (place like one?)
I could have told you (you better let the building run)
I could have told you (to be livin' at the building now)
I could have told you (to be livin' in a building)
I could have informed you that you'll be living in a place like this. You might need to keep the building running. I could have told you to live in the building now. I could have told you that you'll be living in a building.
Swallow do you want to come home
And we'll ride in my buggy
Take me 'cross the Indian waves
And we'll swim with the great whites
(But you can still think back to) the wild
('Cause happiness was being) a child
Swallow, do you want to come home and ride in my cart? Take me over the Indian waves, and we can swim with the great white sharks. But you can still reminisce about the untamed days. Being a kid brought happiness.
(Now house is bare
And your mother, lonely
And your village cries
'Cause the kid is older
But you can still think back to the wild
'Cause happiness was being a child)
Now the house is empty, and your mother is lonely. Your village is crying because you're grown up. But you can still recall the wild times. Being a child brought happiness
My bones see for your eyes.
When you retire, she's here, smile
You'll find razors, the doubt always saves 'em
I am the reason that the child dies
My bones see what you see. When you pass away, she'll be here, smiling. You'll find razors, and doubt always keeps them. I'm why the child passed away.
(Every morning I'm your brother
Memories push you to paint another
I said, I said, I said, I said
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma
Ma ma ma ma, ma ma)
Every morning, I'm there for you, like a brother. Your memories inspire you to keep painting. I said it four times. Ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma, ma ma ma ma, ma ma.
Bang, nail, a doctor only preach like one
Space, so give it to the preacher now
Madeline, is hanging from the west-wing field, and
A moment rang and the moment said, "your girl is gone"
Bang, nail down. Doctors only preach like parishioners. Let the preacher have the room. Madeline is suspended from the west-wing field, and a timepiece chimed, saying, "Your girl departed."
(I could have told you (to be little in the pouring down)
I could have told you (to be little in the living red sun)
I could have told you (to be livin' in the pounding drum)
I could have told you (to be livin', off far away)
I could have advised you to 'be little' during a downpour. I might have told you to 'be little' in the living red sun. I could have suggested living inside the thump of a drum. I could have instructed you to live, far away.
Don't you pray if it's only the play then
Writhe its stampings into the ground, yeah
I won't wait for you in a mural if
You won't wait for me in Albania
Don't bother praying if it's only a game. Imprint your markings on the ground. I won't be waiting for you in a mural if you're not willing to wait for me in Albania.
I feel so elusive in Houston
You feel so exclusive in Houston
I feel difficult to find in Houston. You feel rare and exclusive in Houston.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: DAVID PORTNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind