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.
Cobwebs
Animal Collective Lyrics
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Found you some breakfast or adventuring eye
You smell trouble, well, how should we get some sleep?
When the last of the notes dries dead below skies
Poems about poisonous berries and vines
Would you warm out of the fire of nature, burning up your sheet
Unlearn perfection a number of times
Just wood un-refurbished sounds more like paradise to me
Oh, the stones'll start talking, bad weathers a sign
Hunters and robbers that drip blood in fall time
Glow star told me, "Better run while the earth holds this heat"
Well, come out in the night
Everybody we know
We'll be laughing and singing
And there won't be no fighting
Well come out in the night
Where all the lasers are firing
And our babies are gurgling
And our elders are wobbly
We're not going underground
Are you going underground?
I'm not going underground
But their light and the pressure is pushing me down
Are you going underground?
I'm not going underground
But we say get to it, just to make the sound
Are you going underground?
I'm not going underground
We're not going underground
Are you going underground?
I'm not going underground now
Cobwebs! Cobwebs!
They took my home, I'm in disoriented glee
Cobwebs! Cobwebs!
They blocked the path that was connecting you and me
Cobwebs! Cobwebs!
It's a sticky case the more I move the less I'm free
Ever since I was a boy I found new ways to view my porridge
Sometimes electric, organic like strawberry meat
The song "Cobwebs" by Animal Collective is a surrealistic journey filled with esoteric imagery and unexpected juxtapositions of ideas. The lyrics appear to be disjointed phrases that are hard to string together, but they are actually traceable within a clear narrative thread. The song's opening lines set up the scene of a dark and ominous morning after a wild night out, where the singer finds himself tangled in a noose with a grape on a knife, possibly indicating that he is in a dangerous situation beyond his control. Then he smells trouble and seeks refuge in his sleep, implying that he is trying to ignore his fears and escape reality.
The following lines narrate a poetic contemplation of the poisonous berries and vines he's found himself surrounded by, highlighting his fascination with death and destruction. He contemplates burning up his sheet, which could symbolize his desire to start anew, seeking a fresh start amidst chaos. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his rejection of perfectionism and conformity, preferring the raw, unrefurbished beauty of nature. He also references a glow star that warns him to run while the earth holds this heat, which could be interpreted as a warning to seize the moment before it's too late.
The refrain "Cobwebs! Cobwebs!" repeats like a haunting chant that hints at the theme of entrapment and confinement. The singer feels disoriented while discovering new ways to view his porridge, suggesting a search for meaning in mundane things. Overall, the song's lyrics evoke a sense of confusion and disorientation experienced by someone trying to find their place in the world while grappling with their fears and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
With your head in a noose and a grape on a knife
You're in a dangerous situation with something that should be safe, and something that should be dangerous
Found you some breakfast or adventuring eye
You've either found food or something that makes you want to explore
You smell trouble, well, how should we get some sleep?
You sense danger, but don't know how to deal with it and still rest
When the last of the notes dries dead below skies
After a period of time everything must come to an end
Poems about poisonous berries and vines
Writing about dangerous things can be beautiful
Would you warm out of the fire of nature, burning up your sheet
Is it worth getting close to something dangerous for warmth, even if it might ruin your bedding?
You know, I wore mistakes so I'd feel alive
I made errors on purpose so I could feel more present or in control
Unlearn perfection a number of times
Trying to be perfect all the time can hold you back, so it's important to let go of that idea
Just wood un-refurbished sounds more like paradise to me
Simplicity and raw materials are more appealing than something polished or pretentious
Oh, the stones'll start talking, bad weather's a sign
Strange things might occur when you know things are going wrong
Hunters and robbers that drip blood in fall time
There are people in the world who do harm to others
Glow star told me, 'Better run while the earth holds this heat'
It's time to move on, while you still have the chance
Well, come out in the night
Let's head outside after dark
Everybody we know
All of our friends and acquaintances
We'll be laughing and singing
We'll be enjoying each other's company
And there won't be no fighting
We won't argue or have any disagreements
Where all the lasers are firing
In a place where things are exciting and vibrant
And our babies are gurgling
Our children are making happy noises
And our elders are wobbly
Older people might not be as steady on their feet
But their light and the pressure is pushing me down
Something is weighing heavily on me
Are you going underground?
Are you trying to hide or escape?
I'm not going underground
I'm not trying to hide or escape
But we say get to it, just to make the sound
We'll go through the motions of making music, even if we don't feel particularly inspired
Cobwebs! Cobwebs!
A symbol of something sticky holding us in place
They took my home, I'm in disoriented glee
Something happened to change your living situation, and you're trying to adapt through happiness even though you're confused
They blocked the path that was connecting you and me
Something is preventing us from being close, physically or emotionally
It's a sticky case, the more I move the less I'm free
Trying to escape is just making things harder or more complicated
Ever since I was a boy I found new ways to view my porridge
From a young age, I was always finding new perspectives on simple things
Sometimes electric, organic like strawberry meat
My ideas or opinions can be unconventional, combining things that don't normally go together
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: EUGENE MICHAEL MCGUINNESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind