Cobwebs
Animal Collective Lyrics


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With your head in a noose and a grape on a knife
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
You know, I wore mistakes so I'd feel alive
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

Overall Meaning

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
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