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.
Did You See the Words
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The words cut open your poor intestines
Can't deny when the inky periods drip from your mailbox and blood flies dip and glide reach down
Inside
There's something living in these lines.
And when your newest kisser is peeking
You dress yourself up tonight get all tangled up in arms and legs it's cramped up and someone grabs a hold do you go
Should you go home?
There's something starting don't know why.
And in a house so cozy few words are spoken
Let's take our shoes off and unwind when there's minuets off in the background drowning out eyes off ears off test the kiss
Goodnight
A kiss goodnight
Don't keep my loving on my mind.
Because it's messy, yes, this mess is mine
Though mine is messy yours is maybe nine
Look we've had similar stitches
Look we have similar frowns
Do the elderly couples still kiss and hug and grab their big wrinkly skin so tough wrinkly wrink wrink wrinkly rough...?
Did you see the words you know?
(Give me rabies bring you babies at the hospital)
Violent ends with friends that go
(I kissed a few in sticky shoes our cartoon show is broken)
Doo, doo, doo, doo...
Oh, oh, oh, oh...
The lyrics of Animal Collective's "Did You See The Words" are difficult to interpret and it could have different meanings for different listeners. However, a possible interpretation could be that the song is about the power of language and how it can affect people emotionally and physically. The opening lines about words cutting open the poor intestines could represent how words can cause pain and suffering. The lines about blood flying and something living in these lines could represent how words can evoke powerful emotions and thoughts from deep within us.
The second verse talks about a person dressing up and getting tangled up in arms and legs, which could represent the physical and emotional entanglement that can happen between people. The question of whether to go home or not could represent how people sometimes get caught up in situations and don't know what to do. The line about something starting but not knowing why could represent how sometimes relationships or situations start without us knowing why or how.
The final verse about similar stitches and frowns could represent how people can connect over similar experiences and emotions. The lines about elderly couples still kissing and hugging could represent the enduring nature of love and how it can last through old age. The lines about violent ends with friends that go and giving rabies and babies at the hospital could represent the unpredictable nature of life and how it can surprise us at any moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you seen them?
Have you read these words that I've written?
The words cut open your poor intestines
The words I wrote are powerful and affecting, making you feel emotional to the point of physical pain.
Can't deny when the inky periods drip from your mailbox and blood flies dip and glide reach down
You can't ignore the impact of my words, as you receive my letters with bloodlike stains.
Inside
My words contain something deeper, beyond the surface level.
There's something living in these lines.
My words hold a certain living quality, that speaks to you and touches your soul.
And when your newest kisser is peeking
When you're starting to date someone new, and you feel vulnerable.
You dress yourself up tonight get all tangled up in arms and legs it's cramped up and someone grabs a hold do you go
You put in effort and try to impress them, but it gets a bit too intense, and someone touches you without your consent, making you uncomfortable.
Ohhhhh
A sudden realization and uncertainty about what to do.
Should you go home?
You question whether you should stay or leave this uncomfortable situation.
There's something starting don't know why.
There is a sense of new beginnings and potential, though you're unsure where it will lead you.
And in a house so cozy few words are spoken
In a comfortable and intimate setting, there is little conversation happening.
Let's take our shoes off and unwind when there's minuets off in the background drowning out eyes off ears off test the kiss
Let's relax and enjoy the moment, with soft music playing in the background, shutting out negative outside influences, and let's focus on physical and emotional intimacy.
Goodnight
Saying farewell, and goodnight.
A kiss goodnight
Ending the night with a gentle and loving kiss.
Don't keep my loving on my mind.
Don't get too attached, or make me your primary focus.
Because it's messy, yes, this mess is mine
I acknowledge that life and love are complicated and unpredictable, and I'm taking ownership and responsibility for the things that have happened.
Though mine is messy yours is maybe nine
Despite my messiness, it's still better than your mediocre and uneventful life.
Look we've had similar stitches
We've both gone through difficult experiences and can relate to each other.
Look we have similar frowns
We both go through emotional turmoil and it shows on our faces.
Do the elderly couples still kiss and hug and grab their big wrinkly skin so tough wrinkly wrink wrink wrinkly rough...?
A humorous and bittersweet reflection on love in the later stages of life.
Did you see the words you know?
Did you read my message? Are you connecting with what I'm saying?
(Give me rabies bring you babies at the hospital)
An absurd and crazy idea or desire.
Violent ends with friends that go
Friendships that end in a dramatic and tragic manner.
(I kissed a few in sticky shoes our cartoon show is broken)
A reminiscence of past experiences, where the cartoons that were once fascinating, now seem ridiculous.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: BRIAN ROSS WEITZ, DAVID MICHAEL PORTNER, NOAH BENJAMIN LENNOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt_Dylan
Have you seen them? The words cut open
Your poor intestines can't deny
When the inky periods drip from your mailbox and
Blood flies dip and glide reach down inside
There's something living in these lines
And when your newest kisser is peeking
You dress yourself up tonight
Get all tangled up in arms and legs it's cramped up and
Someone grabs a hold do you go ohhhhhh?
Should you go home?
There's something starting dont know why
And in a house so cozy few words are spoken
Let's take our shoes off and unwind
When there's minuets off in the background drowning out
Eyes off ears off test the kiss goodnight
A kiss goodnight
Don't keep my loving on my mind
Because it's messy yes this mess is mine
Though mine is messy yours is maybe nine
Look we have similar stitches
Look we have similar frowns
Do the elderly couples still kiss and hug and
Grab their big wrinkly skin so tough wrinkly wrink wrink wrinkly rough
Did you see the words you know
Give me rabies bring you babies at the hospital
Violent ends with friends that go
I kissed a few in sticky shoes our cartoon show is broken
Did you see the words you know
Give me rabies bring you babies at the hospital
Violent ends with friends that go
thisizmyname1
You know a song's great when you literally can't stop listening to it. You turn it off, and you still hear it in your head, and you can't wait to play it again. Wonderful music.
Anthony Cheek
this is the greatest band of all time
Thecookj
Really weird and cool band
ChaoticKreg
No other band hits the "Life's a trip and we're all on it" theme like Animal Collective does. This music makes me want to weap in dispair and cry out with jubilant love at the same time.
Mango
I like what you say, but you may be wrong.
Obdeisib Cirrus
Idk if I’d say best but I do think they are up there with the most inventive, innovative, and forward thinking groups with some of the most interesting soundscapes and experimentation.
Niggato
@Henry HerGo exactly
Gabriel Is Dead
This song contains the most joy in any song I've ever had the privilege to experience, it's so potent it's palpable
hippiecheezburger
It’s an incredible sound that has aged well
Winston Donahee
Man this album and song will always remind me of summers in high school when me and my friends would board around town, smoke at parks, trip at our friends houses and walk around, or when I first heard them and would listen to this song at parks skipping a class or two and feel this amazing high just sitting under a tree. I don't get that high I used to feel listening to this album but I feel a strong nostoligia beyond words. A simpler time