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.
Flesh Canoe
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't keep from changing my brains
Bending my wants with my rights
Are my friends still half right
And should I keep them separate from me
Its unclear then I get a cold
Can I get a light
There's a certain type of easy pace
Come in close I trust you your nose dipped in my sweat
It dripped on your beautiful sweater kind of nice
Should I really lie with you I never know when I'm on my own
Are there more important things to do
Then kiss or sleep today we gotta wake up
Then I talk to your breath and we enjoy the air
And I creep on your chest to the hut I have
Where I pluck a few notes on the strands of your hair
And I'm singing to you what to do
If id ask you to make funny faces with me in the mirror of the bathroom
Know your next you make me feel alright
Are you just like me never gonna pick one kind of fruit
Like a mushed banana on your tooth
And you like the sting of the cherry juice
Never eat an apple that's just one color
Young red bird they're just natural feelings
Like walking off to ride my bike or just bump into you
I haven't seen you in a week or three days
Though it really bugs me
Its nice to find new ways to smile
I keep thinking that when you feel sad you can't pout
'Cause what this songs about is me singing
I'm just wondering what to do with you myself and me naked in the mirror of the bathroom
The lyrics for Animal Collective's "Flesh Canoe" are rich with deep introspection and vulnerability. The song begins with the line "Young red bird they're just natural feelings," suggesting that the lyrics are exploring the natural human emotions that we all experience. The next line, "I can't keep from changing my brains," shows the singer's frustration with their inability to control their own thoughts.
The lyrics delve deeper into the singer's mind as they contemplate the balance between their wants and their rights. They question whether their friends' opinions are still relevant and whether they should keep them separate from their own thoughts. The line "Can I get a light" hints at a desire for clarity or enlightenment, as if the singer is searching for answers.
The second half of the song focuses on intimacy and connection. The singer talks about sweating on their partner's beautiful sweater and contemplating whether they should "really lie with" them. They question if there are more important things to do than indulge in physical intimacy, but ultimately suggest that they "gotta wake up" and live in the moment. The song ends with the singer singing about being naked with their partner in the bathroom mirror, highlighting the raw openness and vulnerability that the lyrics throughout the song explore.
Line by Line Meaning
Young red bird they're just natural feelings
Sometimes our feelings are beyond our control and are simply natural occurrences, like the flight of a young red bird.
I can't keep from changing my brains
I constantly undergo changes in my mindset and thought patterns that are beyond my control.
Bending my wants with my rights
There's a struggle between what I desire and what I know is the right thing to do, and sometimes it's difficult to reconcile the two.
Are my friends still half right
I question the validity of my friendships and whether they support my beliefs in the way that I expect.
And should I keep them separate from me
I ponder whether it's best to separate from those friends who don't understand me or to continue to maintain those relationships.
Its unclear then I get a cold
Sometimes when things are uncertain, it leads to physical discomfort, like catching a cold.
Can I get a light
I ask for help or guidance in times of confusion or darkness.
There's a certain type of easy pace
There's a way of living that's comfortable and relaxed, and that's what we need to strive for.
That's what we need to make it
This easy pace is necessary to succeed and find happiness in life.
Come in close I trust you your nose dipped in my sweat
I'm opening myself up to someone and allowing them to come close to me even when I'm vulnerable and exposed.
It dripped on your beautiful sweater kind of nice
Even the imperfect moments can be beautiful and appreciated.
Should I really lie with you I never know when I'm on my own
I'm unsure of my own independence and whether I truly want to be intimate with someone else.
Are there more important things to do
I question whether there are more significant things in life to focus on than just physical intimacy.
Then kiss or sleep today we gotta wake up
There are more important things in life than just focusing on physical pleasure and we need to wake up to that fact.
Then I talk to your breath and we enjoy the air
When you're with someone, even just breathing the same air can be enjoyable and comforting.
And I creep on your chest to the hut I have
I move closer to someone, seeking safety and security in their embrace.
Where I pluck a few notes on the strands of your hair
I find joy in simple things, like playing with someone's hair, and feel a deeper connection because of it.
And I'm singing to you what to do
I'm trying to guide and influence the person I'm with, showing them what I want and need in the relationship.
If id ask you to make funny faces with me in the mirror of the bathroom
I'm looking for a shared experience with someone, even if it's just making silly faces in the bathroom mirror.
Know your next you make me feel alright
Being around someone else can bring comfort and reassurance that everything will be okay.
Are you just like me never gonna pick one kind of fruit
I wonder if the person I'm with is also open-minded and will never be limited by choosing just one option in life.
Like a mushed banana on your tooth
I appreciate the flaws and imperfections in life that make it more interesting and unique.
And you like the sting of the cherry juice
Sometimes it's worth it to experience pain or discomfort for the sake of pleasure or growth.
Never eat an apple that's just one color
I embrace diversity and variety in all aspects of life and don't want to limit myself to just one way of thinking or being.
Like walking off to ride my bike or just bump into you
I enjoy serendipitous moments in life, like randomly running into someone I care about or taking a spontaneous bike ride.
I haven't seen you in a week or three days, though it really bugs me
Even a short time apart from someone can feel difficult and uncomfortable for me.
Its nice to find new ways to smile
I'm constantly looking for ways to feel happy and fulfilled, even in small moments and interactions.
I keep thinking that when you feel sad you can't pout
When I'm with someone else and they're upset, I feel the need to be strong and supportive for them, rather than letting them wallow in sadness.
'Cause what this songs about is me singing
This song is my personal expression of thoughts and emotions, and I'm using it as a way to connect with others.
I'm just wondering what to do with you myself and me naked in the mirror of the bathroom
I'm thinking about the possibilities and complexities of a relationship and what it means to be truly vulnerable with someone else.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: BRIAN ROSS WEITZ, DAVID MICHAEL PORTNER, JOSHUA CALEB DIBB, NOAH BENJAMIN LENNOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind