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.
Kinda Bonkers
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you wait too long
It gets black and weak
If there′s fire that's good
But we can′t burn it all away for food
Balance the light from the sky
To your seat on, on your feet
Through your errors and days
I'm tryna reach out to you
Yes, I'm talking to you
You′re the one in the room
We′ll share a moment, let's meet
We′re a fire with heat
You didn't know, not me
We all start suddenly
And get carried so far away
Synchronicities
Obscurities
Complexities
It′s like I knew this would be happening
I went, "Oh my, oh god, only you!"
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don′t you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you want to know?
Knowing a mama′s nose
Mending woes, healing herbs
Dancing in a hoopla
Is bonkers
Kinda bonkers
Pretty bonkers
Kinda bonkers
Standing in line again
Laughing and then
Asking my friend
"Have you ever felt like
Really bonkers?
Kinda bonkers?
Pretty bonkers?
Kinda bonkers?"
Underwater show
I went to the bro
My head was exploding
I said, "Man this Earth is
Really bonkers
Kinda bonkers
Pretty bonkers
Kinda bonkers!"
Irrepressibility
Sustainability
Impossibility
What the fuck is happening?
I was like, "Oh man, oh Jesus, oh!"
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Are you seeing you?
Are you seeing me?
Don′t you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don′t you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don′t you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don′t you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
The lyrics to Animal Collective's "Kinda Bonkers" convey a sense of chaos and optimism simultaneously. The first verse compares life to French toast, suggesting that if you wait too long, life goes "black and weak." However, there is hope in the fire that is good, but we must find a balance and not "burn it all away for food." The second verse is a call to connect with others, to "share a moment" and "meet" while also acknowledging the complexities and obscurities of life. The chorus urges the listener to feel their heart shine and embrace unity of all kinds. The song ends with a refrain, urging the listener once again to feel their heart shine and embrace unity.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that despite the chaos and unpredictability of life, there is hope in connection and unity. The song encourages listeners to embrace their own experiences and the experiences of others, and to find joy in the absurdity of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is so French toast to me
Life is like French toast, which can be burnt or weak if you wait too long.
If you wait too long
If you wait too long, things can become worse.
It gets black and weak
If you wait too long, things can become burnt or weak.
If there′s fire that's good
If there's a chance to do something good, take it.
But we can′t burn it all away for food
We can't just use up everything for our own immediate benefit.
Balance the light from the sky
Find a balance in life between light and dark.
To your seat on, on your feet
Take action and stand up for yourself.
Through your errors and days
Learn from your mistakes and live through the ups and downs of life.
I'm tryna reach out to you
I'm trying to connect with you.
Yes, I'm talking to you
I am directly addressing you.
You′re the one in the room
You are the focus of my attention in this situation.
We′ll share a moment, let's meet
Let's connect and enjoy this moment together.
We′re a fire with heat
We are passionate and intense.
You didn't know, not me
We both have surprising sides to ourselves.
We all start suddenly
We all have a beginning that can come out of nowhere.
And get carried so far away
We can get lost in our own lives and lose track of what's important.
Synchronicities
Coincidences that feel like they have a deeper meaning.
Obscurities
Things that are unclear or confusing.
Complexities
Complicated situations or ideas.
It′s like I knew this would be happening
It feels like this moment was meant to happen.
I went, "Oh my, oh god, only you!"
I am surprised and overwhelmed by the situation and feel like only you can understand.
Are you seeing you?
Are you aware of your own thoughts and feelings?
Are you seeing me?
Do you understand who I am and what I am feeling?
Don't you feel me, feel your heart shine?
Can you feel a connection between us and let your emotions guide you?
Unity of all kind, unity of all kind
We are all connected and should work together in harmony.
Don't you want to know?
Don't you want to understand more deeply?
Knowing a mama′s nose
Understanding and appreciating nature and the world around us.
Mending woes, healing herbs
Finding solutions and healing for our problems through natural means.
Dancing in a hoopla
Enjoying and celebrating life.
Is bonkers
Is crazy or out of control.
Kinda bonkers
A little bit crazy or unusual.
Pretty bonkers
Very crazy or unexpected.
Standing in line again
Repeating the same pattern or routine again.
Laughing and then
Finding joy and humor in life.
Asking my friend
Reaching out for support and connection from others.
"Have you ever felt like
"Have you ever experienced a situation where you
Really bonkers?
Felt like things were really crazy or unexpected?
Underwater show
A surreal or dreamlike experience.
I went to the bro
I went to a friend or sibling for support or connection.
My head was exploding
I was overwhelmed and confused by the situation.
I said, "Man this Earth is
I expressed my thoughts and feelings about the world by saying,
Irrepressibility
The inability to be controlled or contained.
Sustainability
The ability to be maintained or supported over time.
Impossibility
The state of being impossible or very difficult to achieve.
What the fuck is happening?
What is going on and why is it so crazy?
I was like, "Oh man, oh Jesus, oh!"
I was overwhelmed and in shock by the situation.
Writer(s): David Michael Portner, Noah Benjamin Lennox, Brian Weitz
Contributed by Zachary H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tuan Jim
I fucking love what Avey does with his voice at 2:08, right after he says, "What the fuck is happening," that little vocal freak-out is so fucking excellent. Avey Tare is one of the most unique and interesting vocalists. Both sugary sweet, and screamy/messy. Love the song, it's beautiful, like pretty much all their songs.
Space Wave
Lost my best friend today, a few days ago we enjoyed this song together... He had a fiance and a kid on the way. His name was Jacub Barron, rip brother... This song brings part of him back for a fleeting second
waterglass21
The Verve: life is a bittersweet symphony
AC: life is french toast
B.A. S.
This is why I think the whole idea of there being a "proper" way to sing is partially bullshit. Because this vocal performance violates all those rules--it's clenched in the throat and teeth and often mumbled--and it sounds amazing as a stylistic choice. Anything can work within a certain context I think ^_^
N B
Music is anything that makes you move
B.A. S.
@Bob Roger in the flesh Good reply. Time well spent.
Bob Roger in the flesh
OK Ben
Mikeureko
I LOOOVE Avey's vocal inflections (is that the right word for it?)! He's the most dynamic vocalist I've ever heard, it's astounding and I aspire to one day reach his level of performance in general.
Jimbo
1st listen: I like this song
3rd listen: It's stuck in my head
5th listen: Ｋ工れ刀丹 乃口れＫモ尺ち, гєคllץ ๒๏ภкєгร
Boris Sheen
4 and 2 are feeling discriminated.