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.
On a Highway
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I take a mental picture
Of the place I want.
Now it's living in me.
On a highway
Thinking of the one who
I left alone and hoping
On a highway
I let the bad things taunt
Or do they want to haunt me?
I do not know how they find me
On a highway
I watch the singing driver
On the speaker phone ?
He mouths the words he should sing
On a highway
Some pretty lilly passenger
Her toes against the window
What happened to the tunes then
On a highway
I know they are not moving
Moved by conversation
I'll pretend I know what they say
On a highway
Can't sit around expending
I work against the window
That's great you called ?
On a highway
The woman calls me lucky
For all the places I stay
Its hard for me not say
Ah can't breath
Ah can't breath
Ah can't breath
Oh
On a highway
Hypnotized by sun strokes
Passing by some dead bones
Flowers for the dead grow
On a highway
There are some workers pissing
Its starts my bladder itching
Can I wait for the exit?
On a highway
The leaves are green forever
I let some hash relax me
Get lost in human pleasure
On a highway
I'm sick from too much reading
Jealous of Noah's dreaming
Can't help my brain from thinking
Ah can't breath
Ah can't breath
Ah can't breath
Oh
The song On a Highway by Animal Collective can be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener's perspective. At first glance, the lyrics describe a person traveling on a highway observing people and their behaviors. However, it can also be seen as a metaphor for life's journey and how one copes with it.
The first verse sets the scene where the singer takes a mental picture of the place they want, implying they have a goal or a destination they are heading towards. But, as they continue on the highway, they start to think of the person they left behind, which brings out feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty. As they observe the people in the car and the pretty lilly passenger, they seem to become distracted and lost in the moment. However, they are constantly reminded of their own mortality with the mention of dead bones and flowers for the dead.
It seems like the singer is trying to distract themselves from their own thoughts by observing others and engaging in pleasures such as smoking hash. But despite their efforts, they cannot escape their own mind, which is highlighted by the repetition of "Ah can't breathe." In conclusion, the song depicts the struggle of dealing with life's journey and the ways we cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on a highway
I'm driving down a long stretch of road.
I take a mental picture
I capture a mental image of what I want in life.
Of the place I want.
I envision the life I want for myself.
Now it's living in me.
My dream is now a part of me and motivates me.
Thinking of the one who
I am reflecting on the person I left behind.
I left alone and hoping
I wish that they are okay without me.
I don't know how I'm coping
I am uncertain if I am handling the separation well.
I let the bad things taunt
The negative thoughts in my mind tease me.
Or do they want to haunt me?
I am unsure if these thoughts aim to scare me.
I do not know how they find me
I don't understand how these negative thoughts persist.
I watch the singing driver
I observe the driver beside me singing along to music.
On the speaker phone ?
They seem to be talking to someone else on the phone.
He mouths the words he should sing
He is unable to sing properly but pretends to for the sake of appearance.
Some pretty lilly passenger
I notice a beautiful, relaxed passenger.
Her toes against the window
She rests her toes against the car window.
What happened to the tunes then
I wonder what happened to the music we were listening to earlier.
I know they are not moving
I realize the people beside me aren't affected by the movement of the car.
Moved by conversation
They are engrossed in their discussion.
I'll pretend I know what they say
I'll act as if I'm following their conversation.
Can't sit around expending
I need to stay productive and use my time well.
I work against the window
I lean against the window and think about my goals.
That's great you called ?
I question if the call I received is a useful distraction or not.
The woman calls me lucky
A woman admires the places I've been to and thinks I'm fortunate.
For all the places I stay
She is referring to my extensive travels.
It's hard for me not say
I struggle to mention the difficulties of travel to her.
Hypnotized by sun strokes
I am mesmerized by the sun's rays beating down on me.
Passing by some dead bones
I notice remnants of the past on the side of the road.
Flowers for the dead grow
The world carries on with its cycle, even after death.
There are some workers pissing
I see some workmen urinating on the side of the road.
It starts my bladder itching
This makes me feel like I need to use the bathroom.
Can I wait for the exit?
I wonder if I can make it to a rest stop before needing to use the bathroom.
The leaves are green forever
The trees around me are always green in this climate.
I let some hash relax me
I smoke some marijuana to help myself unwind.
Get lost in human pleasure
I indulge in physical desires to distract myself.
I'm sick from too much reading
I've overindulged in reading and feel overwhelmed.
Jealous of Noah's dreaming
I am envious of someone else's good fortune in their dreams.
Can't help my brain from thinking
I am unable to switch off my thoughts and relax.
Ah can't breath
I feel suffocated and anxious.
Oh
An exclamation of frustration or desperation.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Brian Weitz, David Portner, Noah Lennox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind