Rosie Oh
Animal Collective Lyrics
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With a backpack cross my shoulder blades
The Everglades below the wooden cracks
You had offered up a ride
So I might not get accosted by
The watery slide
Said no I'd rather not step in
As I left my home I cried
And a substituted figure tried
To reconcile the things I'd left behind
You had opened up the door
And made a place where I could sit inside
And fortify
But I said no I'd rather not
Said no I'd rather not step in
I'm on my own
Now no ones been invested in
How no one knows what's best for him
I'm on my own
When no ones left to light the load
Then so one goes to lift alone
I'd like to embrace it all
Have I made this or is it
That I've been made?
The lyrics to Animal Collective's "Rosie Oh" are a reflection on the singer's decision to "step in" or not to take certain paths or opportunities presented to them. As they walk across a bridge with a backpack, they are given an offer for a ride to avoid the watery Everglades below, but they decline. They then reflect on leaving home and struggling to reconcile with what they've left behind. Despite someone opening up their door and offering a place to sit and "fortify," the singer continues to decline, saying they would rather not step in.
The song continues with the singer realizing they are now alone and no one knows what's best for them. They are left to carry the load alone and must embrace it all. The final line is a question of whether the singer has created their current situation or if they were made this way.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of independence and a willingness to take ownership of one's decisions and consequences. It's about finding your own way, even if it means going against the offers and expectations of others.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walked across the bridge
I am traveling over the water on the bridge
With a backpack cross my shoulder blades
I am carrying my backpack on my shoulders
The Everglades below the wooden cracks
I can see the Everglades through the cracks in the wooden bridge
You had offered up a ride
You offered to give me a ride
So I might not get accosted by
To avoid getting attacked by
The watery slide
The slippery surface that could cause me to fall
But I said no I'd rather not
I declined the offer
Said no I'd rather not step in
I don't want to get involved in that situation
As I left my home I cried
I shed tears as I left my home
And a substituted figure tried
Someone else tried to fill my place
To reconcile the things I'd left behind
To make peace with the things I abandoned
You had opened up the door
You provided me with an opportunity
And made a place where I could sit inside
You gave me a comfortable place to rest
And fortify
And strengthen myself
But I said no I'd rather not
But I declined the offer
Said no I'd rather not step in
I didn't want to get involved in that situation
I'm on my own
I have to face things alone
Now no ones been invested in
Nobody has shown interest or commitment
How no one knows what's best for him
Nobody can decide what's best for me
When no ones left to light the load
When nobody is there to help carry the burden
Then so one goes to lift alone
I have to carry the load by myself
I'd like to embrace it all
I want to accept everything around me
Have I made this or is it
Did I create this, or is it
That I've been made?
That I was created by something else?
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: BRIAN ROSS WEITZ, DAVID MICHAEL PORTNER, JOSHUA CALEB DIBB, NOAH BENJAMIN LENNOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind