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.
We Tigers
Animal Collective Lyrics
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Only this and early this
Only this, and early this
Only this and early this
(tigers, we tigers, whoop)
Hey kids (whoop)
Let's pick up sticks (whoop, whoop)
Let's pick up the sound of our (whoop)
And dogs invited if everything feels right
([?] are invited)
One two and three (whoop)
Begins with a tree? (whoop, whoop)
So sick of palming it (whoop)
Out? (whoop, whoop)
A change of the words with a poltergeist [?] cars
The world's so unnecessary now
But I would like to see this swinging from the terrace, people never seem to learn
Everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated
Everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tiger
Oh, oh, Katie did
Oh, oh, Katie did
Oh, oh
Ogres, ogres, ogres, ogres, ogres, ogres
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
That felt worse (whoop)
Some sort of curse (whoop, whoop)
Knowing what I shouldn't (whoop)
Be (whoop, whoop) (I like it)
I don't know what I'll do
But let's walk around
And pretend to be messes at sea
A kiss or a kid (whoop)
Won't change the gist (whoop, whoop)
Rules but I want you to (whoop)
Die (whoop, whoop)
I'm really hungry
But you crashed my apartment
And kept me up wait besides
But I would like to see this swinging from the terrace, people never seem to learn
Everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated
Everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers
The lyrics to Animal Collective's song We Tigers present a challenge in interpretation. The song appears to be about a group of people or animals, tigers specifically, who are engaging in some sort of communal activity, possibly a hunt or a playful romp through the wilderness. The lyrics are cryptic, however, and the meaning of the words is often difficult to ascertain. The repeated refrain of "Only this and early this" suggests that the activity taking place is both primal and elemental, something essential to the participants' existence but also fleeting and temporary.
The song also contains a number of obscure references to other creatures, such as dogs and ogres, and even to the insect known as the Katie did. These references seem intentionally jarring and nonsensical, perhaps intended to evoke a sense of chaos or disorder. The final lines of the song, "But I would like to see this swinging from the terrace, people never seem to learn," add another layer of ambiguity, leaving the listener to puzzle over their meaning.
Overall, Animal Collective's We Tigers is a challenging and enigmatic song that defies easy interpretation. The lyrics seem to be intended more for their sound than for their meaning, creating a tapestry of words and images that are at once intriguing and elusive.
Line by Line Meaning
Early this and nearly this
Something is happening that is just about to occur
Only this and early this
Something has just happened
Tigers, we tigers, whoop
A group of people are identifying with the energy and power of tigers
Hey kids (whoop)
The artist is addressing a group of young people
Let's pick up sticks (whoop, whoop)
Let's gather materials to make music and create something together
Let's pick up the sound of our (whoop)
Let's use our environment and natural sounds to make something unique
Bones (whoop, whoop)
Let's use our bodies to make music and dance
And dogs invited if everything feels right
All are welcome to participate as long as everyone is comfortable and having a good time
One two and three (whoop)
Counting down or starting a rhythm
Begins with a tree? (whoop, whoop)
Maybe we should start with something simple and natural like a tree
So sick of palming it (whoop)
We're tired of pretending everything is okay when it's not
Out? (whoop, whoop)
We're tired of putting on a show
A change of the words with a poltergeist [?] cars
Something strange and supernatural is happening with the sounds of cars
The world's so unnecessary now
The current state of the world feels superfluous and excessive
But I would like to see this swinging from the terrace, people never seem to learn
The singer would enjoy watching people let loose and have fun, but it seems like people never learn to just enjoy themselves
Everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated, everybody's bloated
Everyone feels bogged down and heavy, like they're carrying too much weight
Tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tigers, tiger
Reinforcing the earlier identification with the energy and power of tigers
Oh, oh, Katie did
Referencing a children's game, playing with language and sounds
Ogres, ogres, ogres, ogres, ogres, ogres
Another playful reference to imaginary creatures
That felt worse (whoop)
Something just got worse or more uncomfortable
Some sort of curse (whoop, whoop)
Feels like something bad or cursed is happening
Knowing what I shouldn't (whoop)
Feeling like you're doing something you're not supposed to be doing
Be (whoop, whoop) (I like it)
Enjoying being a bit rebellious or going against expectations
I don't know what I'll do
Feeling uncertain about what comes next
But let's walk around
Let's move and see what happens
And pretend to be messes at sea
Let's act like we're lost in uncertain waters and see where we end up
A kiss or a kid (whoop)
A playful reference to two things that might seem unrelated
Won't change the gist (whoop, whoop)
The core of things won't change no matter what happens
Rules but I want you to (whoop)
Breaking the rules or expectations
Die (whoop, whoop)
Wishing something were over or dead
I'm really hungry
Literally feeling hungry
But you crashed my apartment
Someone is in the artist's space without permission
And kept me up wait besides
Prevented the artist from resting or sleeping
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: DAVID PORTNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind