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.
What Do I Want
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do I want
Sky (What would I want, sky)
Is everything alright?
You feelin' moany?
You feelin' lonely?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feelin' phony?
You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me, too bad they can't help me,
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up, and not stop and look around me?
Grays where that color should be, what is the right way?
Old glass is clinkin' and a new order's blinkin' and I,
I should be floatin', but I'm weighted by thinking
I got on the river, wait, can't make it change,
But the sky gets filled up too fast and the tide seen them sayin', you better,
Give me some money, stop, daydreamin' dude.
When the thought of horizon is hiding from you,
What would you want? sky (what do I want? sky)
Is everything alright? You feelin' lonely?
You feelin' moldy? You're not the only
Is everything alright? You feelin' stormy?
You feelin' foamy? You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me,
Too bad they can't help me, what Is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
When I stop and look around me,
Grays where that color should be, what is the right way?
Old glass is clinkin' and a, new order's blinkin'
And a- I should be floatin', but I'm weighted by thinking
I will fly up the river that'll make me some change,
Well the sky gets filled up too fast and the tide she kept waiting,
But, give me some money, stop, daydreaming dude,
When the thought of horizon is hiding it's blues
What would you want,
Sky (what did I want, sky) (what would I want, sky)
The song "What Would I Want? Sky" by Animal Collective is about feeling lost in life and searching for direction. The singer seems to be talking directly to the sky, asking if everything is alright and admitting to feeling lonely and phony at times. They question what the right way is and whether they should just float up and not stop to look around. The lyrics suggest that the character is stuck in their own head, weighed down by thinking and unable to fully embrace the world around them.
The song also touches on the idea of money and the pressure to conform to society's expectations. The lyric "give me some money, stop daydreaming dude" implies that the world is telling the singer to stop dreaming and start focusing on practical matters such as making a living. However, the character seems determined to keep searching for their own path and not give up on their dreams.
Overall, the song is a reflective and introspective exploration of what it means to feel lost and searching for direction in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sky,
Addressing the sky as a symbol of hope and wonder.
What do I want
Contemplating the innate desires and goals of life.
Sky (What would I want, sky)
Repeating the question posed before as a rhetorical one.
Is everything alright?
Expressing concern about the wellbeing and state of things.
You feelin' moany?
Asking if someone is feeling down or dispirited.
You feelin' lonely?
Asking if someone is feeling isolated or disconnected.
You're not the only
Assuring the listener that their struggles are not unique or isolating.
Do you get up up up?
Questioning if one is able to rise above their challenges and obstacles.
Clouds stop and move above me, too bad they can't help me,
Noting that even nature's movements are out of one's control, and that they cannot always offer aid or guidance.
What is the right way?
Wondering what path or approach is best to take in life.
Do I float up up up, and not stop and look around me?
Questioning if one should strive higher without taking notice of one's surroundings or grounding.
Grays where that color should be, what is the right way?
Observing the absence of vibrancy or beauty where it should be present, and questioning the correct course of life.
Old glass is clinkin' and a new order's blinkin' and I,
Noticing the contrast between the traditional and the modern, and acknowledging one's presence in the midst of it.
I should be floatin', but I'm weighted by thinking
Feeling weighed down or burdened by overthinking and anxiety, despite striving for freedom.
I got on the river, wait, can't make it change,
Attempting to navigate the river of life, but realizing that some things are beyond one's control or ability to alter.
But the sky gets filled up too fast and the tide seen them sayin', you better,
Noticing the rapid nature of change and progress, and implying a sense of urgency to keep up.
Give me some money, stop, daydreamin' dude.
Acknowledging the need for practicality and discipline over fanciful dreaming, and potentially addressing oneself or others.
When the thought of horizon is hiding from you,
Acknowledging the feeling of uncertainty and confusion when one cannot see or plan for the future.
What would you want? sky (what do I want? sky)
Returning to the initial question, asking what one truly desires and seeks in life through the symbol of the sky.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRIAN ROSS WEITZ, DAVID MICHAEL PORTNER, NOAH BENJAMIN LENNOX, PHILIP LESH, ROBERT M. PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexandrejones8634
Is everything alright?
Well, I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking. You know, the sky gets filled up too fast.
Hey, stop daydreaming, dude!
But the point on the horizon is hiding from view.
So what would you want?
The sky.
@gumbee9967
Good dreams
Sky
What would I want? Sky
Is everything alright?
You feeling moldy?
You feeling lonely?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feeling stormy?
You feeling phony?
You're not the only
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me
Too bad they can't help me
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
I stop and look around me,
Gray's where that color should be,
What is the right way?
Old glasses clinking and a new order's blinking
And I, I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking
That I got on the river,
Really can't make it change,
When the sky gets filled up too fast
And the taxi man's saying, "You better
Give me some money,
Stop daydreaming, dude!"
When the point of horizon is hiding from you,
What would you want, sky?
What would I want? Sky
Is everything alright?
You feeling lonely?
You feeling moldy?
You're not the only
Is everything alright?
You feeling stormy?
You feeling phony?
You're not the only
(Are you taking it lightly?
Lost in the flurry
You start to worry
You will be buried
Taking it lightly
And so you hurry
And then you worry
Here come those flurries)
Do you get up up up?
Clouds stop and move above me
Too bad they can't help me
What is the right way?
Do I float up up up?
When I stop and look around me,
Gray's where that color should be,
What is the right way?
(Taking it lightly?
Lost in the flurry
You start to worry
You will be buried
Taking it lightly
And so you hurry
And then you worry
Here come those flurries)
Old glasses clinking and a new order's blinking
And I, I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking
I'm a fly on the river,
Gotta make me some change,
When the sky gets filled up too fast
And the taxi cab's waiting, you better
Give him some money,
Stop daydreaming, dude,
When the point of horizon is hiding its blues
What would you want, sky?
What would I want? Sky
@WiloPolis03
One of their greatest songs they've ever made tbh
@samuelcarstens6152
Tbh makes me question your sincerity, tbh. Maybe Weird Al was right.
@FM-pr1ht
I can’t believe how good this song is after not hearing it for years. Either this or Grass as my all time fav of theirs. Pop geniuses right here folks!!!!
@stfran24
'I should be floating but i'm weighted by thinking' - this is why i cant smoke anymore
@34rret_two53
same friend
@catcrapinahat
I quit at 19 for the same reason, everyone else is enjoying this and I should to but it makes me feel worse and weighs me down more. Horrible feelings.
@WiloPolis03
W
@chance1295
Gotta accept & join the psychedelic ride brother!
@ole_limberlegs
I can't swim
@carson9763
criminally underrated