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 Happened?
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
my wish was you'd dance tonight
what happened to make you suffer inside
My wish was you'd dance awhile
What happened?
taking long walks makes it right. no?
What happened?
What happened happened. What happened happened.
What happened to make you suffer inside
my wish was you'd dance a lot
what happened to make you suffer inside
My wish was you'd dance tonight
What happened?
taking long walks makes it right. no?
What happened?
breaking thoughts you thought couldn't wait
What happened happened. What happened happened.
What happened
x10
The lyrics of Animal Collective's "What Happened?" seem to be directed at someone who is hurting or suffering in some way. The singer expresses a wish that this person would be able to let go of their pain and dance, as though that might help them to feel better. The repetition of the question "What happened?" suggests that the singer is confused or curious about what has caused this person to be so unhappy.
The lines "taking long walks makes it right" and "breaking thoughts you thought couldn't wait" suggest that the singer is offering some kind of advice or support to this person. They seem to be saying that sometimes, taking a break or allowing yourself to think through things can be helpful when you're struggling.
The final repetition of "What happened?" feels unresolved, as though the question is left hanging without an answer. Overall, the song seems to be about the complicated and painful nature of emotional suffering, and the difficulty that exists in trying to help someone who is going through it.
Line by Line Meaning
What happened to make you suffer inside
What event or series of events caused the emotional pain you're experiencing?
my wish was you'd dance tonight
I hoped that you would find joy in the present moment by dancing.
What happened?
Can you explain the cause of your current state of being?
taking long walks makes it right. no?
Do you find solace in taking extended walks, or is that not a valid solution?
breaking thoughts you thought couldn't wait
Releasing pent up thoughts or emotions that you've previously kept within can be helpful.
What happened happened. What happened happened.
It's important to acknowledge events that have already transpired and to holistically process them.
What happened to make you suffer inside
Can you identify any specific triggers that may have contributed to your current inner turmoil?
My wish was you'd dance awhile
My hope was that you would find a momentary sense of carefree joy in dancing.
What happened?
Can you further elucidate what led to your current state of emotional struggle?
taking long walks makes it right. no?
Do you agree that spending time in nature or taking extended walks can help ease your pain?
breaking thoughts you thought couldn't wait
Have you considered being open about expressing emotions or thoughts that you've previously kept to yourself?
What happened happened. What happened happened.
It's crucial to recognize and fully process events that have already happened in order to move forward.
What happened x10
Repeatedly asking what happened can help someone reflect and fully explore the sources of their emotional distress.
Contributed by Aaron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NoJoshinJoshy
I remember the movie being so eerie from the very beginning until this came on and I was hit was such a rush of happiness and excitement. It reminded me of my first encounter with Animal Collective which was Turn Into Something.
love.
Greg Baldwin
What Happened? My thoughts exactly when I saw this movie coming to an end while watching it for the first time at the Plaza Theater in Atlanta. It's so refreshing to see a movie that's unlike anything ever made before and to experience the inescapable tensions of the horror and the overwhelming sensations brought on by the audio-visual flood that this movie drowns you in and just when you're gasping for relief it brings you back out of it with such joy and humor. It's a rollercoaster!
Jake Niehaus
Every time I watched this really high, I lost my mind and started crying...I think this song is Avey's experience with his divorce and the splitting of my relationship of two years was still haunting me when I first saw this. Very relatable.
TheMeatballMen
this makes me so emotional and unbelievably nostalgic
Thumping Thromnambular
I feel that the "masked warrior" came to the house, and told the girl to invite her friends to make use of this black stuff that came from the wall. In the end, he taught them to make a substance not unlike LSD. Thus...the events that take place in this video. I've always considered this "album" to be an experience rather than a story told.
Jordan Thielman
WHAT HAAAAA APPPPP ENNND WHAT HAAAA APPPP ENNDDD WHAT HAAAAPPPPEND. That harmony cuts to the heart!
Anthony Chiocchia
Jordan Thielman Brian Wilson is hearing it through hyperspace. ❤️
Amy McBelcherBurger
I have watched this movie everyday since I bought it 3 weeks ago. Sooooo Goooood!
Nashon Howard
This song makes me happy :) Even though he is saying "What happened" it sounds like "Happy"
z zz
such a delightful wrap up to literally some of the weirdest shit I ever saw