Bag of Bones
Animal Noise Lyrics

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look at my shoes I stole them from my brother
he's got??
hear me speak but it's not me
I steal these words from sentences I see
I'll teach you what they are too,
I'll just probably steal from you too
oh,
look at me with a bag of bones

look at you with a bag of bones
oh ho oh,??????
oeh oeh oeh,
look at me with a bag of bones
look at you with a bag of bones
oh ho oh,
oh ho oh,???
I put your name???
oh ho oh,
oh ho oh,
look at me with me with a bag of bones
look at you with a bag of bones

oh ho oh,
oh ho oh,

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Animal Noise's "Bag of Bones" can be interpreted as an exploration of individual identity and the rules that govern our society. The first two lines, "look at my shoes I stole them from my brother, he's got??" set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is drawing attention to a small act of rebellion, stealing his brother's shoes, but also acknowledging that he does not have full control over his identity or possessions. The following lines, "hear me speak but it's not me, I steal these words from sentences I see, I'll teach you what they are too, I'll just probably steal from you too" suggest that the singer is aware of the constructed nature of language and communication. Everyone borrows from each other and no one has a completely original voice.

The chorus, "look at me with a bag of bones, look at you with a bag of bones" repeats several times throughout the song. This can be interpreted in several ways. "Bag of bones" could be a metaphor for the physical body, suggesting that everyone is ultimately the same underneath. It could also be referencing physical possessions or materialism, implying that everyone is carrying around the same junk. The repetition of the phrase and the addition of the nonverbal "oeh oeh oeh" contribute to a sense of frustration or helplessness. The final lines, "I put your name???, look at me with a bag of bones, look at you with a bag of bones" don't offer any further explanation but instead emphasize the repetition of the chorus and the lack of resolution.

Line by Line Meaning

look at my shoes I stole them from my brother
I am not unique, I take from others and use what they have to my advantage.

hear me speak but it's not me
I cannot create original content, but only imitate others.

I steal these words from sentences I see
I am not creative but a thief, taking words and phrases from other people's work and incorporating them in my own.

I'll teach you what they are too,
I am not ashamed of my plagiarism and will teach you how to do it too.

I'll just probably steal from you too
I am not trustworthy and will not hesitate to steal from the people I claim to teach.

look at me with a bag of bones
I am empty inside and have nothing significant to offer other than stolen material.

look at you with a bag of bones
You are no different from me, a hollow imitation of what others have done before.

oh ho oh,??????
This line has no clear meaning and serves more as a rhythmic addition to the song.

oeh oeh oeh,
Similarly, this line does not contribute to the meaning of the song but serves as a musical break.

I put your name???
This line is unclear and lacking in context, making it difficult to offer an interpretation.

look at me with me with a bag of bones
I continue to emphasize my lack of originality and meaningful contribution to the world.

look at you with a bag of bones
I am not the only one who is empty and lacking in substance.

oh ho oh,
Once again, this line adds little to the overall meaning of the song.

oh ho oh,
Similarly, this line is simply a repetition of the previous line and does not add anything new to the song.

Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.