Little Yellow Spider
Banhart Devendra Lyrics

Little yellow spider, laughing at the snow
The spider appears carefree and happy, enjoying the snow that might bother others.

Ah, maybe that spider knows something that I don't know
The singer wonders if the spider has knowledge or wisdom he doesn't possess about how to appreciate life's little moments.

'Cause I'm Goddamn cold
The singer is cold and feels like he's missing out on the joy the spider is experiencing.

Little white monkey, staring at the sand
Another animal is observed, perhaps with a sense of curiosity, as monkeys are known for their intelligence.

Well, maybe that monkey figured out something I couldn't understand
The artist is in awe of the monkey's perceived knowledge or understanding of something he doesn't.

Who knows?
Perhaps the monkey's knowledge is beyond the singer's comprehension or impossible to grasp.

Well, I came upon a dancing crab, and I stopped to watch it shake
The singer takes time to appreciate the beauty of a dancing crab, perhaps reveling in the splendor of unexpected beauty where he didn't expect to find it.

I said, "Dance for me just one more time Before you hibernate, and you come out a crab cake"
The artist half-jokingly requests an encore, wanting to cherish the moment and avoid seeing the crab later as someone's meal.

Hey there, little snapping turtle, snapping at a shell
The artist comes across yet another animal, this time observing a snapping turtle, and finds it fascinating.

Ah, there's mysteries inside, I know But what they are I just can't tell for sure
The artist acknowledges that living creatures are complex and hold secrets that he may never be able to fully understand.

And hey ya', little baby crow, you're looking kinda' mean
The singer plays with the idea that the crow could be looking menacing, in contrast to how crows are often thought of as a symbol of good luck; he's amused by the idea of a baby crow looking threatening.

I think I outta spit before you start letting off your steam
The artist jokingly suggests that he should move along before the baby crow gets upset.

And hey there, little sexy pig, you made it with a man And you're got a little kid with hooves instead of hands
The singer takes whimsical license and creates a fantasy about a pig with a human partner and a child that's part human, part pig, imagining a world in which animals and humans have relationships.

And oh, all the animals All the animals
The singer revels in the wonder of the animal kingdom and the mysteries it holds.

And hey there, little mockingbird, they sing about you in songs Ah, where you been? Have you broke a wing? I haven't heard you in so long
The singer observes the absence of a mockingbird and hopes that it hasn't suffered some injury or ailment that keeps it from singing.

And hey there, little albatross, swimming in the air Ah c'mon, you know I can't fly And I, I think we really outta play fair
The artist acknowledges that he can't fly like an albatross, and expresses that it's important for everyone to do what they're able to do.

And hey there, Mr. Happy Squid, you move so psychedelically You hypnotize with your magic dance all the animals in the sea
The artist describes a magical squid that entrances other sea creatures with its movement, expressing joy in the whimsy and wonder of the natural world.

And hey there, Mr. Morning Sun, what kind of creature are you? I can't stare, but I know you're there Goddamn, how I wish I knew
The singer muses on the mystery of the sun, which he cannot look at directly, and reflects his desire to understand the world completely and solve its mysteries.

And hey there, Mrs. Lovely Moon, you're lonely and you're blue It's kinda' strange, the way you change But then again, we all do too
The singer ponders the moon, noting how it appears to change in appearance over time but always maintains its loveliness, which he perhaps connects to the idea of aging and the cyclical change that marks life.