(3/4/10): Just curious, but does ‘Zebra’ have the same chord progression as ‘No Other One’ by Weezer, off of Pinkerton? “That’s funny, I never put that together, but the first half of that phrase are the same exact chord, which is in 3/4. It’s a waltz; we do it like a 4/4 waltz and we do it like a swing, a ballad, or whatever. I don’t think we ever thought of it, but whenever you hear a chord progression in a song it’s probably been used 45 times and often at the same exact tempo and even with a similar arrangement. It’s just amazing that there are now something like 40 billion songs and they’re not all constantly sounding like each other.” ~ Alex, cokemachineglow
(9/28/10): “I was randomly playing the opening guitar part in Australia when we were there in 2008, and I remember Victoria said, “I liked that, remember that,” which always encourages me a lot, ‘cause if she hears something in something then I know that it could be good; and I started thinking about it a lot, and then another part grew out of that, and I started playing it for Victoria, and instantly… she said “the way it sounds, it sounds like a Zebra, like running or crisscrossing,” and she started bringing this entire narrative to it, and then the song grew from there. So it was just a couple of little guitar parts, and everything started building from them.” ~ Alex, FaceCulture
(4/29/19): “Alex had written most of the musical arrangement and when I heard it, this was another brain looking in on what somebody else had created, and I immediately thought, I had written some things but the zebra imagery kept coming to my brain. It was what I was seeing, the patterns crossing. That comes from comes from the music and how the music ignited something in my mind and my visual imagination.” ~ Victoria, KEXP
Zebra
Beach House Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oasis child, born and so wild
Don't I know you better than the rest
All deception, all deception from you
Your love is stag in the white sand
Wilderness for miles, eyes so mild and wise
Don't I know you better than the rest?
Anyway you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
Any way you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
Your love is stag in the white sand
Oasis child born into a man
Don't I know you better than the rest?
All deception, all deception from you
Wilderness for miles, eyes so mild and wise
Oasis child, born and so wild
Don't I know you better than the rest
All deception, all deception from you
Anyway you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
Any way you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
Anyway you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
Any way you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
The lyrics of Beach House's song Zebra are a metaphorical representation of a relationship that seems to be balanced on a knife's edge, with one partner being deceptive and the other trying to see through the veil of lies. The opening line "You know you're gold, you don't gotta worry none" seems to suggest that one partner is confident in their value, while the other partner is left in uncertainty about their worth in the relationship.
The chorus "Anyway you run, you run before us, Black and white horse arching among us" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the power struggle in the relationship. The "black and white horse" represents the duality that exists in the relationship, while the "arching among us" signifies the tension that arises due to the opposing forces.
The lyrics "Your love is stag in the white sand, Oasis child born into a man" describes a love that is both fragile and potent. The "white sand" represents purity and innocence, while the "stag" symbolizes vulnerability and delicacy. The "oasis child born into a man" represents the power that comes with maturity, but also the danger of losing touch with the innocence of youth.
Overall, Zebra can be interpreted as a song about the delicate balance in a relationship and the struggle for truth and transparency.
Line by Line Meaning
You know you're gold, you don't gotta worry none
You are valuable and talented, you don't need to worry about anything.
Oasis child, born and so wild
You are like a child of the desert, full of life and untamed.
Don't I know you better than the rest
I understand you more than anyone else does.
All deception, all deception from you
You are always deceiving me, I can never fully trust you.
Your love is stag in the white sand
Your love is like a majestic deer in the pristine sand.
Wilderness for miles, eyes so mild and wise
The surroundings are pure wilderness, while your gentle and wise eyes provide solace.
Anyway you run, you run before us
No matter which way you go, you always stay ahead of us.
Black and white horse arching among us
Your presence is powerful, like a black and white horse rearing up among us.
Oasis child born into a man
Even though you are grown up now, you still have the heart of an adventurous youth.
Wilderness for miles, eyes so mild and wise
The surroundings are pure wilderness, while your gentle and wise eyes provide solace.
Anyway you run, you run before us
No matter which way you go, you always stay ahead of us.
Black and white horse arching among us
Your presence is powerful, like a black and white horse rearing up among us.
Anyway you run, you run before us
No matter which way you go, you always stay ahead of us.
Black and white horse arching among us
Your presence is powerful, like a black and white horse rearing up among us.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Scally, Victoria Legrand
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hyacinthedelasinthomee9291
"Zebra"
You know you're gold, you don't gotta worry none
Oasis child, born and so wild
Don't I know you better than the rest
All deception, all deception from you
Your love is stag in the white sand
Wilderness for miles, eyes so mild and wise
Don't I know you better than the rest
All deception, all deception from you
Any way you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
Your love is stag in the white sand
Oasis child born into a man
Don't I know you better than the rest
All deception, all deception from you
Wilderness for miles, eyes so mild and wise
Oasis child, born and so wild
Don't I know you better than the rest
All deception, all deception from you
Any way you run, you run before us
Black and white horse arching among us
@tamuska92
You know you're gold
You don't got to worry none
Oasis child
Born and so wild
Don't I know you
Better than the rest
All deception
All deception from you
Your love is stag
In the white sand
Wilderness for miles
Eyes so mild and wise
Don't I know you
Better than the rest
All deception
All deception from you
[Chorus]
Anyway you run
You run before us
Black and white horse
Arching among us
[Verse 2]
Your love is stag
In the white sand
Oasis child
Born into a man
Don't I know you
Better than the rest
All deception
All deception from you
Wilderness for miles
Eyes so mild and wise
Oasis child
Born and so wild
Don't I know you
Better than the rest
All deception
All deception from you
[Chorus]
Anyway you run
You run before us
Black and white horse
Arching among us
@MAUMiReLeS
Does anyone else genuinely think that this is one of the best songs ever made?
@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole
Beach House has a way of composing in the round-about. Reminds me of JS Bach, as if there are multiple lines going on. Their other song that does this is "PPP."
@steph_knarr
It's been among my favorites for years, but recently I've really been digging it.
I easily listen to it 3-5 times a month... At least. Probably much more, not even joking.
@YgorFMutz
ya
@dreadrin1831
Yup
@loretta_cygnus8394
Nop
@conterooski
I'm sitting on the toilet listening to this and it's been maybe my most emotional poop ever
@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole
We thank you for your creation. Run with it. (Just don't slip).
@drewfinn2
excellent buildup i’m sure, and I bet the chorus was amazing. revelation worthy I suppose...
@chinaphone
Out House. 💩🏖🏠❤