Born Ruffians released their first album under their current name in 2006. The self-titled EP was followed by the 2008 release of ”Red, Yellow & Blue”. Their sophomore album was critically well received, earning an Independent Music Awards nomination for Pop/Rock Album of the year. In 2010, Born Ruffians released their second full-length album, ”Say It”.
In April of 2013, the band released another LP, titled ”Birthmarks”, with Yep Roc and Paper Bag Records.
Red Elephant
Born Ruffians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When am I supposed to say so long?
When I fall in love 'fore dusk is dawn
When you take my hand across the lawn
With the eyes so sweet they're like a fawn
Red elephant is wet & long...
Rungs of bad poems I've hacked & coughed
But I have to spare a breath for you
Which I'll take, before we make anew
Our hearts will take a stroll for two
Our feet will take the avenue
& Walk in unison, so cute
Red elephant is turning blue
Why am I here when you're over there?
Let's meet at the fountains
In Dundas Square
Who am I supposed to be with you?
I'll wait 'til you say & pretend I knew
Because if it's true that walls can talk
How mine would brag of tears I've sobbed
When thinking of the way we walked
Along the paths of sideway chalk
Forever under ticking clock
Where you & I are free to flock
What can I write when I know it's wrong?
Slapping my knee to my own damn song
Where can we go when the sinking stops?
To the pit of my chest
As it drops and drops...
Put your head upon my chest, it breathes
& My fingers through your hair they weave
& Your shoulders are the perfect sea
In which I get lost invariably
Oh the elephant is up to sea
If it meets the peach fish underneath
& When I am you and you are me
We are stirred as spoons in lover's tea
The lyrics to Born Ruffians' song "Red Elephant" convey a sense of uncertainty and longing, as the singer grapples with his feelings for someone else. The repeated phrase "when am I supposed to say so long?" suggests a hesitancy to let go of this person, while the lines "when I fall in love 'fore dusk is dawn / when you take my hand across the lawn / with the eyes so sweet they're like a fawn / red elephant is wet & long" paint a picture of a particular moment of intimacy between the two. The red elephant may be a metaphor for something bold, grand, and perhaps slightly dangerous - an animal that can't be ignored. The color red is often associated with passion or desire, while the length of the elephant could symbolize the depth and complexity of this relationship.
The rest of the lyrics contain additional imagery and questions, as the singer ponders how to move forward with this person. Lines like "how am I supposed to wash you off? / rungs of bad poems I've hacked & coughed" hint at some kind of emotional mess or entanglement, while the narrative of meeting at Dundas Square and walking together suggests a desire to start fresh. However, the final lines, "we are stirred as spoons in lover's tea," suggest a sense of inevitability - that these two people are destined to be together, however uncertain or difficult the journey may be.
Line by Line Meaning
When am I supposed to say so long?
When is the appropriate time for me to say goodbye?
When I fall in love 'fore dusk is dawn
When I experience love at first sight
When you take my hand across the lawn
When we walk holding hands across the grass
With the eyes so sweet they're like a fawn
With your gentle and captivating eyes
Red elephant is wet & long...
A reference to an unknown topic or feeling
How am I supposed to wash you off?
How do I move on from my feelings for you?
Rungs of bad poems I've hacked & coughed
Failed attempts at expressing myself through poetry
But I have to spare a breath for you
I can't help but keep thinking about you
Which I'll take, before we make anew
I'll take the opportunity to express myself before we start over
Our hearts will take a stroll for two
We'll spend some intimate time together
Our feet will take the avenue
We'll walk down the street together
& Walk in unison, so cute
We'll walk in harmony, looking adorable
Red elephant is turning blue
The unknown topic or feeling is changing
Why am I here when you're over there?
Why do I feel this distance between us?
Let's meet at the fountains In Dundas Square
Let's make plans to meet up at a specific location
Who am I supposed to be with you?
How do I fit into your life and who do you want me to be?
I'll wait 'til you say & pretend I knew
I'll wait for you to tell me and act as if I already knew
Because if it's true that walls can talk
Consider the possibility that walls can hear and know our secrets
How mine would brag of tears I've sobbed
If the walls could talk, they would tell of the times I cried over you
When thinking of the way we walked
Reflecting on the memories of our time spent together
Along the paths of sideway chalk
Along the sidewalks covered in chalk
Forever under ticking clock
Our time together is limited and running out
Where you & I are free to flock
Where we can be together without anyone else interfering
What can I write when I know it's wrong?
How can I express myself when I know it's not right?
Slapping my knee to my own damn song
Frantically trying to find inspiration in something I've created before
Where can we go when the sinking stops?
Where can we go when our relationship reaches a crossroads?
To the pit of my chest As it drops and drops...
To the deepest part of my emotions, as I feel them spiral downwards
Put your head upon my chest, it breathes
Let me hold you close, feel my steady heartbeat
& My fingers through your hair they weave
I want to caress you lovingly
& Your shoulders are the perfect sea
Your shoulders are comforting and calm
In which I get lost invariably
I get lost in you every time
Oh the elephant is up to sea
The unknown topic or feeling is stirring up again
If it meets the peach fish underneath
If we confront our feelings and intentions for each other
& When I am you and you are me
When we truly connect as one
We are stirred as spoons in lover's tea
We are intimately mixed together, like spoons in tea
Contributed by Samuel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.