Origin of Species
Chris Smither Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(intro guitar riff)

Well, Eve told Adam
Snakes? I've had 'em!
Let's get outta here!
Go raise this family someplace outta town.

They left the garden just in time
With the landlord cussin' right behind.
They headed East,
and they finally settled down.

One thing led to another:
A bunch of sons,
One killed his brother
And they kicked him out with nothin' but his clothes.

And the human race survived
'Cause all those brothers found wives
But where they came from
Ain't nobody knows.

(guitar riff)

Then came the flood
Go figure...
Just like New Orleans only bigger.
No one who couldn't swim would make it through.

The lucky ones were on a boat
Think "circus"
And then make it float
I hope nobody pulls the plug on you!

How they fed that crowd is a mystery.
It ain't down in the history,
but it's a cinch they didn't
live on cakes and jam.

Lions don't eat cabbage
And in spite of that old adage,
I ain't never seen one
Lie down with a lamb.

(long guitar riff)

Well, Charlie Darwin looked so far
Into the way things are.
He caught a glimpse of God's
unfolding plan.

God said: "I'll make some DNA"
They can use it any way they want
From paramecium
Right up to man."

"They'll have sex
And mixed up sections of their code
They'll have mutations...
The whole thing works like clockwork over time."

"I'll just sit back in the shade
While everyone gets laid.
That's what I call
Intelligent design."

Yeah, you and your cat named Felix,
Both wrapped up in that double helix,




Is what we call
Intelligent design.

Overall Meaning

The song "Origin of Species" by Chris Smither is a humorously interpreted take on the creation story from the Bible and the theory of evolution put forth by Charles Darwin. The song starts with the story of Adam and Eve leaving the garden after being chased out by the landlord. They eventually settle down and have children who procreate, leading to the survival of the human race. However, the song notes that the origin of the wives of Adam and Eve's sons remains a mystery.


The song then moves on to the story of the great flood, where again the survival of the species is attributed to luck and chance. The song notes the difficulty of feeding that crowd, and humorously comments that lions don't eat cabbage and never have been seen lying down with a lamb.


Towards the end of the song, Smither sings about the scientific theory of evolution and how it fits into the bigger picture of intelligent design. The lyrics note that even Darwin saw God's unfolding plan in the way things are and how DNA can be used by all species. The song then ends humorously, comparing the double helix of DNA between humans and cats in terms of intelligent design.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, Eve told Adam
The story of our existence begins with Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden.


Snakes? I've had 'em!
Eve had encounters with snakes in the Garden of Eden.


Let's get outta here!
Eve suggests that they leave the Garden of Eden.


Go raise this family someplace outta town.
Eve suggests they start their own family in a new place.


They left the garden just in time
Eve and Adam escape from the Garden of Eden before their troublesome landlord finds them.


With the landlord cussin' right behind.
They are pursued by their landlord as they leave the Garden of Eden.


They headed East,
They travel towards the East.


and they finally settled down.
They find a place to settle down and start their family.


One thing led to another:
Eve and Adam have children who grow up and start their own families.


A bunch of sons,
They have sons who go on to create their own families.


One killed his brother
One of their sons kills his own brother.


And they kicked him out with nothin' but his clothes.
The son who killed his brother is cast out of the family.


And the human race survived
The human race continued despite the conflict between siblings.


'Cause all those brothers found wives
The remaining brothers found women to marry and start their own families.


But where they came from
It is unclear where the wives of the brothers came from.


Ain't nobody knows.
The origin of the wives is a mystery.


Then came the flood
A great flood occurs.


Go figure...
The singer expresses his surprise at the occurrence of the flood.


Just like New Orleans only bigger.
The flood is massive in scale, like the one that hit New Orleans in 2005.


No one who couldn't swim would make it through.
The flood was so enormous that only those who could swim could survive.


The lucky ones were on a boat
Those who survived were on a boat.


Think "circus"
The artist suggests that the situation was chaotic like a circus.


And then make it float
The boat manages to float amidst the flood waters.


I hope nobody pulls the plug on you!
The artist hopes that the boat doesn't sink.


How they fed that crowd is a mystery.
It is unknown how the people on the boat were fed.


It ain't down in the history,
This information is not written in history books.


but it's a cinch they didn't
It is certain that they did not


live on cakes and jam.
Eat only cakes and jam to survive.


Lions don't eat cabbage
The artist comments on the eating habits of lions.


And in spite of that old adage,
An old saying suggests something different, but the singer disagrees.


I ain't never seen one
The singer has never seen a lion do this.


Lie down with a lamb.
The artist is referring to the phrase 'the lion shall lie down with the lamb'.


Well, Charlie Darwin looked so far
The artist references Charles Darwin and his theories.


Into the way things are.
Darwin studied the natural world and its evolution.


He caught a glimpse of God's
Darwin's research allowed him to understand God's plan for creation.


unfolding plan.
The artist believes that God's plan is still unfolding.


God said: "I'll make some DNA"
The singer imagines God speaking about His plan for DNA.


They can use it any way they want
God has given humans the freedom to use DNA as they see fit.


From paramecium
From single-cell organisms like paramecia


Right up to man."
To the evolution of humans.


"They'll have sex
God anticipated the process of sexual reproduction.


And mixed up sections of their code
DNA will combine and mix between organisms to create new genetic codes.


They'll have mutations...
Through time and mutation, species will evolve into new forms.


The whole thing works like clockwork over time."
The process of evolution takes time and is methodical, like clockwork.


"I'll just sit back in the shade
God is content to let His plan for creation unfold.


While everyone gets laid.
God has created life and left it to develop through sex and reproduction.


That's what I call
This is the singer's definition of


Intelligent design."
The process of evolution is an example of intelligent design.


Yeah, you and your cat named Felix,
The singer is addressing the listener and their cat named Felix.


Both wrapped up in that double helix,
Both the listener and their cat have a double helix DNA structure.


Is what we call
The singer is defining


Intelligent design.
The intricate nature of DNA is an example of intelligent design.




Contributed by Nora S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

akmediascope

Have to say -- I do not believe in intelligent design but the song is a lot of fun and the musicianship is superb!

Roland Doucet

Neither does he, obviously. He's making fun of it... Incredible song.

Frank and Judy Inserra

Chris Smither has been at it for a very long time. He was one of my favorites of the folk revival of the 60s and 70s. Had a dormant period after that, but he came back strong. Some great material -- old and new. His song No Love Today is epic.

Wil Scott

A great song,,, GREAT writing!!!
JEENUSS. !!!!

Rick Chelew

Fabulous recording of a great performance of an immaculate (pardon the expression) song. Thanks Wayne!

Meistermix

love this

Raystargazer

LMAO! This guy is excellent!

Jon G

damn... hadn't thought of him in years,,,, thank you

akmediascope

pretty pretty music! And a fun fun message!

davemccarthy52

Brilliant!

More Comments

More Versions