Tears For Animals
CocoRosie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Heart so hollow I tried to swallow
Pistols, nightshade, ghosts and gallow
All you fellows climb me like a staircase, wore me down
Smooth from footfall, wore me down
(wore me down)

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

So long sweet thing, my old man,
Left me grieving, black and blue and tan
I’ve the feeling you’ll be kneeling
when the day turns forever into night

Hope for healing if you’re willing

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Orphan Girl, child, sing along
Stop the slaughter of our daughters
poisoning the water
Heart strings broken,
wearily tuned to the moon
Bastard widows born marooned
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Slave to sorrow, find your way home

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
(Hope for healing if you’re willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
(hope for healing if you’re willing)
Do you have love for humankind?




Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Overall Meaning

The song "Tears for Animals" by CocoRosie is a plea for humanity to have compassion and empathy towards each other and the world around them. The repeated question "Do you have love for humankind?" challenges the listener to think about their own capacity for love and connection. The opening lines "Heart so hollow I tried to swallow, Pistols, nightshade, ghosts, and gallow" sets a desolate tone, hinting at the feelings of isolation and despair that come from a lack of love and human connection. The following line "All you fellows climb me like a staircase, wore me down" speaks to the exhaustion that comes from trying to find love in a world that often feels cold and indifferent.


The song also addresses specific issues of social injustice and environmental degradation. The lines "Stop the slaughter of our daughters, poisoning the water" brings attention to the real-world problems of violence against women and the pollution of our natural resources. The verses that follow offer hope and a call to action, urging listeners to find healing and to fight for change.


Overall, "Tears for Animals" is a haunting and powerful song that speaks to the need for love, empathy and action in a world that can often feel cruel and uncaring.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you have love for humankind?
Asking if you really love humanity.


Do you have love for humankind?
Again, asking if you truly love humanity.


Do you have love for humankind?
Reiterating the question of whether you have love for humanity.


Do you have love for humankind?
Yet another repetition of the question of whether you love humanity.


Heart so hollow I tried to swallow
Feeling empty and trying to fill the void inside.


Pistols, nightshade, ghosts and gallow
Mentioning dangerous objects and situations that lead to a sense of despair.


All you fellows climb me like a staircase, wore me down
People using and taking advantage of the singer, leading to emotional exhaustion.


Smooth from footfall, wore me down
Continuing the idea of the people continually taking from and wearing down the artist.


So long sweet thing, my old man,
Saying goodbye to an old love.


Left me grieving, black and blue and tan
Feeling hurt both physically and emotionally after the end of the relationship.


I’ve the feeling you’ll be kneeling
Anticipating the ex-lover's return.


when the day turns forever into night
A metaphor for a long-lasting, painful experience that feels endless.


Hope for healing if you’re willing
Encouraging the idea that healing is possible, but it requires effort and willingness.


Orphan Girl, child, sing along
Addressing a young girl and urging her to join in the song.


Stop the slaughter of our daughters
Advocating against a societal issue of violence against women.


poisoning the water
Drawing attention to the pollution and destruction of natural resources.


Heart strings broken,
Feeling emotional pain and heartbreak.


wearily tuned to the moon
Comparing the weariness to the constant pull of the moon on tides.


Bastard widows born marooned
Describing a group of women who are alone and abandoned.


Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Describing a lost and hopeless individual.


Slave to sorrow, find your way home
Urging the lost individual to break free from sadness and find their place.


Do you have love for humankind?
Once again, asking if the listener truly has love for humanity.


Do you have love for humankind?
Asking if the listener has love for humanity.


Do you have love for humankind?
Asking if the listener loves humanity.


Do you have love for humankind?
Asking if the listener truly loves humanity.


(Hope for healing if you’re willing)
A reminder that healing is possible with effort and willingness.


Do you have love for humankind?
A final repetition of the question of whether the listener loves humanity.




Contributed by Micah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@mayadelpuigzalbideapaniagu6830

Tears For Animals Lyrics

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Hoarse and hollow, I tried to swallow
Pistols, nightshade, ghosts and gallow
All you fellows climb me like a staircase, wore me down
Smooth from footfall, wore me down
(wore me down)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

So long sweet thing, my old man
Left me grieving, black and blue and tan
I’ve the feeling you’ll be kneeling
When the day turns forever into night

Hope for healing if you’re willing

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Orphan girl, child, sing along
Stop the slaughter of our daughters!
Poisoning the water
Heart strings broken
Wearily tuned to the moon
Bastard widows born marooned
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Slave to sorrow, find your way home



@braindeadbtch

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Hoarse and hollow, I tried to swallow
Pistols, nightshade, ghosts and gallow
All you fellows climb me like a staircase, wore me down
Smooth from footfall, wore me down
(wore me down)

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

So long sweet thing, my old man
Left me grieving, black and blue and tan
I’ve the feeling you’ll be kneeling
When the day turns forever into night

Hope for healing if you’re willing

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?

Orphan girl, child, sing along
Stop the slaughter of our daughters!
Poisoning the water
Heart strings broken
Wearily tuned to the moon
Bastard widows born marooned
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Slave to sorrow, find your way home

Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
(Hope for healing if you’re willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
(hope for healing if you’re willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?



All comments from YouTube:

@23pinkpoppy32

This song makes my heart swell and tears come to my eyes. So beautiful.

@michaelforejt1122

Yes💗

@helenrobbins6117

The most awesome song I have ever heard, point blank.

@NickmanTraceur

Indeed

@niconestra

My sentiments as well. Perfect

@sixties9

The Antony's voice is so lovely here. Beautiful stuff, as always.

@STP420D

I first heard Antony with Hercules and Love Affair. He again does a great job with CocoRosie. Nice way they play off each other. Hope they keep collaborating. Thanks both of you for the great music.

@gettinguponthe1

oh antony, you are the greatest.

@brittanono

Oh many grand sighs. This is my heart walking around.

@mayadelpuigzalbideapaniagu6830

Love for humankind, that is the only solution to save those poor girls the song is about. Beautiful song.

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