The "classic" lineup of Jefferson Airplane, from October 1966 to February 1970, was Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums). Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Spencer Dryden died on January 11, 2005.
Both Signe Anderson and Paul Kantner died on January 28, 2016.
Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018
Eskimo Blue Day
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until it joins with the African sea
In moving it changes its cold and its name
The reason I come and I go is the same
Animal game for me
You call it rain
But the human name
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
And if you don't mind heat in your river and
Fork tongue talking from me
Swim like an eel fantastic snake
Take my love when it's free
Electric feel with me
You call it loud
But the human crowd
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
Change the strings and notes slide
Change the bridge and string shift down
Shift the notes and bridge sings
Fire eating people
Rising toys of the sun
Energy dies without body warm
Icicles ruin your gun
Water my roots the natural thing
Natural spring to the sea
Sulfur springs make my body float
Like a ship made of logs from a tree
Oh, redwoods talk to me
Say it plainly
The human name
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
Snow called water going violent
Damn the end of the stream
Too much cold in one place breaks
That's why you might know what I mean
Consider how small you are
Compared to your scream
The human dream
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
The song Eskimo Blue Day by Jefferson Airplane is a poetic and philosophical exploration of the natural world and mankind's relationship to it. The lyrics depict the beauty and power of the sun, which changes as it moves across different landscapes from the frozen north to the African sea. The repetition of the line "The reason I come and I go is the same, Animal game for me" suggests a cyclical nature of life, and the idea that human beings are just a small part of the larger natural world. The lines "You call it rain, But the human name Doesn't mean shit to a tree" emphasize the point that human language and understanding of natural phenomena is limited and insignificant in comparison to the vastness of the natural world.
The song's second verse describes a romantic encounter described in surreal and fantastical terms, with language referring to the electric feel and fantastic snake. The phrase "You call it loud, But the human crowd, Doesn't mean shit to a tree" returns, this time spoken by another voice, indicating the continuity of the theme of the insignificance of human activity in the wider context of nature.
The third verse is a more abstract meditation on musical themes, describing changing notes and strings, and emphasizing the fluid and ever-changing nature of existence. The final verse encourages listeners to consider their own smallness in the face of the natural world, and ends with the declaration that "The human dream Doesn't mean shit to a tree."
Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the relationship between humanity and nature, and the ways in which our understanding and language relating to nature is limited by our narrow perspective. It invites the listener to consider their place in the world and to imagine the possibility of a more harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun cuts loose from the frozen
The sun rises and separates itself from the frozen landscape.
Until it joins with the African sea
As the sun moves, it ultimately meets with the African sea.
In moving it changes its cold and its name
As the sun moves, its temperature changes, and it transitions through different phases of light.
The reason I come and I go is the same
The reason why I travel is just to experience different things.
Animal game for me
Life is like a game, and I am just another player.
You call it rain
When water falls from the sky, we call it rain.
But the human name
The label or name given to it by humans...
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
...has no significance or importance to a tree.
And if you don't mind heat in your river and
If you can tolerate the warmth in your bloodstream and...
Fork tongue talking from me
...you don't mind my sharp or biting language...
Swim like an eel fantastic snake
...then let's move gracefully like a fantastic snake or eel.
Take my love when it's free
Accept my love when it's offered freely.
Electric feel with me
Let's share an intense, electrifying experience together.
You call it loud
When things emit a lot of noise, we call it loud.
But the human crowd
The label or name given to the group...
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
...doesn't have any impact or importance to a tree.
Change the strings and notes slide
We can change the strings and sliding notes...
Change the bridge and string shift down
...or change the bridge and shift the strings down...
Shift the notes and bridge sings
...and the bridge sings along to the newly created notes.
Fire eating people
People are fascinated by fire, almost like they eat it up.
Rising toys of the sun
Fire is like a toy of the sun, rising up into the air.
Energy dies without body warm
Energy cannot be sustained without warmth from a living body.
Icicles ruin your gun
Cold weather can cause icicles to form, which can damage or ruin your gun.
Water my roots the natural thing
Watering your roots is a natural thing that provides sustenance to the tree.
Natural spring to the sea
Water that springs naturally flows into the sea.
Sulfur springs make my body float
If I float in water with sulfur springs, it could be beneficial for my body.
Like a ship made of logs from a tree
Floating in sulfur springs feels like being in a ship made of logs from a tree.
Oh, redwoods talk to me
The redwoods themselves seem to communicate with me.
Say it plainly
Their message is clear and straightforward.
The human name
The label or name given to something by humans...
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
...is insignificant and unimportant to a tree.
Snow called water going violent
When snow melts and turns to water, it can become violent and powerful.
Damn the end of the stream
We shouldn't curse or become upset about the end of the stream.
Too much cold in one place breaks
When there is too much cold or concentration of cold in one area, it can cause things to break or become unstable.
That's why you might know what I mean
Maybe this is why you can understand what I'm saying.
Consider how small you are
Reflect on how small and insignificant you are compared to the universe.
Compared to your scream
In comparison to the sound of your voice, you are even smaller.
The human dream
The aspirations and goals of humanity...
Doesn't mean shit to a tree
...have no significance or importance to a tree.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul L Kantner, Grace Wing Slick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind