Jungle Television
Leif Erikson Lyrics
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In the middle of his big bad world
Going out to find God
In the words and leaves and the animals
Up to my knees in my heart
Stuck by a thorny shrub
Cut my way through to you
I've never been so far away
Sleeping out tonight
In a heavy jungle mind
But I got my fire bright
It's like my jungle television
(Yeah-ah)
And I can see your stars
Mercury, Venus
Seize my heart
High above the trees
In the ink eternity
I've never been so far away
I see it all in a different way
I've never felt the need to pray
I just pray the jungle is here to stay
(ohh-oh)
The song 'Jungle Television' by Leif Erikson paints vivid imagery of someone lost in the beauty and wilderness of nature, searching for a spiritual revelation. The opening lines perfectly capture the essence of the song, "I know I'll never see God, in the middle of his big bad world." This suggests the singer's quest to find meaning beyond a conventional belief system, to find something more personal and tangible through exploring nature.
"Going out to find God, in the words and leaves and the animals" reinforces the idea that the singer is looking for divinity within the natural world. They are immersing themselves in the jungle, where the flora and fauna become their spiritual guides. The lines, "Up to my knees in my heart, Stuck by a thorny shrub, But I cut my way through, Cut my way through to you" highlight the struggle and journey involved in finding a deeper spiritual understanding.
The singer describes sleeping outdoors in a "heavy jungle mind" and creating their own light source with a "jungle television," which is a metaphor for their personal way of finding illumination in nature. The final lines, "I've never felt the need to pray, I just pray the jungle is here to stay" sum up the song's message. Through communion with nature, the singer has found a profound appreciation and connection to the world around them. They are not bound by dogma or tradition, but by their own personal journey of finding a deeper spiritual connection through nature.
Line by Line Meaning
I know I'll never see God
The singer acknowledges that they will never physically see a higher power.
In the middle of his big bad world
Referring to the Earth or nature, the singer acknowledges that they will never personally encounter a higher power.
Going out to find God
The singer is on a journey to find understanding of a higher power.
In the words and leaves and the animals
The artist looks to nature and its workings to gain insight into a higher power.
Up to my knees in my heart
The artist is emotionally invested in their journey to find understanding of a higher power.
Stuck by a thorny shrub
The singer has hit a roadblock in their personal journey.
But I cut my way through
The singer overcomes the obstacle on their journey.
Cut my way through to you
The artist reaches their goal or destination and gains understanding of a higher power.
I've never been so far away
The artist has traveled great distances on their journey to find understanding.
Sleeping out tonight
The artist is spending the night outside in nature.
In a heavy jungle mind
The singer is deep in their thoughts and contemplation.
But I got my fire bright
The artist has a positive attitude and outlook in spite of the challenges they face.
It's like my jungle television
The singer's experiences in nature are providing them with meaningful insights and lessons similar to watching television.
And I can see your stars
The singer is connecting with the universe and gaining insight from the stars.
Mercury, Venus
The singer specifically cites planets as part of their journey.
Seize my heart
The artist feels a personal and emotional connection to the universe.
High above the trees
The artist gains a higher perspective on the world.
In the ink eternity
The universe is infinite and the singer is overwhelmed with emotion at this realization.
I see it all in a different way
The singer has gained new perspectives and insights on the world and their place in it.
I've never felt the need to pray
The artist does not feel compelled to engage in traditional forms of religious worship.
I just pray the jungle is here to stay
The artist wishes for nature to remain a constant presence in their life, providing them with insights and meaningful experiences.
Writer(s): GILES ALAN FINDLAY ROBINSON, SAMUEL FELIX JOHNSTON, THOMAS HENRY LEADER, OLIVER JAMES WRIGHT, OLIVER MICHAEL SCANLON
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.