He is a founding member of Primus and formed a trio named Oysterhead with Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland.
Mushroom Men
Les Claypool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A dog with periwinkle eyes
But peppered earth with chunks of sky
Now there's a sight worth seein'
With sod gets moist with dewy flow
The fungus spores, they start to show
And if you're sharp and in the know
I lean my head on window pane
And stare out cat-eyed through the rain
And though the dim's an awful strain
I think I seen a mushroom man
I think I seen a mushroom man
Boletus, Boletus I'm looking for Boletus
Boletus, Boletus I'm looking for Boletus
Boletus, Boletus I'm looking for Boletus
Don't touch the Amanitas
Look out for Amanitas
Be it seven sons or seven trout
They came to see with throbbing doubt
The fungi as they pranced about
The ma-ma-ma-ma-mushroom men
Now when mares eat oats and does eat oats
And jackalopes eat bacon
It's time to get your glasses checked
'Cause surely you're mistaken
In Les Claypoolβs song βMushroom Men,β the artist describes the fantastical world of mushrooms and the beings that inhabit it. The first stanza describes the surreal sights of this world including horses that can fly, a dog with periwinkle eyes, and chunks of sky peppered throughout the earth. The second stanza describes the unique conditions necessary for the βfungus sporesβ to start to show, allowing for the possibility to βspy a different beinβ.β The third stanza describes the singerβs contemplative state, leaning his head against a windowpane and gazing out through the rain with βcat-eyedβ vision. In this state, he thinks he has seen a βmushroom man.β
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the singer searching for βBoletusβ mushrooms, while warning against βAmanitasβ mushrooms, which are poisonous. The last stanza of the song begins by describing a group of visitors who come to the mushroom men to witness their prancing behavior. The final two lines of the song warn the listener not to be fooled by their own eyes, as the reality of this surreal world is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
You may see horses try to fly
The world can be a place of astonishing and impossible sights.
A dog with periwinkle eyes
Even the most mundane things can be surprising and delightful.
But peppered earth with chunks of sky
The world can contain aspects of grandeur and majesty.
Now there's a sight worth seein'
These sights are truly worthy of one's attention.
With sod gets moist with dewy flow
Nature can be a source of life and fertility.
The fungus spores, they start to show
Underneath the surface of the earth, there are hidden and fascinating forms of life.
And if you're sharp and in the know
Those who are alert and informed can perceive the world in a deeper and more meaningful way.
You may spy a different bein'
By paying close attention, one can observe creatures that are strange and unfamiliar.
I lean my head on window pane
In moments of quiet reflection, one can contemplate the mysteries of the world.
And stare out cat-eyed through the rain
Through a focused and perceptive gaze, one can see things that are normally hidden or obscured.
And though the dim's an awful strain
Even when circumstances are difficult or challenging, there is still value in seeking to understand the world around us.
I think I seen a mushroom man
In moments of heightened awareness, one may perceive entities that are normally invisible or unnoticed.
Boletus, Boletus I'm looking for Boletus
There are many different species of mushrooms, each with their own unique characteristics.
Don't touch the Amanitas
Some mushrooms can be dangerous, and it is important to exercise caution when exploring the natural world.
Look out for Amanitas
It is important to remain vigilant and informed when encountering unfamiliar or potentially hazardous organisms.
Be it seven sons or seven trout
No matter what fantastical creatures one may encounter, the natural world is always full of wonder and surprise.
They came to see with throbbing doubt
Even when confronted with things that defy our understanding, there is an inherent curiosity that drives us to explore and learn.
The fungi as they pranced about
Mushrooms can display a remarkable sense of vitality and activity, despite their seemingly sedentary nature.
The ma-ma-ma-ma-mushroom men
Mushrooms may appear to be passive and unremarkable, but in reality they are full of life and energy.
Now when mares eat oats and does eat oats
When we encounter things that are absurd or inexplicable, it may be a sign that we are not seeing things clearly.
And jackalopes eat bacon
We should not take for granted that things are always as they seem.
It's time to get your glasses checked
If we find ourselves questioning the reality of what we see, it may be a sign that we need to examine our own perceptions more closely.
'Cause surely you're mistaken
Things are not always what they appear to be, and it is important to remain both curious and skeptical when exploring the world around us.
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sadonomy
Mushroom Men seriously had one of the best sound tracks for ANY game.
Stevenator Bensonica
Sadonomy YES IT DID
mike tant
Yup, and the game was fun
deadlybeaut1ful
@mike tant game? You speak of game with primus?
mike tant
@deadlybeaut1ful itβs called Mushroom Men and itβs on the Nintendo Wii
CSXer
There's great musicians and then there's Les Claypool. He's in a class all his own!
Laurangatang
I always blast this song and put the windows down when I'm driving. The looks I get at the stop lights are priceless. <3
Brittanny Moores
This is one of those albums that always reminds me of the first time I heard it, especially this song. Bought it on release day, rushed home after work that night, had a couple beers in my backyard, listening muttering βdamnit Claypool, youβve done it againβ
BURf
The American dream.
Bas Plompen
This is what the inside of my head sounds like after 4 consecutive hours of studying.