Their songs are notable for their male/female vocal harmony, shifting rhythms, and quirky song structure- most tracks are composed of multiple distinct, almost disjointed movements. Both members sing with great intensity, often in the upper ranges of their voices, and often sing different (yet complementary) melodies simultaneously. Tempos are nearly always fast, with beats often resembling those found in electronic club or dance music.
The main instruments used by the band are drums and electric organ. Although both members started out playing the guitar, they found they ended up fooling around with the organ and drums in their practice space more often than with more traditional instruments.
The band recorded one album on Omnibus Records before moving to Polyvinyl Record Company for their second and third full-lengths. They have also released five 7-inch singles and two EPs. In December 2005, the band signed with Barsuk and since have released an album entitled Bring It Back. In May 2008, they released the album Re-Arrange Us.
17 Pink Sugar Elephants
Mates of State Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting under a chestnut tree
I said good morning pink sugar elephants
But they wouldn’t speak to me
Each had two eyes but they couldn’t see me there
Each had four legs but they couldn’t go anywhere
And so we just sat
Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere
I walked up to one pink sugar elephant
Asked why wouldn’t he speak to me
But he was a factory-made pink sugar elephant
Given to children for treats after tea
He had two eyes but he couldn’t see me there
He had four legs but he couldn’t go anywhere
And so we just sat
That early autumn morning
Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere
The song "17 Pink Sugar Elephants" by Mates of State is a whimsical and metaphorical composition that is open for interpretation. The lyrics are told in a narrative format in which the singer sees a group of pink sugar elephants, greets them politely but receives no response. The elephants are depicted as having legs and eyes, but they are stationary and unable to move or acknowledge the singer's presence. When the singer approaches one elephant and asks why it won't communicate, they realize that it is a factory-made, mass-produced item meant for children.
The song can be interpreted in many ways, but the core message has to do with the idea of manufactured art being devoid of life and personality. The pink sugar elephants represent art that is produced on a large scale and it's lacking in personality, character, and individualism. The singer's interactions with the pink sugar elephants show the limitations of mass-produced art pieces and their eventual effect on people. The lyrics suggest that instead of being unique and personal, mass-produced art is often commercial, soulless, and fails to communicate on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw seventeen pink sugar elephants
The singer saw items that were meant to evoke images of elephants but were made of pink sugar.
Sitting under a chestnut tree
The items were positioned in a manner to suggest that they were resting beneath a chestnut tree.
I said good morning pink sugar elephants
The singer greeted the items cheerfully as if they were sentient beings.
But they wouldn’t speak to me
The items did not move, make noise or give any indication that they could perceive the artist.
Each had two eyes but they couldn’t see me there
The items were crafted to have the appearance of eyes, but they did not actually have any sensory ability to detect the artist's presence.
Each had four legs but they couldn’t go anywhere
The items were designed to mimic the characteristics of elephants, namely their four legs, but were immobile.
And so we just sat
The singer and the items remained in their respective positions in a state of stasis.
That early autumn morning
The scene took place during the beginning of fall.
Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere
It was still dark out, but there was a sense of wonder or enchantment in the air.
I walked up to one pink sugar elephant
The artist approached one of the items more closely.
Asked why wouldn’t he speak to me
The singer inquired as to why they item had not responded to their initial greeting.
But he was a factory-made pink sugar elephant
The item was not unique, but rather mass-produced by a company.
Given to children for treats after tea
The items were intended as a snack for children who had enjoyed tea-time.
He had two eyes but he couldn’t see me there
The item had been created to have the appearance of eyes, but was not capable of seeing the singer.
He had four legs but he couldn’t go anywhere
The item was crafted with four legs, but could not move from its position.
And so we just sat
The artist and the item remained in their respective positions, with no further interaction or communication taking place.
That early autumn morning
The scene remained unchanged temporally.
Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere
The sense of wonder or enchantment persisted, despite the uncommunicative nature of the items.
Contributed by Nathaniel W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.