Muskrat
Merle Travis Lyrics
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I've been livin' in the water all my life
There's no wonder I'm sick
I'm sick, I'm sick, I'm sick
Groundhog, groundhog, what makes your back so round?
I've been livin' in the ground all my life
There's no wonder I'll go 'round
Tapir, tapir, what makes you fly so high?
I've been eatin' me savin's all my life
There's no wonder I'll die
I'll die, I'll die, I'll die
Rooster, rooster, what makes your bark so hard?
I've been scratchin' in the barnyard all my life
There's no wonder I'm tired
I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired
Bobcat, bobcat, what makes your tail so long?
I've been prowlin' around all my life
There's no wonder I'm gone
The song "Muskrat" by Merle Travis is an interesting piece that has been interpreted in various ways. The lyrics are short and simple, but they convey a profound meaning. The song is about different animals, and each verse creates a picture of them narrating their experiences of living. The chorus, "There's no wonder I'm sick/I'm sick, I'm sick, I'm sick," ties the verses together and suggests that each animal is endangered or threatened in some way.
In the first verse, the muskrat, who has been living in the water all his life, explains why his hips are slick. This is a metaphor for the muskrat's adaptability to its wet environment, and it suggests that even though it knows no other way of life, it is still ill. The groundhog in the second verse has a round back from spending its life in the ground, and it suggests that even if it knows no other way, it will still go around in circles. In the third verse, the tapir has been eating his savings all his life, and it suggests that even if it has been working hard, it will still die poor. In the fourth verse, the rooster, who has been scratching in the barnyard all his life, is tired, and it suggests that even if it has lived well, it is worn out. Finally, the bobcat, who has been prowling around all his life, is gone, suggesting that even the most adaptable animal may not survive.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the circle of life and how even the most adaptable creatures may succumb to the inevitability of death. It is also a call to action for humans to be mindful of their actions and how they affect the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Muskrat, muskrat, what makes your hips so slick?
Muskrat, why are you so agile and smooth in your movements?
I've been livin' in the water all my life
Being an aquatic animal my whole life, it's no wonder I move so effortlessly in the water.
There's no wonder I'm sick
Living in the water all the time has taken a toll on my health, so it's no surprise that I'm not feeling well.
Groundhog, groundhog, what makes your back so round?
Groundhog, why is your back so curved and bulky in shape?
I've been livin' in the ground all my life
As a burrowing animal, I've spent my entire life in the underground tunnels and dens that make up my home.
There's no wonder I'll go 'round
My lifestyle of digging and tunneling through the soil has conditioned my body to be round and rotund in shape.
Tapir, tapir, what makes you fly so high?
Tapir, what enables you to jump and leap so high into the air?
I've been eatin' me savin's all my life
As an herbivorous animal, I've spent my entire life eating a diet of plants that keep me healthy and strong.
There's no wonder I'll die
Despite eating healthy, there's still no escaping the inevitable end of every living creature - death.
Rooster, rooster, what makes your bark so hard?
Rooster, why is your crowing call so strong and forceful?
I've been scratchin' in the barnyard all my life
As a farm bird, I've been living in the barnyard and scratching at the ground for years.
There's no wonder I'm tired
All that scratching and pecking has worn me out, making it understandable why I feel so exhausted.
Bobcat, bobcat, what makes your tail so long?
Bobcat, what makes your tail elongated and distinguished?
I've been prowlin' around all my life
As a predator, I've been on the move my entire life, sneaking around and stalking my prey.
There's no wonder I'm gone
Being a wild animal, it's natural for me to be elusive and disappear into the distance when spotted by humans or other prey animals.
Writer(s): HENSLEY, TRAVIS, TEX-ANN
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jose Viedma
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