She self-released her first two albums, Lush and Retired from Sad, New Career in Business, while studying studio composition at Purchase College's Conservatory of Music. The albums were originally made as her senior project. Her third studio album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek, was released in 2014 on the label Double Double Whammy.
Mitski signed with Dead Oceans in 2015 and released Puberty 2, Be the Cowboy and Laurel Hell , the last of which made the top ten in several countries. In 2022, The Guardian dubbed her the "best young songwriter" in the United States. That same year, she co-wrote "This Is a Life" for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, was released in 2023.
Coyote My Little Brother
Mitski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little brother, where, where do you run?
We strychinined the mountain
We strychinined the plain
Little brother, the coyote
Won't come back again
The few that are left
He's warning the human race of his death
Don't poison the mesas, don't poison the sky
Or you won't be back
Little brother, goodbye
There'll be no one to listen
And no one to sing and never, never
Will there be spring
Coyot', coyote what have they done?
In the lyrics of Mitski's song "Coyote My Little Brother," there is a deep sense of regret and sorrow reflected in the singer's relationship with nature, particularly the coyote, which symbolizes the interconnectedness and fragility of the environment. The repeated questioning of "Coyot', coyote what have we done?" and "Little brother, where, where do you run?" conveys a sense of guilt and despair over the harm that has been inflicted on the natural world.
The imagery of "strychinined the mountain" and "strychinined the plain" suggests a destructive force unleashed upon the landscape, likely through pollution or poisoning. The use of the word "strychnine," a toxic substance, emphasizes the irreversible damage that has been done to the environment, driving the coyote away and disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.
The mention of the coyote warning the human race of his death through his singing serves as a haunting reminder of the consequences of humanity's actions on nature. The plea to "don't poison the mesas, don't poison the sky" underscores the importance of respecting and preserving the natural world, as the repercussions of environmental degradation are portrayed as dire and irreversible.
The closing lines of the song, "There'll be no one to listen and no one to sing and never, never will there be spring," paint a bleak picture of a world devoid of life and beauty, where the consequences of our destructive actions have led to a desolate future. The final question, "Coyot', coyote what have they done?" serves as a poignant and rhetorical reflection on the collective responsibility of humanity for the state of the environment and the urgent need for change before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Coyot', coyote what have we done?
Coyote, dear creature, what irreversible actions have we taken that harm your existence?
Little brother, where, where do you run?
Dear sibling, in the face of danger and destruction, where are you escaping to?
We strychinined the mountain
We have tainted the very mountains with poison, endangering the lives that dwell within them.
We strychinined the plain
We have also contaminated the open plains, stripping it of its vitality and beauty.
Little brother, the coyote
Beloved sibling, the coyote symbolizes the wild, yet it is fading away due to our actions.
Won't come back again
This creature will not return; its absence reflects the devastating impact of our choices.
When you hear him singing
When you hear the remaining few coyotes calling out, it's a rare and poignant reminder of their struggle.
The few that are left
Only a handful of these creatures remain, a testament to the loss of their kind.
He's warning the human race of his death
Their songs serve as a dire alert to humanity about their impending extinction.
Don't poison the mesas, don't poison the sky
Refrain from harming the land and the atmosphere, for such actions will lead to dire consequences.
Or you won't be back
If you continue down this destructive path, you too may find yourself unable to return.
Little brother, goodbye
Farewell, dear sibling; our actions may lead to an irreversible split between us and nature.
There'll be no one to listen
With the loss of the coyotes, there will be no voice left to share the stories of the wild.
And no one to sing and never, never
There will be a silence where there once was song, marking a profound loss in the world.
Will there be spring
Without the balance of nature, the renewal and hope that spring represents may also vanish.
Coyot', coyote what have they done?
Coyote, dear creature, what have the rest of us inflicted upon you and your home?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Peter Lafarge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
megangoldberg
on My Love Mine All Mine
very interesting
mon
on My Love Mine All Mine
w song
Samounou
on My Love Mine All Mine
Samounou
Samounou
on My Love Mine All Mine
Gaoussou
Tut
on My Love Mine All Mine
Great song
kenna
on My Love Mine All Mine
Moon, a hole of light
Through the big top tent up high
Here before and after me
Shinin′ down on me
Moon, tell me if I could
Send up my heart to you?
So, when I die, which I must do
Could it shine down here with you?
Cause my love is mine, all mine
I love, mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine
My baby here on earth
Showed me what my heart was worth
So, when it comes to be my turn
Could you shine it down here for her?
Cause my love is mine, all mine
I love, mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine
Nothing in the world is mine for free
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine
pax
on Brand New City
"But if I gave up on being pretty, I wouldn't know how to be alive. I should move to a brand new city and teach myself how to die." that part goddamn so damn good
i
on A Burning Hill
i think for me i interpret this as how i’ve accepted my sadness and anxiety, at this point i even cause more pain for myself on purpose. i just observe it and don’t do anything and even if i do i just make everything worse and if i somehow feel better im disappointed spreading more fire to watch and observe.
nana
on Fireworks
I wish i was as beautiful as this song