The band Phideaux comprises many friends who have known each other since early childhood. Each album is unique in sound and content of adventurous art rock music.
Phideaux creates mysterious and melodic music for the sheer love of it, independently releasing recordings which have been complimented for capturing the essence of classic rock music while remaining modern and distinctive.
They are inspired by mellotrons and flutes and keyboard heavy music but also love dual lead guitar and power chords. Syncopation and tricky time signatures are sometimes utilized but always there is melody to be hummed and riffs to invade your ears and mind. The lyrics tell stories, sometimes clearly, sometimes abstrusely, but always with an intent to spark an image or metaphor.
discography
1993: Friction
2003: Fiendish
2004: Ghost Story
2005: Chupacabras
2005: 313
2006: The Great Leap
2007: Doomsday Afternoon
2009: Number Seven
2011: Snowtorch -and- 7½
2012: Infernal
Animal Games
Phideaux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Birds in the air scope the ground
Snakes in the grass slither, it's true
And if you're a mouse, you had better move
Animal Games
All around and everyone plays
Animal Ways
Cats in their trees are smiling down
Monkeys and bats are just hanging ‘round
Out in the fields the buffalo graze
Wolves in the brush are fixing their gaze
And down by the pond the bears are in tow
Snatching some fish who swam much too slow
Animal Games
Underneath the teeth and brains
Animal Bites
Ritual of the appetite
Meanwhile, an experiment…
Rabbits are treated with fresh lemon scent
And down in the lab beneath cold doctors' feet
The monkeys are trying to get some relief
Their comrades are tortured in front of their eyes
By animals meaner than any alive
Animal Games
Most are nice but some are strange
Animal Games
Seems to me we're all the same
Seems to me that we're all the same in different ways
The lyrics of Phideaux's song "Animal Games" reveal the brutal reality of the natural world as animals compete for survival. The first verse describes the activity underground and in the air as the worms dig deeper and the birds watch for prey from above. The second verse shifts the focus to the land, with cats in trees, monkeys and bats hanging around, buffalo grazing, and wolves waiting in the brush. The chorus warns of the dangers of living in this world, as animals play their games and follow their instincts, and humans should beware.
The third verse brings in the human element of the song with an experiment being carried out in a lab where rabbits are exposed to a fresh lemon scent, and monkeys observe as their fellow primates are tortured by more vicious animals. This verse highlights the cruelty of humans towards animals, whether through experimentation or the destruction of their habitats. Despite these differences between humans and other animals, the chorus asserts that we are all the same in our primal instincts and survival techniques.
Overall, "Animal Games" is a sobering reminder of the harsh realities of nature and the consequences of human actions on the animal kingdom. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and warning, urging listeners to be aware and cautious of the animal games being played all around.
Line by Line Meaning
Worms in the soil are moving down
The earthworms in the soil are burrowing deep into the ground.
Birds in the air scope the ground
The birds flying above are scanning the ground for prey.
Snakes in the grass slither, it's true
The snakes concealed in the grass are moving stealthily and quietly.
And if you're a mouse, you had better move
The mice must quickly scurry away to avoid getting caught by the predators.
Cats in their trees are smiling down
The cats perched on the trees are grinning as they observe their potential prey.
Monkeys and bats are just hanging ‘round
The monkeys and bats are loitering idly and aimlessly.
Out in the fields the buffalo graze
The buffalos are leisurely eating grass in the open fields.
Wolves in the brush are fixing their gaze
The wolves lurking in the bushes are intently staring at their target.
And down by the pond the bears are in tow
The bears by the pond are following each other closely.
Snatching some fish who swam much too slow
They're quickly grabbing the fish that couldn't swim away fast enough.
Meanwhile, an experiment…
At the same time, a scientific trial is taking place.
Rabbits are treated with fresh lemon scent
The rabbits are being exposed to a new, citrusy aroma.
And down in the lab beneath cold doctors' feet
The scientists are conducting the experiment in a chilly laboratory room.
The monkeys are trying to get some relief
The monkeys are attempting to alleviate their discomfort.
Their comrades are tortured in front of their eyes
They're witnessing their fellow monkeys being subjected to agony and distress.
By animals meaner than any alive
These pains are being inflicted by creatures that are more vicious and cruel than any other on the planet.
Most are nice but some are strange
Most animal behaviors are benign, but some are peculiar and odd.
Seems to me we're all the same
Regardless of species, we share many similarities.
Seems to me that we're all the same in different ways
Even with our dissimilarities and variations, we have similarities that bind us together.
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.