Pink Elephant
Seventh Avenue Lyrics


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My dearest child, not yet born, not even conceived
But I speak to you as if you are
'Cause I fear the day you ask me about the sun, trees birds and bees
Trees, birds and bees

You'll want to know, what I did to stop it all
And I won't be able to hide my shame
I'll only tell you the tale of pink elephants
You can fly through the heavens on their backs

Believe me, pink elephants can fly
Over the hills, the mountains and through the sky
They could, if they would, fly higher than high
But only the pink elephants can really fly

Forget the toys you used to play wars in your fantasy
And the videos where machines and monsters raged to rule
The desire for power and pleasure formed your world
And it will determine your child's future too

Close your eyes and realize where you are
They've survived despite all we've destroyed




They are all my parents left me from better days
They're your friends and you can give them to your child

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Seventh Avenue's "Pink Elephant" present a poignant message about the state of the world and the responsibility that parents have to their future children. The singer addresses their potential child, speaking to them as if they already exist, even though they have not yet been conceived. The fear of this child's future curiosity about the natural world is palpable in the opening lines, "But I speak to you as if you are / 'Cause I fear the day you ask me about the sun, trees birds and bees."


The singer then goes on to express their concern about their own role in the destruction of the environment, and the shame they would feel when their child asks about it. The singer goes on to describe pink elephants as creatures that are capable of flying and traversing great distances, but they are not the typical elephants that one might find in a zoo. Rather, these pink elephants exist only in the singer's imagination, serving as a symbol of the fantastical possibilities that could exist if humans were to take care of the earth and its creatures.


The song can be interpreted as a call to action for parents and individuals to take responsibility for the environment and work towards a brighter future for generations to come. It also serves as a reminder that while humans have the ability to cause great harm, they also have the power to make positive change and create a world full of wonder and possibility.


Line by Line Meaning

My dearest child, not yet born, not even conceived
I address you, my future offspring, even though you do not exist in this world yet.


But I speak to you as if you are
I speak to you as if you are already present in my life, because I trust that one day you will be.


'Cause I fear the day you ask me about the sun, trees birds and bees
Because I dread the day when, as a growing child, you will ask me questions about the natural world and how it has been affected by humanity's actions.


You'll want to know, what I did to stop it all
You will inevitably ask me what I did to try to prevent the destruction of the environment that you will inherit from me.


And I won't be able to hide my shame
I will be unable to conceal my guilt and regret over the damage that I (and others like me) have caused to the world that you deserve to inherit.


I'll only tell you the tale of pink elephants
I will tell you a fanciful story, because I cannot bear to tell you the truth about how humanity has damaged the world.


You can fly through the heavens on their backs
I offer you an escape from the harsh realities of the world by imagining that you can ride on the backs of pink elephants through the sky.


Believe me, pink elephants can fly
I ask you to suspend your disbelief and trust me, because I want to hold onto the hope that there is still magic and wonders in this world.


Over the hills, the mountains and through the sky
Pink elephants can travel across vast distances, defying the physical limitations that bind humans to the earth.


They could, if they would, fly higher than high
I indulge in a bit of hyperbole about the magical abilities of pink elephants, as a way of avoiding the sad truths about the world we live in.


But only the pink elephants can really fly
In a world where so much is out of our control, pink elephants represent a sense of hope and possibility that we can hold onto even in the darkest of times.


Forget the toys you used to play wars in your fantasy
I urge you to put aside the violent games and fantasies that the world around you has fed to you, and instead embrace a sense of joy and wonder about the world.


And the videos where machines and monsters raged to rule
I warn you about the toxic influence of media that glorifies violence, aggression, and control, and encourage you to seek out alternate sources of inspiration.


The desire for power and pleasure formed your world
I recognize that the world around you will be shaped by the desires of those in power, who all too often prioritize their own self-interests over the common good.


And it will determine your child's future too
I warn you that the decisions made by those in power today will have far-reaching and long-lasting effects on the world that your own children will inherit.


Close your eyes and realize where you are
I urge you to take a moment to appreciate the beauty and magic that still exists in the world, even as we grapple with its many problems and complexities.


They've survived despite all we've destroyed
I marvel at the resilience of the natural world, which has managed to persist despite the many ways that humans have damaged it over the years.


They are all my parents left me from better days
I reflect on the ways in which the world has changed from the one that my own parents grew up in, and the things that I hope to pass on to my own children.


They're your friends and you can give them to your child
I offer you the hope that the beauty and magic of the natural world can be preserved and passed on to future generations, even in the face of the many challenges that we face today.




Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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