Celebration of the Birthday of the Elephant God
Steve Kilbey Lyrics
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So I wonder where you got the knowledge
With our desire to acquire more
In the service of your master
You can take a faster door
I know you don't pretend anymore
I wonder where you got the silver
I wonder how you got the power
It isn't that surprising
A spiritual uprising, could affect things now
Down the street the celebration's
Reached disintegration, surging past anyhow
In the service of your master
You can take a faster door
Servants all we ebb and flow
Remindless as we come and go
Changes (changeless ? ) as we die and grow
Cold dead womb and troubled sea
Resonate in sympathy
I know one day you'll come to me
With the faint whir of leathery wings
Evoking all impossible things
Eternal twilight feels so cold
When the money's all gone your love's been sold
The elephant God sits impassive
His ivory tusks are black and massive
We swing and we curve and we splinter in fits
Drum 'round his throne where he patiently sits
The law of the jungle, the jungle of lore
Devil of the rich, God of the poor
In this frenzied crowd I lose my isolation
As we merge together in celebration
The elephant God sits unmoved
His distant eyes, our tongues and grooves (are tongued and grooved ? )
The noise and the smell and the terrible dancers
Burning questions and nebulous answers
Servants all we ebb and flow
Remindless as we come and go
Changes as we die and grow
Cold dead moon the children see
Resonate in sympathy
I know one day you'll come to me
Our immaterial world is best
My fingers chase remindlessness
But just slowly come to rest
I know the walrus wasn't paul
In el dorado just once more
You're everything and even more (I'm lookin' for ? )
The songs of dancers fade away
2001 became the way
I'll pay your ransom for today
And it still seems such a waste
One brief life, one brief taste
All the phantoms have been chased
To eternity
The lyrics to Steve Kilbey's "Celebration of the Birthday of the Elephant God" explore themes of belief, knowledge, power, and spirituality. The song begins with a recognition that the listener no longer believes, but questions where they acquired their knowledge. The desire for more acquisitions and the service to a master are mentioned, suggesting a longing for material gain and perhaps a surrender to external forces. The lyrics contemplate the origins of silver, power, and fire, highlighting their mysterious nature.
The song describes a celebration happening down the street, but it is slowly disintegrating. This celebration is compared to a spiritual uprising that could impact things in the present. The idea of a faster door, representing a means of escape, is mentioned in connection with the service to the master. This suggests that the desire for acquisition and the pursuit of power may provide an escape from the disintegration of the celebration.
The lyrics also touch on the cyclical nature of existence, describing servants ebbing and flowing, and changes occurring as they come and go. Cold dead womb and troubled sea symbolize life and its inevitable struggles. The notion of resonance in sympathy signifies a deep connection between these elements. The lyrics express a belief that one day, the listener will come to a deeper understanding and connection.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of longing, questioning, and a search for meaning amidst the chaos of existence. It explores the impact of belief and knowledge, the allure of power, and the cyclical nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you don't believe anymore
I am aware that you have lost your faith
So I wonder where you got the knowledge
I am curious about the source of your newfound knowledge
With our desire to acquire more
Driven by our ambition to possess more
In the service of your master
Serving your superior
You can take a faster door
You have the ability to find a quicker solution
I know you don't pretend anymore
I understand that you no longer pretend or deceive
I wonder where you got the silver
I am curious about how you obtained wealth
I wonder how you got the power
I am intrigued by the source of your influence
I wonder where you got the fire
I am puzzled by where you found your passion
It isn't that surprising
It is not particularly unexpected
A spiritual uprising, could affect things now
A rebellion of the soul could currently have an impact
Down the street the celebration's
The festivities in the nearby street
Reached disintegration, surging past anyhow
Have descended into chaos, persisting regardless
In the service of your master
Serving your superior
You can take a faster door
You have the ability to find a quicker solution
Servants all we ebb and flow
We, as servants, constantly fluctuate
Remindless as we come and go
Unmindful as we enter and exit
Changes (changeless ? ) as we die and grow
Transformations, perhaps unchanging, as we experience life and death
Cold dead womb and troubled sea
Lifeless uterus and tumultuous ocean
Resonate in sympathy
Emitting an empathetic vibration
I know one day you'll come to me
I am certain that one day you will seek me out
With the faint whir of leathery wings
Accompanied by the soft sound of wings made of leather
Evoking all impossible things
Summoning visions of the unimaginable
Eternal twilight feels so cold
Perpetual dusk feels incredibly chilling
When the money's all gone your love's been sold
When wealth is depleted, love has been traded away
The elephant God sits impassive
The deity in the form of an elephant remains emotionless
His ivory tusks are black and massive
His sizeable ivory tusks are dark and imposing
We swing and we curve and we splinter in fits
We move, twist, and break into fragments unexpectedly
Drum 'round his throne where he patiently sits
Drums resonate around his throne as he calmly sits
The law of the jungle, the jungle of lore
The rules of the wilderness, the legendary jungle
Devil of the rich, God of the poor
The devil for the wealthy, God for the impoverished
In this frenzied crowd I lose my isolation
In the midst of this chaotic crowd, I no longer feel alone
As we merge together in celebration
As we unite in joyful commemoration
The elephant God sits unmoved
The deity in the form of an elephant remains unmotivated
His distant eyes, our tongues and grooves (are tongued and grooved ? )
His gaze seems far away, while our interactions are interconnected
The noise and the smell and the terrible dancers
The clamor, the scent, and the dreadful dancers
Burning questions and nebulous answers
Puzzling queries and vague responses
Cold dead moon the children see
Children witness the lifeless moon
Resonate in sympathy
Emitting an empathetic vibration
I know one day you'll come to me
I am certain that one day you will seek me out
Our immaterial world is best
Our intangible realm is superior
My fingers chase remindlessness
My fingers pursue a sense of forgetfulness
But just slowly come to rest
But ultimately find a state of stillness
I know the walrus wasn't paul
I am aware that the walrus was not Paul
In el dorado just once more
In the legendary land of gold, just one more time
You're everything and even more (I'm lookin' for ? )
You are everything, and even beyond what I am searching for
The songs of dancers fade away
The melodies of the dancers gradually disappear
2001 became the way
The year 2001 became the path
I'll pay your ransom for today
I will pay the price to have you for today
And it still seems such a waste
And it still feels like such a loss
One brief life, one brief taste
A fleeting existence, a fleeting experience
All the phantoms have been chased
All the illusions have been pursued
To eternity
Into the realm of eternal existence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
erin cheshirecat
Love this so much 💚
happy birthday and thank you so much for all the amazing music you have created 💙
Mahatma Randy
I don't know why, but I just wasn't in the mood for this today, particularly when I saw it was ten minutes long, but I listened to it anyway because you are Steve Kilby, and the Church is my favorite band, (i mean I once sold blood at the bloodbank to buy a copy of "Heyday", no foolin!) and while you have steered me wrong on occasion, I ca probably count all of those incidents on two hands and one foot, and not even use all the toes on that foot. Which is a pretty good average for a 40 year career. So I trust yu, even though I wasn't really in the mood today.
But you know what, I'm really glad I did! This was pretty great. Easily the best thing to happen to me this morning. So thank you once again, Mr. K!
Mahatma Randy
Oh, wow, I didn't realize it was your birthday! That makes me regret the tone of my previous comment, even though it was ultimately quite complimentary. Anyway: happy birthday and many more, and thank you for a couple generations of amazing music
BRCarlson Hanuman
Happy Birthday Steve. 🎂Appreciating your perspectives for decades! Sweet Dreams friend.
Melissa van de Vate
Aaaahhhh , an oldie and a goodie....
I was just looking up last night’s Insta show for the man that is “ Jamie “.... I know it will appear! I think he wants to show it to “ Marlene “.... or keep for posterity!
Vicente Berrocal Carvajal
Hello steve,happy berthey.your are vrey good music,my inglés no is very good. Listen your band the church 1986. My name vicente iam from of spain,AndalucÃa, city malaga,town pizarra, remembor a peter koppes and martin wilson peper an tim,thank you for the music
Melissa van de Vate
Ganesha....the Gods are needed more than ever...