Coyote
Stop Light Observations Lyrics

In "Coyote" by Stop Light Observations, the first stanza expresses a feeling of coldness both physically and emotionally. The second line suggests a desire for the conflict or struggle to be over, possibly indicating a sense of exhaustion or defeat. The next lines refer to the childhood saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” which implies that words cannot cause physical pain, but then the lyrics take a twist and say that words actually can hurt if someone leaves or abandons you, referring to the “desert” imagery in the following line. The desert is portrayed as lonely, with only a cactus and a pack of coyotes. This section ends with the group howling into the night, echoing the coyotes’ calls and possibly expressing a sense of communal pain or longing.

The next section suggests a more positive tone, with the characters making a campfire with friends and singing songs of better times. The mention of guitars and rolling something up implies a sense of relaxation and camaraderie. However, the previous topic of desertion and loneliness is revisited, with the same lines about sticks and stones and desert imagery repeated. The next verse introduces some Spanish lyrics with the phrases "La la Lucha por dentro Es hermosa" and "Jesus Hey Zeus Jesus," which roughly translate to "the struggle inside is beautiful" and “Jesus Hey Zeus Jesus”, respectively. This passage adds a sense of mysticism or spirituality to the song, perhaps referring to the idea of struggling with something within oneself, but also seeking comfort and guidance from a higher power.

The final stanza seems to be a toast to absent friends and past good times. The last line repeats the refrain of howling into the night and adds the Spanish lines again. The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the imagery of coyotes roaming a lonely desert juxtaposed with the idea of camaraderie and celebration.