Season 1 of his television show, Sex, God, Rock 'n Roll, was filmed in Boulder, CO in the fall of 2008. It aired on HDNet in the US and Canada in late spring 2009 and has since been released on DVD.
Ladder
Stuart Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like antique floors
I built each one
On the one before
I use all three
But they don't agree
One of them
Another one
Would love to club you
I guess my old natures
Move like glaciers
Chorus:
The fish became a lizard
The shrew became an ape
Will the ape become an angel?
The higher that we climb
The more the ladder sways
I'm the bastard child
The one who got
The head of Einstein
And the soul of Pol Pot
There's no compassion
But I can split the atom
Better give me a microscope
For a different eye
Better give me a telescope
For the inward sky
And a ladder leading
Up from Eden
Chorus
If Ramana Maharshi
Came from clay
There's more to evolution
Than a little DNA
Cut off the moorings
To the inward ark
Aiming it into
A question mark
The fish became a lizard
The shrew became an ape
Will the ape
Become a Mother Teresa?
She came from clay
There's more to evolution
Than a little DNA
In Stuart Davis's "Ladder," he uses rich imagery and metaphorical language to explore the complexities of human nature and evolution. The first stanza discusses the singer's multiple "brains," or conflicting impulses, that don't always align with one another. One part wants to love, and another part wants to inflict harm. This internal conflict is likened to glaciers, emphasizing the slow, unstoppable power that can come from opposing forces.
The chorus draws on the concept of evolution, asking whether humans will continue to evolve and change. Davis references the fish becoming a lizard and the shrew becoming an ape, suggesting that evolution is ongoing and unpredictable. The line "the higher that we climb, the more the ladder sways" leans into this idea of instability and uncertainty in the face of progress.
The second stanza is focused on the singer's own identity. He describes himself as a "bastard child" with the head of Einstein and the soul of Pol Pot, indicating that he is intelligent but also capable of terrible things. He acknowledges his lack of compassion but also his ability to "split the atom." The final lines of the stanza, "give me a microscope for a different eye, give me a telescope for the inward sky, and a ladder leading up from Eden" suggest a desire to expand his understanding of the world, both outwardly and inwardly.
The final stanza begins with a reference to Ramana Maharshi, a spiritual teacher from India. The singer implies that even someone who came from humble beginnings can have a profound impact on the world. The line "cut off the moorings to the inward ark, aiming it into a question mark" is enigmatic but suggests a willingness to challenge and question one's own beliefs and priorities. The final lines of the song bring the chorus back, reminding the listener that evolution is ongoing and suggesting that we may continue to evolve in ways we can't even imagine.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got brains
I possess intelligence
Like antique floors
Akin to floors made of old material
I built each one
I crafted the different facets of intelligence
On the one before
One layer was built upon the previous one
I use all three
All aspects of intelligence are employed
But they don't agree
The different facets of intelligence contradict each other
One of them
One of the facets of intelligence
Wants to love you
Some parts of intelligence want affection
Another one
Alternative facet of intelligence
Would love to club you
Other parts of intelligence wish to attack or harm
I guess my old natures
My older ways of thinking
Move like glaciers
Change very slowly
Chorus: The fish became a lizard
Reference to the theory of evolution
The shrew became an ape
Illustrating the process of evolution
Will the ape become an angel?
Aspires to understand the next phase of evolution
The higher that we climb
As we progress and gain knowledge
The more the ladder sways
Human understanding is shaky and uncertain
I'm the bastard child
Feels different from others and an outcast
The one who got
A person that possesses
The head of Einstein
An allusion to great intellect
And the soul of Pol Pot
An allusion to the genocidal dictator's cruelty and disregard for humanity
There's no compassion
Does not have the ability to empathize
But I can split the atom
Boasts of a great scientific feat
Better give me a microscope
Asks for a tool for more detailed analysis
For a different eye
To provide a distinct perspective
Better give me a telescope
Wishes for similar tool but for broader scope
For the inward sky
For inner space of the mind
And a ladder leading
In search of knowledge about
Up from Eden
The beginning of creation or knowledge
If Ramana Maharshi
The name of a religious leader
Came from clay
Reference to human origins from Earth
There's more to evolution
More to understand about evolution than what we already know
Than a little DNA
Simply DNA does not sufficiently explain evolution
Cut off the moorings
Detach ourselves from our past selves (similar to an ark moored in place)
To the inward ark
The mind
Aiming it into
Small adjustments to align with goals
A question mark
Uncertain or unknown future outcomes
The fish became a lizard
Reinforcing evolution
The shrew became an ape
Further emphasizing evolution
Will the ape
Aspires to understand the next phase of evolution
Become a Mother Teresa?
Adding a moral element to evolution
She came from clay
Humans are living beings made from Earth
There's more to evolution
More to understand about the natural progression of living things
Than a little DNA
Simply DNA does not sufficiently explain evolution
Contributed by Nolan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zachary Azeez
The fish became a lizard
The shrew became an ape
Will the ape become an angel?
The higher that we climb
The more the ladder sways
If Ramana Maharshi
came from clay
there's more to evolution
than a little DNA
Davis, such great lyrics. Video deserves a crowd-funded re-make! Clay-mation... could be epic!
Zachary Azeez
The fish became a lizard
The shrew became an ape
Will the ape become an angel?
The higher that we climb
The more the ladder sways
If Ramana Maharshi
came from clay
there's more to evolution
than a little DNA
Davis, such great lyrics. Video deserves a crowd-funded re-make! Clay-mation... could be epic!
Mark Williamson
This is a long time favourite of mine.
"Cut off the moorings
to the inward ark
Aiming it into
a question mark"
Thanks so much Stuart <3
Martijn Daalder
great vid, awsome song!!! great capturing of the evolution of consciousness
Martin Muller
still relevant and awesome my friend!!! as the kids do
TrevTube
Evolution of expression, expression through artistry, artistry through love/wisdom! The pieces of the jigsaw are still scattered, we should have started with the edges - lol! Thanks for posting the vid.
The Human Chris
Anyone else here from Ken Wilber's audio book ?
Robert Davidson
Me
alliant
does he realize how ridiculous this video looks lol I dig the music though, the lyrics are cool too. cool to see some integral in lyrical action.
Paul Greenleaf
I wish he would dumb down his lyrics to connect with a broader audience. More people need to hear this.
Alexander Scruggs
what did I just watch