Elephant Man
The London Suede Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love that deafening thundering sound
That sounds like buildings tumbling down
And people wish that they weren't around
When we all rock and roll into town

We hear those fearful piercing screams
The kind you find on cinema screens
As if they're fit to burst at the seams
If they could say what all of this means

I am I am the elephant man
It is incredible how I can
Look just like just like an elephant man
Just like, just like my elephant fans

We love that satisfying, rattling crash,
The sound of registers full of cash
We'll be all over your town like a rash
We'll steal your children and smoke all your hash

I am, I am the elephant man,
It is incredible how I can
Look just like just like an elephant man,
Just like, just like my elephant fans

I love that deafening, thundering sound
That sounds like buildings tumbling down
And people wish that they weren't around
When we all rock and roll into town

I am, I am the elephant man,
It is incredible how I can
Look just like just like an elephant man
Just like, just like my elephant fans

We are, we are the elephant men,
Take heed, we'll be stampeding again




Look out all of you fairweather friends
Because elephants never forget

Overall Meaning

The London Suede's song "Elephant Man" seems to be centered around the concept of power and destruction. The lyrics describe an overwhelming and deafening sound that makes people wish they weren't around. This sound is accompanied by piercing screams, which the singer characterizes as being "fit to burst at the seams." They suggest that if these screams could express what they meant, it would be terrifying.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I am, I am the elephant man." This alludes to the real-life figure Joseph Merrick, who suffered from a rare condition that caused abnormal growths on his face and body, earning him the nickname "The Elephant Man." The singer seems to be comparing himself and his fans to Merrick, emphasizing their power and uniqueness.


The next verse describes the satisfying sound of cash registers, suggesting a greedy hunger for money and material success. The singer warns that they will take over the town like a rash and steal children, further emphasizing their destructive tendencies. The song ends with a warning to those who would underestimate them, as "elephants never forget."


Line by Line Meaning

I love that deafening thundering sound
The singer takes pleasure in the loud and overwhelming sound of their music


That sounds like buildings tumbling down
The sound produced by the music is incredibly loud and chaotic


And people wish that they weren't around
The loudness of the music causes discomfort or annoyance to some people present


When we all rock and roll into town
This line refers to the band's arrival in the town or city, and their intention to perform their music there


We hear those fearful piercing screams
The band is aware of how loud and overwhelming their music can be and this has resulted in fearful reactions from some listeners


The kind you find on cinema screens
The screams resemble those heard in horror movies


As if they're fit to burst at the seams
The screams are so intense that they seem like they could cause physical harm to the person screaming


If they could say what all of this means
The screams are a expression of the listener's emotions, but if they could articulate their feelings, they might be able to describe what they are experiencing


I am I am the elephant man
The singer identifies with the titular elephant man, perhaps due to feeling like an outsider himself


It is incredible how I can
The singer is amazed at their ability to resemble the elephant man


Look just like just like an elephant man
The singer is able to appear like the famous elephant man, possibly with the help of makeup or other visual aids


Just like, just like my elephant fans
The singer's fans resemble elephants in some way, whether physically or in terms of their behavior


We love that satisfying, rattling crash
The band enjoys the noise of coins in a cash register, as it indicates a successful performance


The sound of registers full of cash
The loudness and recognizable sound of the cash register is pleasing to the band, as it shows that they are making money


We'll be all over your town like a rash
The band will be present in many areas of the town or city, potentially causing some annoyance or frustration


We'll steal your children and smoke all your hash
This line may be a hyperbolic and provocative statement, indicating a disregard for social norms and expectations


We are, we are the elephant men
The band identifies as a group of elephant men, possibly suggesting a shared sense of otherness or uniqueness


Take heed, we'll be stampeding again
The band's presence in the town or city may be overwhelming, perhaps even causing chaos


Look out all of you fairweather friends
People who are not true supporters of the band should be wary of their presence, as they may cause trouble


Because elephants never forget
This line suggests that the band has encountered resistance or negativity in the past, but that they will remember it and may seek retribution




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Hasnizam Mohamed

This song is so underrated. 😢

john denis dunne

This was my jam when I was 12 years old. Thanks big brother

blobcity

Catchiest suede song..all my exes couldn't get enough :)

Juan Villanueva

suede tribute to led zeppelin

David Motherfucking Bowie

This sounds a lot (like a lot) like greenday.

Spencer Chilo

Please dont compare such an incredible artist to green day

Bruce Artur

Dude...I think you've never heard Green Day. Sounds rather like Kaiser Chiefs (Even when the first chiefs record came 6 years After this)

Reni

Filler

blobcity

Reni wrong

Sam Sneed

Pribably the worst Suede song

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