Them Crooked Vultures were released by Interscope Records in North America, and Sony Music internationally. On the 21st of October radio personality Alan Cross announced the lead single for Them Crooked Vultures debut album to be "New Fang" which premiered on October 26. The single was released on November 2 worldwide as a free download. Iconvision subsequently announced that the album will be released on the 17th of November, 2009. On November 3, the band gave a free copy of "Mind Eraser (No Chaser)" to fans that had bought tickets to a live performance and offered it on iTunes as a free download. On November 9, Them Crooked Vultures started streaming their full album on their website, and also through a link to their mailing list with the title "Fuck Patience, Let's Dance."
On September 1, the band announced two 2009 tours of North America and the United Kingdom, in October and December respectively. The 2009 Tour was titled Deserve the Future Tour and the UK leg sold out in just under 12 minutes, making it one of the quickest sold tours in the UK - without the band even officially releasing a song prior to sales. On September 21, the band also announced 3 Germany dates for December 2009.
Elephant
Them Crooked Vultures Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Borracho, cansado
Do you know what the people say?
I plucked from the garden
Of wretched beliefs
I offer a rose
And smile with harmless teeth
Then slick back my hair
Alone in the garden
Like lumbering giants
In a shameful parade
We came to ruin all
And make a rotten trade
Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh
Make you roll over (doo, doo, ooh)
So roll over (doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh)
Get over (doo, doo, ooh)
Scattered on the shore
Slowly washed away
Feeling somewhat deserving
Of what will be someday
Now I can never stay melancholy
For the memory of your face
Now I can never stay melancholy
For long
Before I move on
We're unwanted strangers
Exploited and dangerous
Unable to hide
Or even dream of it
Como estas?
Parting the seas
We're lepers who stroll
Why you afraid sweetie?
I slick back my hair
You know the devil's in there
So keep one eye open baby
We're so easy to spot
Lepers riding atop
Pachyderms full of germs
Elephants broken and screaming and oh
(Doo, doo, ooh) roll over (doo, doo, ooh)
(Doo, doo, ooh)
Are we coming over?
(Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh)
Scattered on the shore
Slowly washed away
Scattered on the shore
Slowly washed away
Away, away
Feeling somewhat deserving
Of what will be someday
Now I can never stay melancholy
For the memory of your face
All alone in the garden
Of long lost hopeful plans
Now I can never stay anything
For long
(Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh)
So come on (doo, doo, ooh), move
(Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh)
Roll over (doo, doo, ooh)
Are we coming over?
Get it on
The lyrics of "Elephants" by Them Crooked Vultures are complex and require careful analysis to comprehend. The song is about society's perception of individuals who are deemed dangerous or different. The first stanza is about how individuals are often falsely portrayed as monsters, and how they have to play up to society's expectations by appearing harmless. However, they know that there is a darker side to them, and they cannot escape it. The second stanza is about how society rejects individuals who do not conform to its expectations. They are stigmatized as lepers and are forced to live on the fringes of society. They can never be fully accepted by society, and they're often exploited for society's gain.
The chorus of the song, "Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh, make you roll over, so roll over, get over," emphasizes the idea that society is always trying to push these individuals down, and they must overcome these obstacles by "rolling over" and pushing back.
The bridge of the song repeats the idea that these "elephants" are unwanted and rejected, and they must come to terms with feeling deserving of this treatment. The repetition of "scattered on the shore, slowly washed away" symbolizes the idea that society will eventually forget about them and wash them away.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on society's treatment of individuals who do not conform to its expectations. It speaks to the experience of feeling like an outsider and being forced to conform to society's expectations, even if it means suppressing the darker side of oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
We're painted as monsters
People view us as horrible creatures
Borracho, cansado
Drunk and tired
Do you know what the people say?
Do you understand the opinions of others?
I plucked from the garden
I took something from a place of twisted beliefs
Of wretched beliefs
Of horrible ideas
I offer a rose
I give something good
And smile with harmless teeth
I appear friendly but am actually dangerous
Then slick back my hair
I groom myself
You know the devil's in there
I am evil
Alone in the garden
By myself in a bad place
Like lumbering giants
Moving slowly and heavily like huge creatures
In a shameful parade
In a public display of disgrace
We came to ruin all
We are here to destroy everything
And make a rotten trade
We exchange something bad for something else bad
Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh
Instrumental
Make you roll over (doo, doo, ooh)
Make you submit
So roll over (doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh)
Give in to us
Get over (doo, doo, ooh)
Move past it
Scattered on the shore
Things spread out on the beach
Slowly washed away
Gradually disappearing due to water
Feeling somewhat deserving
Feeling partly responsible
Of what will be someday
Of what will happen in the future
Now I can never stay melancholy
I can never be sad for very long
For the memory of your face
Because I remember your face
We're unwanted strangers
We are not wanted by anyone
Exploited and dangerous
Taken advantage of and harmful
Unable to hide
Not able to conceal ourselves
Or even dream of it
Or even wish we could hide
Como estas?
How are you?
Parting the seas
Separating things like the ocean parts
We're lepers who stroll
We are social outcasts who wander around
Why you afraid sweetie?
Why are you scared, dear?
So keep one eye open baby
Stay alert
We're so easy to spot
We are easily noticeable
Lepers riding atop
Social outcasts riding on top of something
Pachyderms full of germs
Large animals carrying disease
Elephants broken and screaming and oh
Elephants in pain and distress
(Doo, doo, ooh) roll over (doo, doo, ooh)
Instrumental
(Doo, doo, ooh)
Instrumental
Are we coming over?
Are we going to your location?
(Doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh, doo, doo, ooh)
Instrumental
Scattered on the shore
Things spread out on the beach
Slowly washed away
Gradually disappearing due to water
Away, away
Leaving
All alone in the garden
By myself in a bad place
Of long lost hopeful plans
Of ambitions that never worked out
Now I can never stay anything
I can never remain in one mood
For long
For a considerable amount of time
So come on (doo, doo, ooh), move
Let's go
Roll over (doo, doo, ooh)
Submit to us
Get it on
Let's do it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Eric Grohl, Joshua Michael Homme, John D Baldwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind