Spinning in Daffodils
Them Crooked Vultures Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Once,
Out in the rain
I was able to strangle my shadow,
Then unshackle the chains.
What?
What will you do?
Is it safe to play God in the garden and king of the zoo?
Holes,
Well they need to be filled.
Positions available,
Yet some are quite hard to get out of or in.

Spinning in the daffodils.
Dizzy from a dozen twirls.
Spinning in the daffodils.

Cold,
Alone and alive.
You're afraid but that's not what I asked,
Wanna go for a ride?
Sharpen your teeth my darlings,
Sharpen your minds.
Take a finger, if the hand feeds you shit,
Take one scalp at a time.

Fail,
As big as a whale.
Like a canine that chases a bone
That's tied to his tail.

I wish I was a beautiful balloon.
I could rise up
Above of it all,
And fade out of view.
Gracefully fade, out of view.
What have you turned me into?

Spinning in the daffodils.
Dizzy from a dozen twirls.
Spinning in the daffodils.

What have you gone
And done
My love?
Incinerated in the morning sun.

[Repeat x6]
I
Am so high
I just




May
Never come down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Them Crooked Vultures' "Spinning in Daffodils" appear to describe a journey towards self-discovery and transcendence. The opening lines suggest a sense of disorientation and anxiety, with the singer being able to strangle their own shadow but then releasing themselves from the chains that bound them. The next line poses a question about the nature of power and control, asking whether it's safe to play God in the garden and be king of the zoo, perhaps reflecting on the dangers of becoming dangerously egotistical or megalomaniacal. The lyrics continue to explore various states of mind and emotions, alluding to fear, loneliness, and a sense of being lost or unmoored.


The chorus "Spinning in the daffodils, Dizzy from a dozen twirls" captures the sense of disorientation and psychological dislocation described in earlier lines. The image of spinning in a field of daffodils suggests a dreamlike, almost surreal experience, while the repetition of the phrase "spinning in the daffodils" gives a sense of being caught in a cyclical pattern or spiral of thought. The final lines "I am so high, I just may never come down" suggest an escape from the struggles and limitations of everyday life, perhaps through the use of drugs or some other form of transcendental practice.


Overall, the song's lyrics suggest an intense search for meaning and purpose, with a sense of both despair and hopefulness running throughout. The theme of being lost and adrift in an uncertain world is a recurrent one, but there is also a sense of possibility and potential for change and transformation.


Line by Line Meaning

Once, Out in the rain I was able to strangle my shadow, Then unshackle the chains.
Before, while standing in the rain, I had the ability to kill my inner demon and let go of my emotional baggage.


What? What will you do? Is it safe to play God in the garden and king of the zoo?
What choices will you make? Is it a safe bet to have complete control over everything and let power go to your head?


Holes, Well they need to be filled. Positions available, Yet some are quite hard to get out of or in.
There are openings in life that need to be occupied, but some of these roles may be difficult to obtain or leave.


Spinning in the daffodils. Dizzy from a dozen twirls. Spinning in the daffodils.
Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, caught in a seemingly endless cycle of events and emotions.


Cold, Alone and alive. You're afraid but that's not what I asked, Wanna go for a ride?
You might feel isolated and scared, but would you like to challenge yourself and take a journey?


Sharpen your teeth my darlings, Sharpen your minds. Take a finger, if the hand feeds you shit, Take one scalp at a time.
Be vigilant and resourceful, adapt and excel in your endeavors, and stand up to your oppressors one step at a time.


Fail, As big as a whale. Like a canine that chases a bone That's tied to his tail.
Sometimes, failure can be as massive and overwhelming as a beached whale, or as pointless as chasing a bone that's already secured.


I wish I was a beautiful balloon. I could rise up Above of it all, And fade out of view. Gracefully fade, out of view. What have you turned me into?
I long for the freedom and detachment of a beautiful balloon that could rise and disappear above all the challenges, but what have you transformed me into?


Spinning in the daffodils. Dizzy from a dozen twirls. Spinning in the daffodils.
Continuously losing balance and getting disoriented, spinning in a maelstrom of emotions.


What have you gone And done My love? Incinerated in the morning sun.
What have you accomplished or destroyed, my love? Vanished or burned away like the early sunlight?


[Repeat x6] I Am so high I just May Never come down
Repeating six times that the singer is feeling so elated, he or she might never come down from that high.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BALDWIN, JOSH HOMME, DAVID GROHL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions