Hey
Tsetse [ XopoM.com ] Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The medicine wheel is home and pasture
Goes by ecological disaster
Could have been lovers but the facts remain
There's a right wing palace in a sick terrain

One end burns, one end freezes
The unlearned hold on to neither
The bows expand and the bow regress

When the answer comes before the lesson

Oh, what a day, what a day it is
Yeah, it's a fine day... fine day
For a valedictory
Something simple, yeah
All the brave men say...

Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey!

Serpent's tale is long and sweet
She is, I am what we eat
The path we walk is not so straight
And there is no end to the figure 8

What a day, what a day it is
Yeah, it's a fine day... fine day...
For a valedictory
Something simple, yeah
All the brave men say...

Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey! Yeah!
Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey! Yeah!
Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey! Yeah!
Ho Ka Hey!
Ho Ka Hey!

Oh Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Yeah!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!

Hey!
Hey!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tsetse's song "Hey" contain an interesting mix of ecology and Native American spirituality. The reference to the medicine wheel, a sacred symbol for many Native American tribes, suggests that the singer finds comfort and grounding in their connection to the natural world. However, this connection is threatened by "ecological disaster," which the singer likely sees as a result of humanity's disregard for the environment. The line "could have been lovers but the facts remain" suggests a missed opportunity for people to live in harmony with the Earth, but instead, we have built a "right wing palace in a sick terrain."

The next stanza speaks to the duality of life and the natural world. Just as there are extremes of heat and cold, growth and regression, the unlearned cling to one extreme or the other. The line "When the answer comes before the lesson" suggests that people often jump to conclusions without fully understanding the situation at hand. Despite the chaos and uncertainty in the world, however, the singer finds something worth celebrating: a "fine day" for a valedictory, or a farewell ceremony. The "brave men" in this stanza may be a reference to the warriors and protectors of the natural world.

The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Ho Ka Hey!" several times, is a common chant in Native American culture, particularly among the Lakota tribe. It roughly translates to "Let's do it!" or "It is a good day to die!" The end of the song continues with references to the serpent, a symbol of healing and transformation in many cultures. The line "She is, I am what we eat" suggests a connection between the singer and the natural world, as everything we consume becomes a part of us. The "figure 8" mentioned in the final line may represent the cyclical nature of life and its constant renewal.

Line by Line Meaning

The medicine wheel is home and pasture
The cyclical balance of nature is our sustenance and abode

Goes by ecological disaster
However, we are witnessing environmental destruction as a result of our actions

Could have been lovers but the facts remain
Humanity might have had a harmonious relationship with the earth, but in reality, we have a strained one

There's a right wing palace in a sick terrain
Those in power are exploiting the ecosystem for their own gain, while the land and its inhabitants suffer

One end burns, one end freezes
The planet experiences extreme conditions from climate change

The unlearned hold on to neither
People who refuse to learn about the environment fail to take action to prevent further damage

The bows expand and the bow regress
There are times where environmental progress is made, but it can often take a step back later

When the answer comes before the lesson
Solutions will only come when we learn about the issues and the root causes

Oh, what a day, what a day it is
Despite the struggles we face, today is a day worth celebrating

Yeah, it's a fine day... fine day
The beauty of the natural world still persists even on hard days

For a valedictory
We deserve recognition for our accomplishments

Something simple, yeah
We don't always need grand gestures to make a difference

All the brave men say...
Those with courage will speak up and take action to protect the planet

Ho Ka Hey!
A rallying cry to unite and stand up for the earth and its inhabitants

Serpent's tale is long and sweet
The cycles of nature are complex and intricate

She is, I am what we eat
Our connection to the earth is integral to our physical and spiritual being