Needles in the Camel's Eye
Waxing Poetics Lyrics


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Those who know
They don't let it show
They just give you one long life and you go

Goes to show
Wow winds blow
The weather's fine and I feel so so-so
Birds of prey
With too much to say
Oh what could be my destiny, another rainy day?

Why ask why?
For by the by and by
All mysteries are just more needles in the camel's eye

Those who know
They don't let it show
They just give you one long life and you go

Why ask why?




For by the by and by
All mysteries are just more needles in the camel's eye

Overall Meaning

The song Needles in the Camel's Eye by Waxing Poetics appears to be a reflection on the human condition and the nature of existence. The opening lines "Those who know, They don't let it show, They just give you one long life and you go" suggest that there are some people who know the secrets of life but don't reveal them to others. Instead, they allow the rest of us to live out our lives, however long or short they may be, without revealing the meaning and purpose of human existence. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which explores various themes related to the mysteries of life.


The following lines "Wow winds blow, The weather's fine and I feel so so-so" suggest that the singer is feeling somewhat ambivalent about the world around them. Although the weather is nice, they do not feel particularly happy or satisfied with their life. This feeling of ambivalence is reinforced by the lines "Birds of prey, With too much to say, Oh what could be my destiny, another rainy day?" - which, despite the poetic language, reflect a sense of pessimism about the future and the idea that life is largely predetermined.


The final lines of the song "Why ask why? For by the by and by, All mysteries are just more needles in the camel's eye" suggest that the human desire to understand the mysteries of existence is ultimately futile. The metaphor of needles in the camel's eye suggests that these mysteries are painful, rather than illuminating, and that seeking to understand them is ultimately a fruitless pursuit. The overall mood of the song is somewhat melancholy and contemplative, reflecting on the dark side of human existence and the futility of trying to make sense of it all.


Line by Line Meaning

Those who know
People who have knowledge


They don't let it show
They keep their knowledge private


They just give you one long life and you go
They only give you one life, and you have to make the best of it


Goes to show
Proves a point


Wow winds blow
The winds are strong and impressive


The weather's fine and I feel so so-so
The weather is good, but I'm only feeling okay


Birds of prey
Predatory birds


With too much to say
They are making a lot of noise


Oh what could be my destiny, another rainy day?
What will happen to me? Will I have another unfulfilling day?


Why ask why?
Why bother asking questions?


For by the by and by
Eventually, over time


All mysteries are just more needles in the camel's eye
Every time a mystery is solved, new ones arise, just like needles piling in a camel's eye


Those who know
People who have knowledge


They don't let it show
They keep their knowledge private


They just give you one long life and you go
They only give you one life, and you have to make the best of it


Why ask why?
Why bother asking questions?


For by the by and by
Eventually, over time


All mysteries are just more needles in the camel's eye
Every time a mystery is solved, new ones arise, just like needles piling in a camel's eye




Contributed by Lily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@mapson123

Who the heck "disliked" this?! Can you think of ANY better combination than WP and Eno? Sheesh!

@carltimmons3198

Saw them play in 1988 in front of Webb center at ODU ... Norfolks finest

@carltimmons3198

Thank you, this is only on cassette version. It is not on Amazon streaming version

@22ocean

My guess is some who thinks that KE$HA and FloRida are such an awesome talents. In other words: A musical illiterate!

@youamwho

I know! Right, Jeez.

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