The band formed in 1998 under the name Simple Pastoral Existence, and later renamed themselves Ponyclub, changing their name to The Young Knives once they were notified of another group named Pony Club (a third, unrelated band also with this name would later change their name to New Young Pony Club to avoid confusion with this same group). Young Knives released their debut mini-album "The Young Knives are Dead" in 2002, and have since released four full length albums. The band dropped the definite article from their name in 2008 and became simply "Young Knives".
Terra Firma
Young Knives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a lot to see but still I wanted more
It looks like mother nature's got herself a whore
With a disregard for health and safety
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
Fake rabbit, real snake
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
A world of wonder lies beyond the door
Take the first right into town where I am sure
I can find the perfect place or something more
In my mind I fly but I'm still seated
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
(Down to)
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
You don't eat enough
You don't sleep enough
You talk too much
Yes, you talk too much
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
(Down to)
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
Fake rabbit, real snake
Terra firma, terra firma
(Down to mud)
In these lyrics, Young Knives are addressing the nature of consumerism and its effects on the natural world. The first lines suggest that the singer is examining their possessions and realizing that they have accumulated a lot of material goods, yet still feel unsatisfied and desire more. This sentiment is reflected in the line "It looks like mother nature's got herself a whore," which suggests that the natural world has become exploited and degraded by human greed and disregard for environmental safety.
The chorus uses the imagery of a fake rabbit and a real snake to represent the contrast between artificiality and authenticity. The repetition of "Terra firma" emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in reality and not getting lost in frivolous desires or consumer culture.
The second verse suggests that the singer is searching for something more meaningful than material possessions, but is struggling to find it in a world that has become dominated by consumerism. The line "In my mind I fly but I'm still seated" suggests that the singer yearns for something more uplifting and meaningful but is still trapped in the constraints of their everyday life.
The bridge of the song shifts the focus to the individual and their own actions. The lines "You don't eat enough, you don't sleep enough, you talk too much" suggest that the singer is critiquing themselves for contributing to a mindset of scarcity and excess. By pointing out their own flaws, the song suggests that change must start on an individual level before it can affect broader societal change.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a good long look at everything I bought
I carefully examined all my possessions
There was a lot to see but still I wanted more
Despite owning a lot of things, I still craved more
It looks like mother nature's got herself a whore
The environment has been exploited and abused
With a disregard for health and safety
Without concern for the impact on people or the planet
Fake rabbit, real snake
Things may not always be what they seem
Terra firma, terra firma
The solid ground beneath us
A world of wonder lies beyond the door
There are always new experiences to be had
Take the first right into town where I am sure
Assuming you take that turn, you can find something good
I can find the perfect place or something more
I will discover what I've been searching for
In my mind I fly but I'm still seated
I am lost in thought, but still physically grounded
You don't eat enough
You are not taking care of yourself physically
You don't sleep enough
You are not taking care of yourself mentally
You talk too much
You need to listen more and be less self-centered
Yes, you talk too much
Reinforcing the idea that talking too much is a problem
Down to mud
Descending to the lowest possible point or situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRY DARTNALL, OLIVER ASKEW, THOMAS DARTNALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Stirling
Brilliant track.....