It's only human to want to inhabit every feeling you've got
and more ofthen than not let's take it to the Nth degree
here he goes,
'gimme ten bucks and a head start'
here's where he goes,
'the puzzle's pulling apart'
and here's the scene:
you're yelling calmly down the street,
'are we family?'
or what

From happy-go-lucky to surly-go-crazy the lot
and more often than not Admission to the Battles is Free
here he goes,
'give ya ten bucks and a head start'
here's where he goes
pulling the puzzle apart
and here's the scene
where you whisper down the crookedest street,
'are we family?'
or what

Are we family when it's only if not when
sisters brothers wolf wolf lover
and the boy who stamped too many ants?
Are we family?

It's only human to want to inherit every feeling you've got
and like it or not let's take it to the Nth degree
here we go
give us ten bucks and a headstart
here's where we go
the puzzle's pulling apart
And here's the scene:
your horse is going the wrong way up the street,
Are we family?
or what

Are we family when it's only if not when
taking care of each other one bullet to another
when it's all, 'if a song can't save us then nothing can'
are we family?
or what

to one another?
the lost to the recovered?
the new caledonian crow to the chimpanzee?
the tribal jury to the pakistani teen?
ill-starred evenings to champion mystique?
sick as a writer writing to be lighter than the uncanny
when the invasion of Antarctica's complete
are we family?


Lyrics submitted by Bofug

Are We Family song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

2 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    No comments? Sheesh, this is a real great song, Not sure the exact meaning but i think it has somthing to do with all living things on earth. We share earth as our home, yet conflicts between different species/other human races happen every day. Are we family or what?

    Daryl24on November 07, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.