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Animal Magic Lyrics

What did you mean when you opened your mouth
and let all our secrets out
You told him what I was about
my cover was completely blown
I tell you darlin', I've been watching the war film
I got a few ideas of my own
'cos after teh film had ended the call for recruits was shown

And I'm joining the professionals
I want to be a man
with all that animal magic
I'll do anything you can
I'm joining the professionals
'cos I want to be a man
look! I wave my wand, watch the rabbit disappear
Join the professionals and learn to fight

I bet the two of you still laugh at me
for being as timid as a lamb
That may be still the way I look
it's no longer what I am
Been across to Northern Ireland
I came home with a new kind of charge
I learned to hunt in the night
I learned about camouflage

Been joining the professionals
and now that I'm a man
with all that animal magic
I'll match anything you can
I'm joining the professionals
this time I'll understand
There's no way you'll get by me
With the slightest sleight of hand.
I'm joining the professionals
I want to be a man
look! I wave my wand
watch the rabbit disappear
Join the professionals and learn to fight

Animal magic
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Cover art for Animal Magic lyrics by Peter Gabriel

This song is about a guy who is humiliated (probably by a girl) and joins the army to "learn to fight". "Join the Professionals" was a British Army recruiting slogan, and at the time this song was written, going "across to Northern Ireland" meant going into harm's way and perhaps doing some harm yourself.

Cover art for Animal Magic lyrics by Peter Gabriel

i've read somewhere that this song is about being a REAL MAN. :) also, it sounds so gentle and funny to me.

 
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