In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Night time fell at the opening
In the final act of the beginning of time
Hyena, take your role, the stage is set
The town is safe again tonight
Hyena (I see the day ahead)
Hyena (and all that I've cried through)
Hyena (God knows you're doing that, don't you?)
Hyena, sister, look to your hand
Man, you serve communal interest
She'll tell you when and where and how and why you'd hurt
A beautiful young lady
Hyena (I see the day ahead)
Hyena (and all that I've cried through)
Hyena (God knows you're doing that, don't you?)
Oh
The only thing to fear is fearlessness
The bigger the weapon, the greater the fear
Hyena is ambassador to here
Nighttime fell like the closing
Meager pay, but recognition
Hyena crawls on his belly out
The town is safe again tonight, oh
Hyena (I see the changes, man)
Hyena (going on across the way)
Hyena (I see my road ahead)
Hyena (don't know if I should stay)
Hyena (I see you holding him)
Hyena (and all that i've cried through)
Hyena (God knows you're doing that, don't you?)
Oh
In the final act of the beginning of time
Hyena, take your role, the stage is set
The town is safe again tonight
Hyena (I see the day ahead)
Hyena (and all that I've cried through)
Hyena (God knows you're doing that, don't you?)
Hyena, sister, look to your hand
Man, you serve communal interest
She'll tell you when and where and how and why you'd hurt
A beautiful young lady
Hyena (I see the day ahead)
Hyena (and all that I've cried through)
Hyena (God knows you're doing that, don't you?)
Oh
The only thing to fear is fearlessness
The bigger the weapon, the greater the fear
Hyena is ambassador to here
Nighttime fell like the closing
Meager pay, but recognition
Hyena crawls on his belly out
The town is safe again tonight, oh
Hyena (I see the changes, man)
Hyena (going on across the way)
Hyena (I see my road ahead)
Hyena (don't know if I should stay)
Hyena (I see you holding him)
Hyena (and all that i've cried through)
Hyena (God knows you're doing that, don't you?)
Oh
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst
Hyena Lyrics as written by Bill Berry Michael Mills
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In addition to everyone else, I feel this song is written from the point of view of a diplomat desperately trying to stop a nuclear war. He has temporary successes ("the town is safe again tonight") but can't get something more long-term. Some have alluded to the FDR quote ("The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.") In that quote, he was talking about taking actions to end the great depression; it has nothing to do with war. The hyena itself is a formidable foe, but has curious behaviors that are indicitave of being a dog/cat cross breed. They usually kill what they eat (although they're reputed to scavenge what they eat) and have been known to drive other predators away from kills. Hyenas usually hunt in packs I'm also reminded of a 17th century French story about a wild animal terrorizing a town, killing the people, mostly young women. It was said to be a demon. A local hunter asked that silver bullets be blessed by the catholic church and then went and hunted the creature down. After killing it, the creature was taken to Paris. It turned out to be a hyena.