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Animals Lyrics

I'm mad and that's a fact
I found out animals don't help
Animals think they're pretty smart
Shit on the ground, see in the dark

They wander around like a crazy dog
Make a mistake in the parking lot
Always bumping into things
Always let you down, down, down, down
Eh, eh, eh, eh

Animals think they understand
Most of them are a big mistake
Animals want to change my life
I will ignore animals' advice

They're never there when you need them
They're never there when you call them
They're never there when you need them
They're never there when you call them down
Down, down, down

I know the animals are laughing at us
Don't even know what a joke is
I won't follow animal's advice
I don't care
They're laughing at us

They're never there when you need them
They're never there when you call them
They're never there when you need them
They're never there when you call them down, down, down
down
Eh, eh, eh

They say they don't need money
They're living on nuts and berries
They say animals don't worry
They're living on nuts and berries

You know animals are hairy?
They say animals don't worry
They think they know what's best
They're making a fool of us

They ought to be more careful
They're setting a bad example
They say animals don't worry
They're living on nuts and berries

They're setting a bad example
They ought to be more careful
You know animals are hairy?
They're living on nuts and berries

They want to know what's best
They're making a fool of us
They ought to be more careful
They're setting a bad example

They like to laugh at people
They're setting a bad example
They have untroubled lives
They think every thing's nice

They say they don't need money
They say animals don't worry
They're living on nuts and berries
You know animals are hairy?

They think they know what's best
They're making a fool of us
They like to laugh at people
They're making a bad example

They say they don't need money
You know animals are hairy?
They're living on nuts and berries
They say they don't need money
They're setting a bad example
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11 Meanings

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Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

Great Song. I think the narrator is overwhelmed and stressed by human needs and desires. He is jealous of these creatures who are much less "intelligent" than him but seem so much more content living simple existences. The lyrics and images of this song are certainly bizarre but I've always felt it contained a profound message.

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

I love the idea of a man utterly crushed by society, outraged and jealous at the freedom of animals, and trying to somehow socially reprimand them ("they're setting a bad example! Think of the children! You'd better stop what you're doing, cats, or you'll never get work in this town again!") for their 'bad behaviour' in a society that they don't even know exists.

My Opinion
Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

A drunken paranoid rant by a character with too much on his plate, finally losing it and declaring that animals are laughing at him, telling his shocked barroom audience to go ahead and laugh as he breaks down.

Interesting song, very odd.

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

The name of this song is Animals. That's what it's about.

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

It's true. Animals are punks!!

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

What a great song! I love Dave's vocals on this one. One of my favorite Heads tunes.

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

weird song. sometimes i think my dog is out to get me.

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

The whole album is about fear as noted in the title. I think the whole thing is hilarious and if you take it too seriously it's disturbing.

Song Meaning

@SanjuroSeaCow I love my entire life by this particular song

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

Byrne told me he was inspired one day when his cat pissed in his shoe.

Just a rant to remind pets they have it easy, it's a jungle out there.

My Opinion

You know him, eh?

Cover art for Animals lyrics by Talking Heads

There are some missing lyrics to this song. In the last minute, during the coda, the background voices are singing "Laugh at me, laugh at me", perhaps insinuating that the animals or people are laughing at his delusions. A very funny, but also strangley sad song, about schizophrenia.