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.
When April passes by, she thinks of saying bye
She tells her mother, I am not afraid
Of dying in the bath, or swinging from up here
She asks her mother if she slept with strangers
Phantom was the bright way out
Of all the things her mother said
A whisper to her scream
An Autumn in my green
December, hello frost
Her mother would say "dad
I don't know where April went"
She ran out in nature
She ran out in nature
She ran out in nature
She ran out in nature, ah
She ran out in nature
I found the Phantom would go
Across the river and hide from all the suffering
Like the shades of trees
Take off my dress and flow into the stuff we're in
She ran out in nature
What'd she find?
She ran out in nature
Where'd she go?
She ran out in nature
Phantom light
She ran out in nature
Take her home
Everybody wants it!
Aah, can't you see me waste it?
She ran out in nature
We've gotta buy our land
When they go out and take all the stuff we're in
We've got neither reachin' for the stars
And beg and keep us sufferin'
She ran out in nature
What'd she find?
She ran out in nature
Where'd she go?
She ran out in nature
Can't somebody
She ran out in nature
Take her home?
Everybody wants it!
Aah, can't you see me waste it?
I finally see a baby girl
I'm sorry April, but you'll be fine 'til then
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
When I sleep around, and you're on top
A frenzy April, then we ride again
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
And in the end, your mother knows
I'm sorry April, but a child grows
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I am
Watch me as I lead the way
From infancy to grown up babies
Phantom, please put on my make-up!
I am breathin', I'll keep callin'
Phantom, you're all white and naked!
Have your baby, I'll keep callin'
I'm not right, I'm not fakin'!
I am burnin', and I'm shakin'
April, no, it's just a spirit!
I am there, end is nearin'
April and the Phantom
They were just like lovers
Always sneakin' kisses for the weekend
Everything's just okay with me
Everything's just alright with
April and the Phantom spoke in secret code
Until they buried Phantom by the road
Everything's just alright with me
Everything's just alright with Phantom
Kid has got no friends
Kid has got no friends at all
She tells her mother, I am not afraid
Of dying in the bath, or swinging from up here
She asks her mother if she slept with strangers
Phantom was the bright way out
Of all the things her mother said
A whisper to her scream
An Autumn in my green
December, hello frost
Her mother would say "dad
I don't know where April went"
She ran out in nature
She ran out in nature
She ran out in nature
She ran out in nature, ah
She ran out in nature
I found the Phantom would go
Across the river and hide from all the suffering
Like the shades of trees
Take off my dress and flow into the stuff we're in
She ran out in nature
What'd she find?
She ran out in nature
Where'd she go?
She ran out in nature
Phantom light
She ran out in nature
Take her home
Everybody wants it!
Aah, can't you see me waste it?
She ran out in nature
We've gotta buy our land
When they go out and take all the stuff we're in
We've got neither reachin' for the stars
And beg and keep us sufferin'
She ran out in nature
What'd she find?
She ran out in nature
Where'd she go?
She ran out in nature
Can't somebody
She ran out in nature
Take her home?
Everybody wants it!
Aah, can't you see me waste it?
I finally see a baby girl
I'm sorry April, but you'll be fine 'til then
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
When I sleep around, and you're on top
A frenzy April, then we ride again
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
And in the end, your mother knows
I'm sorry April, but a child grows
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I'm the Phantom
I am
Watch me as I lead the way
From infancy to grown up babies
Phantom, please put on my make-up!
I am breathin', I'll keep callin'
Phantom, you're all white and naked!
Have your baby, I'll keep callin'
I'm not right, I'm not fakin'!
I am burnin', and I'm shakin'
April, no, it's just a spirit!
I am there, end is nearin'
April and the Phantom
They were just like lovers
Always sneakin' kisses for the weekend
Everything's just okay with me
Everything's just alright with
April and the Phantom spoke in secret code
Until they buried Phantom by the road
Everything's just alright with me
Everything's just alright with Phantom
Kid has got no friends
Kid has got no friends at all
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I am familiar with an entirely different version of the lyrics. Ctc23 from the "Animal Collective Discussion" (rerz.net/ac/messages/viewtopic.php) message board interpreted them as this:
When April passes by, she thinks of playing Bach She tells her mother, I am not afraid Of dying in the bath, or swinging on the breeze She asks her mother if she slept with strangers Phantom was the bright way out Of all the things her mother said A whisper to her scream An autumn in my green December, hello frost Her mother would say "Dad, I don't know where April went"
She ran out in nature! She ran out in nature! She ran out in nature! She ran out in nature! She ran out in nature…
I found the Phantom would go Across the river and hide from suffering Like the shades of trees Take off my dress and flow into the stuff we’re in She ran out in nature What'd she find? She ran out in nature Where'd she go? She ran out in nature Phantom light She ran out in nature Take her home
Everybody wants it! Aaah! Can't you see me wastin’? She ran out in nature…
We've gotta buy land When they go out and take all the stuff we’re in We've got neither, reachin' for the stars And beg and keep us sufferin’ She ran out in nature What'd she find? She ran out in nature Where'd she go? She ran out in nature Can't somebody She ran out in nature Take her home?
Everybody wants it! Aaah! Can't you see me wastin’!
I finally see a baby girl, I’m sorry April, but you'll be fine ‘til then, I'm the Phantom, I'm the Phantom, I'm the Phantom, And I sneak around, and you're on top, A frenzy April, let me write it down I'm the Phantom, I'm the Phantom, I'm the Phantom, And in the end, your mother knows, I’m sorry April, but a child grows I'm the Phantom, I'm the Phantom, I'm the Phantom, I am… Watch me as I lead the way From infancy to grown up babies
-Phantom, please put on my make-up! I am breathin’, I’ll keep callin' -Phantom, you're all white and naked! Have your baby, I'll keep callin' -I'm not right, I'm not fakin'! I am burnin’, and I'm shakin' -April, no, it's just a spirit! I am there, end is nearin’
April and the Phantom They were just like lovers Always sneakin' kisses for the weekend Everything's just okay with me Everything's just alright with… April and the Phantom spoke in secret code Until they buried Phantom by the road Everything's just alright with me... Everything’s just alright with Phantom…
Kid has got no friends… Kid has got no friends at all
I have to say I do enjoy this version of the lyrics much better. I also read online that this song is about the death of a pet cat. How, I'm unsure: sylvanmigdal.com/reviews.php
I heard that this song was based on the urban myth abouth the homless guy that seduced a little girl and had a heart attack while they where having sex and she got pegnant. than she kept goin back to the body and pretended to herself that it was still alive. then her mother followed her one day to find out where she kept runnin off too. then she saw a heavily decayed corpse and her mom thought her little gir had killed this dude so she buried him. then her mom found out about the child and raised it as her own when it was born and locked her daughter in a mental asylum. the girl was called kitty and her mother named the baby april... either im right or thats an almost frightening coincidence.