Conductor stood up and took role call
He sent love and happiness to the next car
"Are you in today?"
The bags are in and we plan no stops
Just fearing sleeping in the box
"Are you in today?"

Who built the love?
Who built the love?
Who built the love, love, love?

Who built the love, love, love?
Built the love, love, love?
Built the love, love, love?

Mayor stood up in high demand
He spoke in trash cars and garbage rails
"Are you in today?"

Found the feet, won't lift the feed
Slipped to the shoes just before the beds
Are empty as the throats and banks
That rise free of the cries and crimes that cry
"Are you in today?"

"Will there be a better place?"
Who built the love?
Who built the love?
Who built the love, love, love?

Who built the love, love, love?
Built the love, love, love?
Built the love, love, love?

Teacher stood up and took role call
Sent the boots, the coats, the caps, the colors
"Are you in today?"

Slip into the water (yeah, yeah)
Slip into them jewelry cuts
Slip into the mind, the coats, the caps, the colors
And the banks that jail the problems that go
"Are you in today?"

"Will there be a better place?"
Who built the love?
Who built the love?
Who built the love, love, love?

Who built the love, love, love?
Built the love, love, love?
Built the love, love, love?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
I, I found gold, gold, got it, got it?
I, I found gold, gold, got it, got it?
I, I found gold, gold, got it, got it?

I, I found gold, gold, got it, got it?
I, I found gold, gold, got it, got it?
I, I found gold, gold, got it, got it?

Pears and peaches and Doctor Hippo
Met for a drink in those marshmallow clouds
Shout at pavement that's sprouting up turnips
And shouted right back

"We don't need your lectures
We'll all live on
Live on, on, on
Live on, on, on
Live on


Lyrics submitted by constant

Elephants Lyrics as written by John Baldwin Gourley

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Elephants song meanings
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    General Comment

    whatever this song means, its my favorite! i love Casey Bates (Gatsbys American Dream)'s ending.

    arielolon January 02, 2008   Link

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