Hello again
Yes indeed my friend
I can tell
Goin' get together again
I could be right
I could be wrong
I feel nice when I sing this song
And I don't mind
Whatever happens is fine
Baby likes to keep on playing...
What do I know, what do I know?
Wilder than the place we live in...
I'll take you there, I'll take you there
I don't mind some slight disorder...
Pull up the roots pull up the roots
And I know ev'ry living creature...
Pull up the roots, pull up the roots

And I know you
I understand what you do
Yes, indeed
I put the hat on my head
Come outta your mess
Bring yourself in
I feel nice when I start to sing
And I can see
Ev'ryone else is like me

Towns that disappeared completely...
Pull up the roost, pull up the roots
Miles and miles of endless highway...
Pull up the roost, pull up the roots
Colored lights and shiny curtains...
I'll take you there, I'll take you there
Ev'rything has been forgiven...
Pull up the roost, pull up the roots

Well I have a good time...when I go out of my mind
And it's a wonderful place...and I can't wait to be there
And I hear beautiful sounds...coming outta the ground
Gonna take us a while...but we'll go hundreds of times

Baby likes to keep on playing...
What d'you know? what d'you I know?
Wilder than the place we live in...
I'll take you there, I'll take you there
And I don't mind some slight disorder...
Pull up the roots pull up the roots
And no more time for talkin' it over...
Pull up the roots, pull up the roots

Well I have a good time...when I go out of my mind
And it's a wonderful place...and I can't wait to be there
And I hear beautiful sounds...coming outta the ground
Someone musta been high...but I guess it's alright


Lyrics submitted by SpooktheHerd

Pull Up The Roots Lyrics as written by Christopher Frantz Chris Frantz

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Pull Up the Roots song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I think the lyrics of this song are about the conflicting feelings brought about by profound spiritual revelation and at the same time a sense of how limited we are in our understanding. The recognition that we are but a small part of something much larger, that we can never understand, but that our minds are an integral part of that. The lyrics constantly shift between this naive understanding, and godlike statements of grandeur. The line "Baby likes to keep on playing, what do I know, what do I know" likens us to a child, who cannot fully grasp what is going on around it. And yet statements like "And I know every living creature," and "Everything has been forgiven," suggests that we can attain higher states of enlightenment. Except when when we get there, Byrne implores us to "Pull up the roots" and essentially recognize that everything we have built up is still but a limited construct of our mind. Now this could be a pretty depressing realization but in fact I think it's the exact opposite. "I don't mind some slight disorder," I feel refers to this essential inability to fully grasp the whole of nature, but that this is ok, "whatever happens is fine." Letting go of this need to be right or wrong, or fully comprehend the universe, and just singing is where Byrne finds his peace.

    jcl432on October 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've certainly felt this way on acid and ecstasy trips. If we free our minds in some way, it is easy to feel the things he is singing about. Just drift a bit and take things as they come with no judgement or heavy introspection.

    kathy11801on June 22, 2014   Link

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