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Red Elephant Lyrics

When am I supposed to say so long?
When am I supposed to say so long?

When I fall in love 'fore dusk is dawn
When you take my hand across the lawn
With the eyes so sweet they're like a fawn
Red elephant is wet & long...

How am I supposed to wash you off?
Rungs of bad poems I've hacked & coughed

But I have to spare a breath for you
Which I'll take, before we make anew
Our hearts will take a stroll for two
Our feet will take the avenue
& Walk in unison, so cute
Red elephant is turning blue

Why am I here when you're over there?
Let's meet at the fountains
In Dundas Square
Who am I supposed to be with you?
I'll wait 'til you say & pretend I knew

Because if it's true that walls can talk
How mine would brag of tears I've sobbed
When thinking of the way we walked
Along the paths of sideway chalk
Forever under ticking clock
Where you & I are free to flock

What can I write when I know it's wrong?
Slapping my knee to my own damn song
Where can we go when the sinking stops?
To the pit of my chest
As it drops and drops...

Put your head upon my chest, it breathes
& My fingers through your hair they weave
& Your shoulders are the perfect sea
In which I get lost invariably
Oh the elephant is up to sea
If it meets the peach fish underneath
& When I am you and you are me
We are stirred as spoons in lover's tea
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11 Meanings

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Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

I'm almost 100% sure red elephant is being used as an analogy for his penis. In the beginning of the relationship he's very attracted to her, but they're taking it slow. So, his "red elephant" is wet and long. Then, as their relationship deepens, and they still haven't had sex, the red elephant is turning blue (aka "blue balls"). By the end, I believe he's describing them having sex. In a sweet sort of childish way. I still find this song incredibly charming despite the innuendo.

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

Dundas Square is a public square in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

this song to me seems to go back and forth between being in love and having lost it and the gamut of emotions that are felt. is it just me or could red elephant be a metonym for something sexual?

This is exactly what the song means. It's about trying to quit a relationship- but not being able to, when being with them feels so right. (and yes. the red elephant is most definitely his penis)

Not Valid
Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

i think its about young love/sex

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

"Peachfish" means vagina. The term was invented by Tom Robbins in my favorite book, Still Life With Woodpecker. I love them so much more for that allusion; I didn't even know I had the capacity to do that.

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

this song is beautiful.

sometimes you just don't know what it all means.

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

the last line of this song makes it for me. so good

I think this song is also about young love. And when you're young, you aren't sure if it is going to last forever, but you sure hope so. At least that is what it means to me.

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

great song. love the lyrics.

except "red elephant is turning blue" is actually "But I have to spare a breath for you" :)

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

haha just kidding i can't read. ignore my correction

Cover art for Red Elephant lyrics by Born Ruffians

very cute love song, i love the last line "we are stirred as spoons in lover's tea" ...still considering the red elephant being a penis hmmm not sure