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.
Well, I don't want a thing to do with you kind
And I ain't got no time to kill on your dime
Strung up, hanging 'round
Looking like you're upside down
Well, I ain't wanting to shed no blood, that's your crime
And I ain't wanting to sling no mud, I clean it up
You ain't what I'd call a friend
I wouldn't even if I could pretend
Man, you ain't like anybody else
As night becomes the sun to rise
As dirt becomes the butterflies
As sure as though it always seems to stay the same
And I'll be waiting anxiously
And I'll be falling fast asleep
And I'll be dreaming of the day the dream died
Uh huh
No sticks, no stones could break my bones like you can
If I knew hate, I'd call it love for you, man
High up on the hill, cheaper than a dollar bill
Man, you ain't like anybody else
Should we pretend that it's the end?
Are you my curse or are you my friend?
And if we got hit to the end of the road
Will you be there to carry my load?
I'm getting it back with that terrible feeling
My vision is cracked, but it looks like it's healing
I'm getting it back like it's four in the morning
When the sun only shines as if it's giving a warning
I'm getting it back with the rest of the leap year
I'm keeping the rabbit, the bat, and the reindeer
I'm getting it out, whatever I've gotta keep in
I'm telling the truth, said it don't win with pretend
Should we pretend?
Should we pretend?
Should we pretend?
And I ain't got no time to kill on your dime
Strung up, hanging 'round
Looking like you're upside down
Well, I ain't wanting to shed no blood, that's your crime
And I ain't wanting to sling no mud, I clean it up
You ain't what I'd call a friend
I wouldn't even if I could pretend
Man, you ain't like anybody else
As night becomes the sun to rise
As dirt becomes the butterflies
As sure as though it always seems to stay the same
And I'll be waiting anxiously
And I'll be falling fast asleep
And I'll be dreaming of the day the dream died
Uh huh
No sticks, no stones could break my bones like you can
If I knew hate, I'd call it love for you, man
High up on the hill, cheaper than a dollar bill
Man, you ain't like anybody else
Should we pretend that it's the end?
Are you my curse or are you my friend?
And if we got hit to the end of the road
Will you be there to carry my load?
I'm getting it back with that terrible feeling
My vision is cracked, but it looks like it's healing
I'm getting it back like it's four in the morning
When the sun only shines as if it's giving a warning
I'm getting it back with the rest of the leap year
I'm keeping the rabbit, the bat, and the reindeer
I'm getting it out, whatever I've gotta keep in
I'm telling the truth, said it don't win with pretend
Should we pretend?
Should we pretend?
Should we pretend?
Lyrics submitted by sonicpudding
The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer Lyrics as written by Toby Leaman Scott Mcmicken
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song describes the epitomine love hate relationship. They can destroy you like no-one else but then make you feel alive like no-one else. It's one of those marvleous oxymoronic kind of things.
Whatever it's about, it's an effing brilliant tune!
I dont think this song is specifically about sobering up or any of that. <br /> What I get from this song is a friendship that is so amazing but is going downwards. <br /> The character is getting screwed out of situations and he feels that maybe he is just turning into something bad. Hence the lyric speaking about his friend being a curse now. <br /> He feels that this friendship needs to be dealt with and he doesn't know how to feel. He has this awful feeling. " I'm getting it back with the terrible feeling". He loves his friend and wishes the best out of the friendship and admires him. " man you aint like anybody else." He can't pretend anymore that everything is ok. The way the song speeds up and slows down may be related to the friendship. Great song.
i agree with josie about the love hate thing. i dont care what it's about though, i'm going to listen to this song forever. some idiot from Pitchfork (online review) called Fate a "survivor album." FREAKING IDIOT THIS MUSIC ROCKS!!!!!
THE RABBIT (Easter) THE BAT (Halloween) THE REINDEER (Christmas)
The little piano arpeggio at 0:55 is why I love Dr. Dog. All their songs are interspersed with so many perfect little notes that you only notice on the tenth listen.
Or at 2:54, when the bass finally changes. Beautiful.
This song really reminds of feelings of perceiving some kind of entity and also really has a Jesus vibe. Dr. Dog are masters of writing songs that are vague and well written making them really accessible and open to interpretation. but seriously, Jesus references abound. They always write spiritual songs that aren't gospel. Also draw a pair of rabbit ears, bat wings and reindeer antlers. Damn I could write a thesis on this song.
I think the song is full of metaphors referring to sobering up. Particularly the part at the end, "I'm getting back with that terrible feeling", for example. "My vision is cracked but it looks like its healing". Four in the morning, about the time you start to sober up if you've been drinking all night. The bat refers to the bacardi logo, the reindeer refers to the Jagermeister logo, and I'm sure the rabbit is some other type of liquor or maybe beer. That's my theory anyway
It's obviously about the sad state of politicians, and how they pander to us "normal" people, but in the end, they "ain't like anybody else". References to "the hill" and dollar bills continue to make me feel like this is about keeping hope for the day when a truthful, real politician will come along, and it seems even more relevant in this election year.
Sounds like a support song for Barack with all the "same" and "change" discussion in the song.
too bad america is controlled by globalist bankers and the president can do little to effect anything. there is so much corruption that you cant even see it. the government hides like air to us or water to fish. there is so much bull crap you can't even see it without looking
Scott said at a concert I went to that this was "an exercise in hating someone". It's a song about hating someone. He said it probably doesn't sound like a hate song because he doesn't actually hate anyone, which is why it's an "exercise".
this was so good live!