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Army of Ancients Lyrics

An army of ancients can rise from the ground
And tear every nation apart
And I'd still be sitting there counting my cards
Wondering when will it stop

The oceans and forests could collide into one
And my [unknown] in a spark
And I'd still be sitting there twiddling my thumbs
Wondering when will it stop

How did the fox get the rave and the crows?
I got it, I got it
Oh yeah

Why at the creek did the dog lose the bone?
I got it, I got it
Oh yeah

The man can come back on his fiery thrown
To measure the failures in heart
And I'd still be whistling dixie alone
Wondering when will it stop

I don't want to wake up, I don't want to move
I'd ask and assume it'd stick to the boot
I'm sorry
Well, I take what I want in the dawn's early light

How did the fox get the raven to crow?
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Why did the hen pick grains in the snow
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Why did the brother bury his gold?
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Where took the ref when the kids came along?
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Why did the mouse help the bees with the floor?
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
7 Meanings

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Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

I'm pretty sure the chorus is : "How did the fox get the raven to crow?"

This is a great song from probably the best band around these days. They have a sound that blends the great sounds of the late 1960's- The Beatles, The Band, Bob Dylan, amoung others. I cant help but hear early Bruce Springsteen in the vocals of this song especially when he belts out "OH YEAH".

This may be a little premature, but I think Dr. Dog could possibly resurrect Rock N Roll to its glory days of the late 1960s. NOONE sounds like this today, except for Dr. Dog.

Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

I agree mostly, except for the last statement. I think it may be a bit premature. Check out: The Beep Seals, The Dodos, Chad VanGaalen, and Jim Noir

Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

I love this shout out to Aesop's fables. One classic incorporating another.

Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

The horns at 3:49, with that beautiful Chicago-esque chord change...perfect.

Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

Fourth to last line is not "Why did the brother bury his gold?", but "Why did the brother bury his coat?". Cane and Abel, or even Joseph possibly. It's biblical, kids

@crackerbstale I understand why you might think that, but I'm not sure if that's the case. First of all, all of those verses, such as, "How did the fox get the raven to crow?" or, "Why at the creek did the dog lose the bone?" are references to the many Aesop's Fables, this one about the coat in particular was a reference to the fable 'The Miser and His Gold'. Second of all I'm not sure if I remember anything in the bible speaking of them ever burying their coats but I could be wrong! Sorry if I am....

Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

Second to last chorus is "Man took the rats but the kids came along." A reference to the pied piper of Hamelin.

Also, I think the last chorus is "Why did the mouse help the beast with the thorn?"

Just my two cents.

Translation
Cover art for Army of Ancients lyrics by Dr. Dog

This song really grew on me, the more I listened to it. My two cents on lyrics:

"The oceans and forests could collide into one And mar this world with a spark" ..Kinda reminds me of a disaster, be it natural or otherwise.. Think "big bang" on a grand scale

"How did the fox get the raven to crow(fox and the crow), why did the hen pick grains in the snow(The little red hen), why did the brother bury his gold(The miser and his gold), man took the rats but the kids came along(Rats of Hamelin), why did the mouse help the beast with the thorn(The lion and the mouse) These are all fables. Not all Aesop's, but "and the moral of the story is..." fables.

The way I look at this song, is the singer looking at life and watching everything happening and passing by, good and bad, knowing his actions may or may not affect the outcome, and wondering when the shoe will drop on said outcome. Everything comes to an end eventually. When will it stop? What should we do until that happens?

 
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