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Rikki Tikki Tavi Lyrics

Listen to me, listen to me

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki Tavi
I am not a machine so don't treat me like buttons
Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki Tavi
We're not identical twins so don't finish my sentence

Tell me the truth, or don't tell me anything
I'd rather have a heart than courage or a brain

Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki Tavi
Don't pay any mind to a voice behind curtains

If you meet the devil's wife
Make sure you wear a suit and tie
And leave him where he stands

If he tries to shake your hand
Just hit him with her frying pan
And leave him where he stands

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(Run Rikki Tikki, run Rikki Tikki, run...)

Listen to me, listen to me

Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki Tavi
If you want the Picasso you better start digging
Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki Tavi
If I build the ark, will you wait for the water?

The only thing that ever turned him blue
Was thinking the sky is what he should be turning to

Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki, Rikki Tikki Tavi
There are snakes in the grass, so we better go hunting

If you meet the devil's wife
Make sure you wear a suit and tie
And leave him where he stands

If he tries to shake your hand
Just hit him with her frying pan
And leave him where he stands

Let her take the kitchen sink
And cut her from her apron strings
Just leave him where he stands

All you need is amnesty
So grab my hand and come with me
Just leave him where he stands

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rikki...
4 Meanings

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Cover art for Rikki Tikki Tavi lyrics by Fair to Midland

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a short story by Rudyard Kipling about a mongoose who fights cobras(an aptitude which mongooses possess). There are also obvious Wizard of Oz references.

Essentially, this lyric is saying that you have everything you need already inside you. That you don't need to listen to anyone that tells you to be otherwise. Punch for punch, blow to blow, mongoose vs. cobra; stay true to yourself and you will always emerge victorious.

I like this interpretation, for the most part. I do have a problem with the "Run Rikki Tikki, Run Rikki Tikki, Run" line. Is that saying "run" like "get away" or "run" like "keep up the good work"?

IIRC at some point in the story either another character or his subconscious tells him repeatedly to run, I don't remember why, he may have been injured or he was chasing after the snake, it was years and years ago lol. you might want to try and find the story online and skim through it yourself

Cover art for Rikki Tikki Tavi lyrics by Fair to Midland

I hadn't listened to Fair to Midland in quite some time, but this song reminded me how awesome they are. It's always a great feeling to rediscover a group and realize you may have under appreciated them. That's a sign of true greatness.

The song reminds me of the Beatles, which is odd because I've never liked the Beatles (Sorry, I respect them, but don't identify with the majority of their songs or sound; Elanor Rigby and Come Together being the only exceptions).

To me this song is about remaining moral and opposing the immoral. There are 'snakes' or 'devils' throughout the world who will tempt you, but staying true to yourself and your beliefs and standing up for them is far more powerful. The ebb and flow of the song is awesome, and the Wizard of Oz references are some of my favorite lines.

Cover art for Rikki Tikki Tavi lyrics by Fair to Midland

im not sure what this song is about...the obvious almost is there are two different people and two different attitudes and they dont see eye to eye, but who knows lol

Cover art for Rikki Tikki Tavi lyrics by Fair to Midland

I believe this was a shot at Serj Tankian who signed the band and was rushing them to release the album while the band were all still juggling day jobs and families. All while not giving them financial backing. It might even be a shot at the music industry as a whole, hence the \'I\'m not a machine, so don\'t treat me like buttons\' as well the \'Don\'t pay any mind to a voice behind curtains\

 
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