What a great song. There is so much going on both musically and lyrically. Of course it can take on a number of interpretations but I think it's clear that the overall point they are getting across is that desire to reach into some kind of more perfect world- that world that is always beyond our grasp, like the sky. (or good dreams)
I really love the imagery present in this song. They paint this picture of a really dreary scene with the reference to a gray sky and flurries. For me it really conjures up an image of a gloomy and cold late autumn/early winter afternoon. Then the clincher is when they mention the taxi and this bright yellow image stands out in severe contrast to the previous dreariness. This kind of powerful imagery is a mark of good lyricism, and just good writing in general. Props to these guys.
There's also a lot of interesting stuff going on on the theme of change and the idea of old and new. These ideas are present in Graze and I Think I Can as well. Animal Collective seems to be really concerned about pushing forward with ideas rather than rehashing the same thing over and over, which is a noble pursuit. It strikes in particular in this song with the line "Old glasses clinking and a new order's blinking. I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking" and with the following verse. There is a strong theme here, especially with the fact that they are sampling an ancient Grateful Dead line throughout but altering the meaning of it ('Willow sky whoa I walk and wonder why' to 'What would I want? sky'). It's like throughout the song you are hearing this echo from an earlier time, a time that we nowadays romanticize as being a great era of peace and happiness that we'd like to escape to. Yet the line we are hearing from the Grateful Dead has been altered to mean something different and fit in this modern tune in this modern world. Then, almost similarly, the second verse has some subtle lyrical changes as well. He becomes a fly on the river, the point of horizon isn't hiding from you it's hiding its blues, and an argument could be made that the meaning of the word 'change' itself changes to mean coins in the river. Also remember all of this is taking place on a cold autumn day. What happens in the season of Autumn? Things change. Colors are changing all around, people's attitudes change with the weather, and some years in the U.S. we have presidential or congressional elections, changing the power structure of the government. With all this fluctuation of the world around me and all these musical experimentations going on in the song itself (it's in 7/4 time btw), I know exactly what I would want: Sky.
There's still a lot more to talk about and I don't wanna get to the point of over-analyzing, but I want to convince you of the brilliance in these lyrics and show that there are all sorts of things going on here just from these raw subtle words. I think Animal Collective is truly one of the best bands of our time and I only wish I had known about them sooner.
What a great song. There is so much going on both musically and lyrically. Of course it can take on a number of interpretations but I think it's clear that the overall point they are getting across is that desire to reach into some kind of more perfect world- that world that is always beyond our grasp, like the sky. (or good dreams)
I really love the imagery present in this song. They paint this picture of a really dreary scene with the reference to a gray sky and flurries. For me it really conjures up an image of a gloomy and cold late autumn/early winter afternoon. Then the clincher is when they mention the taxi and this bright yellow image stands out in severe contrast to the previous dreariness. This kind of powerful imagery is a mark of good lyricism, and just good writing in general. Props to these guys.
There's also a lot of interesting stuff going on on the theme of change and the idea of old and new. These ideas are present in Graze and I Think I Can as well. Animal Collective seems to be really concerned about pushing forward with ideas rather than rehashing the same thing over and over, which is a noble pursuit. It strikes in particular in this song with the line "Old glasses clinking and a new order's blinking. I should be floating but I'm weighted by thinking" and with the following verse. There is a strong theme here, especially with the fact that they are sampling an ancient Grateful Dead line throughout but altering the meaning of it ('Willow sky whoa I walk and wonder why' to 'What would I want? sky'). It's like throughout the song you are hearing this echo from an earlier time, a time that we nowadays romanticize as being a great era of peace and happiness that we'd like to escape to. Yet the line we are hearing from the Grateful Dead has been altered to mean something different and fit in this modern tune in this modern world. Then, almost similarly, the second verse has some subtle lyrical changes as well. He becomes a fly on the river, the point of horizon isn't hiding from you it's hiding its blues, and an argument could be made that the meaning of the word 'change' itself changes to mean coins in the river. Also remember all of this is taking place on a cold autumn day. What happens in the season of Autumn? Things change. Colors are changing all around, people's attitudes change with the weather, and some years in the U.S. we have presidential or congressional elections, changing the power structure of the government. With all this fluctuation of the world around me and all these musical experimentations going on in the song itself (it's in 7/4 time btw), I know exactly what I would want: Sky.
There's still a lot more to talk about and I don't wanna get to the point of over-analyzing, but I want to convince you of the brilliance in these lyrics and show that there are all sorts of things going on here just from these raw subtle words. I think Animal Collective is truly one of the best bands of our time and I only wish I had known about them sooner.
(also I think the lyrics, even the corrected ones in the comments, still have some errors. The best version I've found is here: http://lyricalcollective.wikispaces.com/What+Would+I+Want%3F+Sky)
I agree. I was going to post my thoughts on this, but you beat me to the punch.
I agree. I was going to post my thoughts on this, but you beat me to the punch.
To me: Change, reflection, and redirecting one's intentions.
To me: Change, reflection, and redirecting one's intentions.