Wow I love this song. They always keep such great songs for B-sides but I understand why they made that choice here, cuz this song doesn't sound too much like the rest of Centipede Hz. Anyway here is my long interpretation of the song... even though nobody is going to read it I love to read into Avey's lyrics so why not.
First, I think the eagle in the first verse is a metaphor for Avey's will or soul for the relationship that the song is about. He's kind of looking at it as a separate being from himself, and I love how early in the verse he says the eagle is ready to die (or give up on the relationship), but later he says his instinct wants him to survive. Basically, I think he's trying to say that deep down he knows he doesn't want to continue the relationship, but on another level he actually wants to keep it going.
After that, I think he's saying "I'm sorry I cut you with my knife, I'm hunting and I don't know why." It seems like he's apologizing for unnecessarily lashing out at the girl this song is directed to in anger, probably as a result of the stress of the relationship.
The second verse is a bit more ambiguous for me, but I think he's talking about a different eagle now. It sounds like he's saying "Eagle on my head tonight who flies alone and leaves her aerie for a height that always seems a bit too high." I think this eagle is the girl in the relationship, and he's saying that he's thinking about her, as she's left home for unfamiliar territory. I feel like he might be worried that she's out somewhere cheating on him in this verse.
I love the part shortly after this when Avey starts to raise his voice and ask "Why was he down on our bed and stuff anyway?!" (side note: I'm not completely convinced he's saying "bed and stuff" but you get the point regardless). It's so emotional. He drops the metaphor that's been going for the whole song and has to ask her this, probably something he keeps asking himself. But he quickly catches himself there and knows he's getting carried away - "Now my heart is taking over."
And finally, the bit after that:
"When people start talking
It's hard to know why
Are we speaking our minds
Or just passing the time?
It's addictive like smoking
That clouds up the room
But I'd like to keep toking
And talking to you"
I love this. I think Avey is making the observation that sometimes people don't mean what they say, and he wonders, why do people talk, if this is the case? But he admits it's addicting to talk, regardless of how genuine the conversation may be. Then he relates it to the rest of the song by saying, "it clouds up the room, but I'd like to keep toking, and talking to you." I think he's saying that when he's talking with whoever the girl is, that he's not completely sure what's genuine and what isn't. But regardless, talking to her is good, and he wants to keep doing it. Kind of ends the song on an uncertain note, but if the meaning was definite it wouldn't be an Animal Collective song.
Wow I love this song. They always keep such great songs for B-sides but I understand why they made that choice here, cuz this song doesn't sound too much like the rest of Centipede Hz. Anyway here is my long interpretation of the song... even though nobody is going to read it I love to read into Avey's lyrics so why not.
First, I think the eagle in the first verse is a metaphor for Avey's will or soul for the relationship that the song is about. He's kind of looking at it as a separate being from himself, and I love how early in the verse he says the eagle is ready to die (or give up on the relationship), but later he says his instinct wants him to survive. Basically, I think he's trying to say that deep down he knows he doesn't want to continue the relationship, but on another level he actually wants to keep it going.
After that, I think he's saying "I'm sorry I cut you with my knife, I'm hunting and I don't know why." It seems like he's apologizing for unnecessarily lashing out at the girl this song is directed to in anger, probably as a result of the stress of the relationship.
The second verse is a bit more ambiguous for me, but I think he's talking about a different eagle now. It sounds like he's saying "Eagle on my head tonight who flies alone and leaves her aerie for a height that always seems a bit too high." I think this eagle is the girl in the relationship, and he's saying that he's thinking about her, as she's left home for unfamiliar territory. I feel like he might be worried that she's out somewhere cheating on him in this verse.
I love the part shortly after this when Avey starts to raise his voice and ask "Why was he down on our bed and stuff anyway?!" (side note: I'm not completely convinced he's saying "bed and stuff" but you get the point regardless). It's so emotional. He drops the metaphor that's been going for the whole song and has to ask her this, probably something he keeps asking himself. But he quickly catches himself there and knows he's getting carried away - "Now my heart is taking over."
And finally, the bit after that:
"When people start talking It's hard to know why Are we speaking our minds Or just passing the time? It's addictive like smoking That clouds up the room But I'd like to keep toking And talking to you"
I love this. I think Avey is making the observation that sometimes people don't mean what they say, and he wonders, why do people talk, if this is the case? But he admits it's addicting to talk, regardless of how genuine the conversation may be. Then he relates it to the rest of the song by saying, "it clouds up the room, but I'd like to keep toking, and talking to you." I think he's saying that when he's talking with whoever the girl is, that he's not completely sure what's genuine and what isn't. But regardless, talking to her is good, and he wants to keep doing it. Kind of ends the song on an uncertain note, but if the meaning was definite it wouldn't be an Animal Collective song.