My take:
This song is meant to be interpreted backwards.
In the third portion:
Avey is describing the periods in his life, separated by “comings of age” / rites.
–>Example: Verse changes from
Eating peanut butter and jam to “play(ing) that jam”
Here he is describing his transformation from ch...
Lightning crashed and brought the letter
I ran off into the garden
Flowers started growing there
Felt the dark lift from my hair
Truths that poured filled up the grail
Who could ask the question now?
Riding on the crying lion
Search for treasure's snaking lair
Golden bands wrap fury's hands
Let's accept a winning chance
Trees around can bring the life
I bent down on aching knees and felt the change
Just grab something, take hold
The only things you know
Stay grounded like the spruce
A little change
Just grab something, take hold
The only thing you know
Stay grounded like the truth
Truths that poured filled up the grail
Who could ask the question now?
Riding on the crying lion
Search for treasure's snaking lair
Golden bands wrapped fury's arms
[I wonder if the speech will come]
Life poured out from trees around
I bent down on aching knees and felt a change
Just grab something, take hold
The only thing you know
Stay grounded like a spruce
A little change
Just grab something, take hold
The only thing you know
Stay grounded with the spruce
Every time the sound, the sound, the sound
Sky of sounds, sky of sounds, will bring you 'round
What was on the ground, the ground, the ground
Sky of sounds, sky of sounds, the falling crown
One day you went down, down, down
Sky of crowns, sky of crowns, will bring you 'round
Every time I'm down, down, down
Die around, die around, the falling ground
Every time I'm down, down, down
Sky of sounds, sky of sounds, the falling ground
One day you will sound, sound, sound
Sky of sounds, sky of sounds, will change you 'round
Everyone went down, down, down
On the ground, on the ground, don't keep me down
One day you will sound, sound, sound
Sky of sounds, sky of sounds, the falling ground
Once had an old way
Cracks in all the cabinets
Streets of old games
Coming of age
You withered old dog
Act your age
Good dog
What was its name?
Coming of age
Any old would do
Rice in all the cabinets
Oatmeal a day
Coming of age
Peanut butter go 'round
Bring that jam, now pass it 'round
That was a way
Coming of age
In the foggy water
I saw venom floating
Justice, justice, helped her
Clean up all of her
Once had an old way
Cracks in all the cabinets
Streets of old games
Coming of age
Peanut butter go 'round
Play that jam, yeah
Bring it 'round
Drinking all day
Coming of age
Just a frightened mother
Looking for her daughter
Justice, justice, wandered
Looking for his mother
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
In the foggy water
I saw venom floating
Justice, justice, helped her
Clean up all the murder
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Oh no, not now
Isn't it now defeat?
Animal Collective released Defeat (A Not Suite) on Fri Mar 16 2018.