I Was Born (a Unicorn) by The Unicorns Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Mythical Messages Behind Indie Anthems
Lyrics
I was born a unicorn
I missed the ark but I could’ve sworn you’d wait for me
GINGER
I was born a unicorn
I could of sworn you believed in me.
then how come all the other Unicorns are dead?
DIAMONDS
put your crystals under my pillow
GINGER
send your epistle to my better fellows
DIAMONDS
if I start believing in you
GINGER
if you start believing in me
DIAMONDS
if I start believing in you
GINGER
if you start believing in me
we’re the Unicorns,
we’re more than horses,
we’re the unicorns,
and we’re people too!
When The Unicorns released ‘I Was Born (a Unicorn),’ they etched an indelible mark on the canvas of indie music. Amidst quirky melodies and playfully enigmatic lyrics, the song presents layers of meaning that unfold like the fabled beast’s own mystique. The charm of this particular track lies not just in its catchy tune, but in the cryptic poetry that invites listeners into a deeper contemplation.
A closer look at the lyrics reveals a story tinged with existential musings, a sense of longing, and a subtle commentary on belief systems. It’s this intricate weaving of concepts, packed into a seemingly simple song, that has sparked continued interest and interpretation among fans and critics alike.
The Last of Its Kind: A Metaphor for Alienation
The unicorn, often a symbol of purity and rarity, takes on a new role in this song—representing an individual who feels misunderstood or overlooked. When the lead asserts, ‘I was born a unicorn, I missed the ark but I could’ve sworn you’d wait for me,’ one can sense a sigh that hangs in the balance between hope and resignation. It is as if the song speaks for those who have been left behind by a world that couldn’t quite comprehend their uniqueness.
Yet, there is also defiance in accepting this otherness. The questioning refrain ‘Then how come all the other unicorns are dead?’ isn’t just a cry of loneliness; it’s a bold challenge to the realities that extinguish individuality and innocence. Here, The Unicorns encapsulate the struggle of maintaining one’s identity in a conformist society.
Magic or Myth? The Tension Between Belief and Skepticism
Symbols of mysticism, such as crystals and epistles, snake through the lyrics, conjuring images of faith in the intangible. By requesting for crystals to be placed under pillows and epistles to be sent to ‘better fellows,’ the song seems to taunt the idea of seeking validation through spiritual or intellectual means. It draws a parallel between the personal quest for acceptance and the human penchant for seeking the metaphysical.
The song’s playful push and pull between the two voices further amplifies this tension. ‘If I start believing in you,’ sung as a conditional statement, feels like a tentative step toward mutual trust—a pact that if one believes, so too will the other. It’s a powerful statement on the reciprocity needed for faith to take hold, whether it be in another person or in the legends we subscribe to.
Mystical Steeds or Mortal Beings? Unicorns as Everyman
Arguably the song’s most unforgettable line, ‘We’re the Unicorns, we’re more than horses, and we’re people too!’ serves dual functions. First, it elevates the unicorns above their equine relatives—claiming a special status exclusive to myth. The comparison to ‘horses’ symbolizes the everyday, the mundane. In asserting their difference, they champion the unique nature of the creative individual.
However, the subsequent phrase ‘and we’re people too!’ bridges the gap between the extraordinary and the ordinary, suggesting a fundamental connection. It’s a powerful reminder that beneath the facades we construct—be it of mystique or mediocrity—lies our shared humanity. The Unicorns, with this clever lyrical twist, touch upon an essential truth: that within each of us is something singular but relatable, something of the unicorn.
Unearthly Love: Seeking Assurance in a Skeptical World
Love and belief intertwine throughout ‘I Was Born (a Unicorn).’ The yearning expressed in ‘I could’ve sworn you believed in me’ can be interpreted as a plea for validation, not just romantically but existentially. The protagonist of the song seeks assurance that they matter and, just as importantly, that their perceptions of the world and their place in it aren’t misguided.
What cuts even deeper is the underlying fear that perhaps such validation will never come—that the belief they hope for from others is as elusive as the unicorns themselves. It’s a poignant contemplation of trust and the courage required to invest one’s faith in something or someone, despite the dangers of disillusionment.
The Majestic Aftermath: Embracing the Enigma
In the end, The Unicorns don’t offer neat resolutions within the song’s mystical meanderings, and therein lies its strength. ‘I Was Born (a Unicorn)’ doesn’t shy away from the vagueness of its message because it is this very vagueness that invites interpretation and personal connection. Each listening can unearth new meanings, as one navigates through the nuance of its lyrics.
This track stands not only as an indie anthem but as a poetic muse for anyone who has ever felt out of step with the world around them. The song’s raw honesty wrapped in whimsical allegory lets listeners find pieces of themselves within its verses and, perhaps, find consolation in the shared experience of being a unicorn in a world of horses.
