Animals by Alex G Lyrics Meaning – Unlocking the Emotional Labyrinth in Melody
Lyrics
Everything we do, we do it alone
I get sick when I get stoned
Everything we do, we do it alone
Rosie is my favorite dog
Takes her piss on the neighbor’s lawn
Rosie is my favorite dog
Bites my hand when I go wrong
I do
Animals, not people
I do animals
Not people
I do
Who’s that walking down your stairs?
Double check, there’s something there
Who’s that walking down your stairs?
Double check, there’s something there
Rosie told me not to cry
Look her in her big brown eyes
Hold her tight and feel no pain
Her dog breath drives me insane
I do
Animals, not people
I do animals
Not people
I do
As the melancholic guitar strings of Alex G’s ‘Animals’ begin to reverberate through the ears of introspective listeners, a sense of communal solipsism takes hold. It’s a journey through the fragmented psyche of the artist, offering a glimpse into the raw complexities of human (and animal) relationships.
This song isn’t just an assortment of verses; it serves as a cryptic canvas where Alex G paints a picture of visceral experiences and connections, subtly coaxing us to look beyond the surface of what may initially seem like straightforward lyricism.
The Struggle of Isolation: A Stroll Through the Mind’s Alley
Right away, ‘I get sick when I get stoned / Everything we do, we do it alone’ sets a tone of poignant loneliness. It’s as though Alex G is communicating a dual battle with substance and solitude. The sickness that comes with being stoned is emblematic not just of physical discomfort but of an emotional response to disconnectedness.
There’s a palpable tension between seeking isolation through substances, and yet facing the ever-present human need for connection. The repetition of these lines drums in the universality of seclusion, speaking to the deepest part of the listener’s own hermetic tendencies.
The Canine Metaphor: Unconditional Love in Its Purest Form
In ‘Rosie is my favorite dog / Takes her piss on the neighbor’s lawn’, Alex G introduces us to Rosie, a symbol of uninhibited nature and perhaps an unexpected anchor for the singer. There’s a rebellion in her actions, yet a comfort in her predictability.
The duality of Rosie’s character, conspicuously manifest in the biting as a response to mistakes, represents a brutal honesty in animalistic instinct—a stark contrast to the often veiled interactions of people. It’s raw and real, yet there’s an assurance in her love, even when it hurts.
‘I Do Animals, Not People’—A Refrain of Resistance
The refrain, ‘I do animals, not people’, is a pounding heart in the chest of the song. It rips out any ambiguity and starkly sets the two subjects apart. The line isn’t simply controversial; it’s cathartic, a declaration of preferring the company that doesn’t swathe intentions in complexities.
Within these few words, Alex G arguably summarizes the entirety of the song’s ethos—the choice of simplicity and authenticity of relations with animals over the often convoluted and painful interactions with fellow humans.
The Haunting Presence: Paranoia Meets Introspection
Alex G’s imagery, ‘Who’s that walking down your stairs? / Double check, there’s something there’, invites a sense of paranoia into the mix. It’s a reflection on the self—a questioning of one’s sanity when alone with their thoughts.
This spectral suspicion, paired with the grounding guidance of Rosie, who advises against tears, is a complex dance between insecurity and reassurance. The imagery also doubles as a metaphor for the intrusive thoughts that tip-toe through the mind at its most vulnerable.
Memorable Lines That Linger: Delving into the Song’s Mantra
Certain lines in ‘Animals’ act like mantras, resonating long after the music fades. ‘Hold her tight and feel no pain’ is a poignant reminder of the solace that a non-human companion can offer in times of emotional duress.
Meanwhile, ‘Her dog breath drives me insane’ flawlessly encapsulates the dichotomy of love—the ability for both annoyance and affection to coexist. These lines strip down the complexity of human emotion to its most fundamental form, illustrating how the most intense feelings are often accompanied by a paradox.
