Animal – English Lyrics

• By: Miike Snow

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the layered meaning of Miike Snow's "Animal" and dive into the English lyrics that explore the universal feeling of grappling with one's true self. The song's catchy melody and accessible vocabulary make it a great entry point for language learners to explore complex themes of identity and societal pressure through music.

[English]

There was a time when my world was filled with

Darkness, darkness, darkness

Then I've stopped dreaming now

I'm supposed to fill it up with

Something, something, something

In your eyes I see the eyes of somebody I knew before

Long, long, long ago

But I'm still trying to make my mind up

Am I free or am I tied up?

I change shapes just to hide in this place

But I'm still, I'm still an animal

Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah I slip

I'm still an animal

There is a hole and I tried to fill it up with

Money, money, money

But it gets bigger 'til your hopes is always

Running, running, running

In your eyes I see the eyes of somebody of who could be strong

Tell me if I'm wrong

And now I'm pulling your disguise up

Are you free or are you tied up?

I change shapes just to hide in this place

But I'm still, I'm still an animal

Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah I slip

I'm still an animal

I change shapes just to hide in this place

But I'm still I'm still an animal

Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah I slip

I'm still an animal

...

I change shapes just to hide in this place

But I'm still, I'm still an animal

Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah I slip

I'm still an animal

I change shapes just to hide in this place

But I'm still, I'm still an animal

Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah I slip

I'm still an animal

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
animal /ˈænɪməl/ A1	noun - a living organism that feeds on organic matter
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B1	noun - the absence of light
dream /driːm/ B1	verb - to imagine or hope for something
fill /fɪl/ A2	verb - to make something full
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
strong /strɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - having power or strength
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space
slip /slɪp/ B2	verb - to slide unintentionally
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	verb - to make or become different
trying /ˈtraɪ.ɪŋ/ B1	verb - making an effort to do something
tied /taɪd/ B2	adjective - bound or secured with a knot
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B2	noun - a means of altering one's appearance

Key Grammar Structures

• There **was** a time when my world **was** filled with...

  ➔ Past Simple (was)

  ➔ Uses the Past Simple tense to describe a past state or situation. "Was" indicates something existed or was true in the past but may not be now.

• Then I've stopped dreaming now

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple (I've stopped)

  ➔ Uses the Present Perfect Simple to express an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. "I've stopped" implies that the speaker stopped dreaming at some point in the past and this stopping has a current consequence.

• In your eyes I see the eyes of **somebody** I knew before

  ➔ Relative Clause (somebody I knew before)

  ➔ Uses a relative clause "I knew before" to provide additional information about "somebody". The relative pronoun 'that' or 'whom' is omitted.

• Am I free or am I tied up?

  ➔ Question Formation with 'am' (Present Simple)

  ➔ This is a basic question structure using the verb "to be" in the present simple. The inversion of subject and verb ('Am I...') creates the interrogative form.

• I change shapes just **to hide** in this place

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose (to hide)

  ➔ The infinitive form of the verb preceded by "to" (to hide) explains the purpose or reason for the action (I change shapes).

• But I'm still, I'm still an animal

  ➔ Present Simple (I'm)

  ➔ Using the present simple "I'm" to express a state of being, emphasizing a current or ongoing condition or identity.

• Nobody knows it but me when I slip, yeah I slip

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement (Nobody knows)

  ➔ Despite implying a group of people, "Nobody" is treated as a singular subject, hence the verb takes the singular form "knows".