Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a direct, sorrowful address to a "Coyot', coyote," immediately establishing a tone of regret. The speaker questions, "What have we done?" setting a somber, confessional mood. This brief introduction hints at a profound loss and shared culpability.
The core conflict quickly emerges: humanity's destructive actions against nature. The speaker admits, "We strychinined the mountain / We strychinined the plain," detailing a deliberate, widespread poisoning. This violent imagery contrasts sharply with the tender "Little brother" address, highlighting the tragic irony of harming what one might claim kinship with, leading to the irreversible consequence that "The coyote won't come back again."
A striking shift occurs as the coyote, initially a victim, becomes a messenger. The lyrics suggest that when "the few that are left" sing, "He's warning the human race / Of his death." This flips the narrative, turning the coyote's demise into a dire prophecy for humanity itself. The warning then broadens, urging "Don't poison the mesas / Don't poison the sky," implying that the destruction extends beyond specific animals to the very environment sustaining life.
The emotional weight culminates in the chilling consequence of ignoring these warnings. The speaker predicts a future where "There'll be no one to listen / And no one to sing," a silence born of ecological collapse. The ultimate, devastating blow arrives with the line, "Never will there be spring," an image that strips away all hope of renewal or rebirth. This stark, final image makes the lyrics profoundly effective, transforming a lament for a creature into a stark, existential warning for all.
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