Very Ape (Live In Rome, Palaghiaccio Di Marino - February 22, 1994)

Song Meaning

The lyrics immediately plunge into a chaotic internal world. The speaker describes being "buried up to my neck" in "Contradictionary flies," suggesting an overwhelming mental state. This sets a tone of raw, almost manic self-awareness, where contradictions are not just present but actively embraced. A core tension emerges from the speaker's conflicting self-perception. They declare, "I'm very ape and very nice," a blunt admission of primal urges alongside a veneer of civility. This duality is further complicated by a dismissive attitude towards others, advising them to "ask someone else first," hinting at a jaded isolation. The brilliant wordplay, like "king of illiterature," showcases a rebellious intellect that rejects conventional wisdom, finding pride in a kind of anti-knowledge. This ironic self-proclamation, coupled with the defensive stance of "actin' like I'm not naïve," reveals a character fiercely guarding a fragile inner world, projecting an image of seasoned experience while perhaps fearing exposure. The repeated chorus, detailing a cycle "Out of the ground / Into the sky / Out of the sky / Into the dirt," acts as a stark, almost existential refrain. It grounds the speaker's internal turmoil in a universal pattern of emergence and decay. This cyclical imagery suggests that despite all the personal contradictions and bravado, life's fundamental trajectory remains constant and inescapable.