Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of intense longing for a departed lover, so strong it feels like a physical ache. The narrator wishes their absence could manifest as a literal force, compelling the person to return with supernatural speed, "grow wings and fly / Home to me." This immediate plea sets a tone of desperate yearning, underscored by the simple, almost childlike desire for reunion under the "morning sun." The central conceit revolves around a playful, yet deeply earnest, fantasy of escaping the present reality through an act of shared imagination. The repeated invitation, "Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits," is more than just a whimsical suggestion; it's a proposed sanctuary. This imagined world offers a space where societal norms and even natural laws can be disregarded, as indicated by the line, "Let abbots, Babbitts and Cabots / Say mother nature's wrong." It's a bid to reclaim intimacy and freedom, away from external judgment. The craft here hinges on the juxtaposition of innocent imagery with adult desires. The idea of "bunny rabbits" evokes prolific reproduction and uninhibited sexuality, amplified by the narrator's explicit wish to "nibble your ears / And do as bunnies do." This is further intensified by the almost manic repetition of "all day long" and the slightly unsettling phrase, "Rapidly becoming rabid." The shift from a gentle longing to a more primal, almost desperate, pursuit of pleasure highlights the depth of the narrator's need and the lengths they'll go to in their fantasy. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their ability to translate profound emotional emptiness into a vivid, albeit peculiar, escape plan. The fantasy of being "bunny rabbits" becomes a potent metaphor for a desire to return to a state of pure, unadulterated connection and instinct. The repeated promise, "I can keep it up all night / I can keep it up all day," coupled with the ultimate surrender to the fantasy "Until we pass away," underscores a commitment to this imagined reunion as the only solace available.