1
I didn't meet you in the jungle
Swinging from a tree
I sat down at the piano
You were playing with me
I couldn't believe all the things you could do
The apes I've seen were in the zoo
They say we are unique with this language that we speak
But you have proved them wrong
Skinner and Chomsky, how could they be so blind
With evidence this strong?
Intelligent life is all around us
Intelligent life is all around us
When you watch King Kong or The Planet of the Apes
Upon your video screen
When the animals die, tears fill your eye
And you question what you've seen
Intelligent life is all around us
Intelligent life is all around us
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Look in your eyes
That's where I come from
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Talk to me now
I am listening
You can search the internet
You can use your video phone
To call another friend
If we gave you all the tools
You can do whatever you want
Who knows when this will end
Intelligent life is all around us
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Look in your eyes
That's where I come from
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Talk to me now
I am listening
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Look in your eyes
That's where we come from
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Talk to us now
We are listening
Bonobo calling me now x12
Starting to hear the things you've said
Getting to know what's going on in your head
There's no humans on the line
But there'll be plenty more there in good time
Dolphins, cats, and elephants
This is not some wild romance
Just look in their eyes and say it's not true
Look in their eyes, they're checking out you
Communication with the Animal Nation
We are in communication with the Animal Nation x20
Swinging from a tree
I sat down at the piano
You were playing with me
I couldn't believe all the things you could do
The apes I've seen were in the zoo
They say we are unique with this language that we speak
But you have proved them wrong
Skinner and Chomsky, how could they be so blind
With evidence this strong?
Intelligent life is all around us
Intelligent life is all around us
When you watch King Kong or The Planet of the Apes
Upon your video screen
When the animals die, tears fill your eye
And you question what you've seen
Intelligent life is all around us
Intelligent life is all around us
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Look in your eyes
That's where I come from
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Talk to me now
I am listening
You can search the internet
You can use your video phone
To call another friend
If we gave you all the tools
You can do whatever you want
Who knows when this will end
Intelligent life is all around us
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Look in your eyes
That's where I come from
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Talk to me now
I am listening
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Look in your eyes
That's where we come from
Hey, bonobo woman
Hey, bonobo man
Talk to us now
We are listening
Bonobo calling me now x12
Starting to hear the things you've said
Getting to know what's going on in your head
There's no humans on the line
But there'll be plenty more there in good time
Dolphins, cats, and elephants
This is not some wild romance
Just look in their eyes and say it's not true
Look in their eyes, they're checking out you
Communication with the Animal Nation
We are in communication with the Animal Nation x20
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Animal Nation Lyrics as written by Peter Gabriel
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
This song is, obviously, about PG's encounter with the bonobo apes and playing music with them.
The lyrics make me lol so hard. Every time I hear this song, it makes me like my childhood hero just a little less...
He actually played the piano with apes? or is he saying we are all simply well trained tech-savy animals the only divider being language and tools? Yes, strange song.
Yes, he played the piano with apes. And, yes, the song is also about that too.