Alligator by Of Monsters and Men Lyrics Meaning – Unearthing the Fever Dreams and Primal Emotions

Lyrics

Hey
Hey

I see color raining down
Feral feeling, swaying sound
But I don’t know what you want
I am open and I am restless
Let me feel it out
Let it all come out

Wake me up, I’m fever dreaming
And now I lose control, I’m fever dreaming
Shake it out, it’s just what I’m feeling
And now I take control, I’m fever dreaming
(I’m fever-dreaming)

Oh-so quiet, when they laid me in the stream
And the star-lit sky grew before my eyes
Twenty-two women stood by the banks
And cried, oh I

Wake me up, I’m fever dreaming
And now I lose control, I’m fever dreaming
Shake it out, it’s just what I’m feeling
And now I take control, I’m fever dreaming
(I’m fever dreaming)
I must be fever dreaming
(I’m fever dreaming)

Of Monsters and Men, the Icelandic quintet known for their ethereal soundscapes and poetic imagery, have once again tapped into the collective unconscious with their pulsating track, ‘Alligator’. Beyond its rousing beats and the entrancing blend of indie and folk-rock elements lies a profound exploration of the human psyche.

The enigmatic lyrics penned by lead vocalists Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson beckon a deep dive into a world of introspection and liberated expression. As we decode the shadows and light interplaying within ‘Alligator’, we peel back layers of feverish reverie and raw emotion that resonate with the listener’s own internal battles and triumphs.

Fever Dreams and Feral Feelings: The Primal Pulse of ‘Alligator’

In ‘Alligator’, there is a reoccurring motif of fever dreams — a metaphor depicting a struggle between control and surrender. The feverish state represents a limbo of consciousness where the barriers between the real and surreal blur, allowing a purgation of pent-up emotions.

The commanding drums and insistent cries to ‘Wake me up’ evoke the urgency and intensity of these emotions. The relentless nature of the soundscape mirrors the relentless unfolding of self-awareness and the savage, untamed feelings that often accompany personal growth.

The Enigma of Twenty-Two Women: Decoding Symbolic Witness

One of the most mystifying lyrics in ‘Alligator’ speaks of ‘twenty-two women’ who ‘stood by the banks and cried.’ This imageriesuggests a collective experience of empathy or shared grief. These figures might represent the different facets of the self or a chorus of ancestral voices imparting wisdom through tears, observing the protagonist’s metamorphosis.

The specific number suggests a deliberate symbolic choice, possibly alluding to introspection and life lessons learned, with twenty-two often linked to personal completion and fulfillment in numerology.

A Kaleidoscope of Colors: The Vivid Imagery in ‘Alligator’

Colors raining down represents a sensory overflow, a shower of heightened feelings or perhaps revelations breaking through the grey stoicism of daily existence. The vividness of the imagery in ‘Alligator’ paints a portrait of catharsis, the vibrant hues indicative of the emotional release and the clarity that comes from embracing one’s rawest emotions.

The ‘feral feeling’ accompanying this cascade suggests a reconnection with the instinctual self, often suppressed in the mechanics of societal norms and expectations. ‘Alligator’ champions the unpredictable and the unstructured, celebrating the undiluted essence of being.

The Cry to ‘Shake It Out’: A Mantra for Self-Control

A standout line in the song, ‘Shake it out, it’s just what I’m feeling,’ serves as a powerful mantra urging listeners to let go of inhibitions and to externalize their internal states. In context, shaking it out is both a physical and metaphorical act, rejecting the stifling heat of the fever dream in favor of taking hold of one’s destiny.

‘Alligator’ becomes an anthem of empowerment. The repeated resolutions to ‘take control’ amid the chaos of fever dreaming reflects a momentous decision to steer one’s life direction, expelling dormant fears and latent desires in the process.

Peering into the Stream’s Reflection: The Hidden Meaning of ‘Alligator’

The serene setting of being ‘laid in the stream’ amidst a cosmic performance hints at a form of baptism or purification, a preparation for rebirth. ‘Alligator’ invites its audience to this intimate and vulnerable space where one is cleansed by the water and gazed upon by the universe, stripping away the old to reveal what is to be awakened within.

It is here, beneath the ‘star-lit sky’, that the hidden meaning of ‘Alligator’ surfaces as a transformative rite of passage. Engulfed in the solitude of fever dreams, one discovers their true nature, echoing the ebb and flow of existence itself, forever changing, forever dreaming.