Boris the Spider by The Who Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Web of a Cult Classic

Lyrics

Look, he’s crawling up my wall
Black and hairy, very small
Now he’s up above my head
Hanging by a little thread

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Now he’s dropped on to the floor
Heading for the bedroom door
Maybe he’s as scared as me
Where’s he gone now, I can’t see

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Creepy, crawly
Creepy, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

There he is wrapped in a ball
Doesn’t seem to move at all
Perhaps he’s dead, I’ll just make sure
Pick this book up off the floor

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Creepy, crawly
Creepy, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

He’s come to a sticky end
Don’t think he will ever mend
Never more will he crawl ’round
He’s embedded in the ground

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Among the vast and varied library of The Who’s music lies ‘Boris the Spider’, a quirky tune that has crawled into the consciousness of the band’s fans since its release. This seemingly simple track, which first appeared on the 1966 album ‘A Quick One’, may easily be mistaken for a mere novelty song, an eccentric blip on the radar of a band known for its rock operas and windmilling guitar antics.

However, by spinning deeper into the web woven by ‘Boris the Spider’, we find threads of existential dread, reflections on mortality, and the universal human experience of fear. Equal parts humorous and harrowing, the song survives as a specimen worth examining under the microscope of lyrical analysis.

A Velvet Voice for a Velvet Creep – The Who’s Classic Creature Feature

John Entwistle, The Who’s bassist, lent his voice to ‘Boris the Spider’ in a tone that mirrored the titular character’s apparent creepiness. The song employs a comedic horror aesthetic reminiscent of the classic creature features of the 50s and 60s. Entwistle’s deep, growling vocal delivery heightens the eerie atmosphere, inviting listeners into a world where a tiny spider garners a spotlight typically reserved for more bombastic topics.

This musical choice does more than entertain; it signifies a willingness to challenge norms, to dive into absurdity, and to view life from a perspective that finds intrigue in even the smallest of its inhabitants – quite literally.

The Web of Mortality – ‘Boris the Spider’ and the Inescapable Fate

On the surface, ‘Boris the Spider’ might merely describe a brief, seemingly inconsequential encounter with an arachnid. Yet upon closer inspection, the song’s narrative arc – the spider’s rise, fall, and untimely demise – serves as a morbid metaphor for the briefness of existence. The spider’s life explores a common human anxiety: the recognition of one’s mortality and the awareness that death can be swift and unexpected.

Entwistle’s almost playful observance of the spider’s end (‘He’s come to a sticky end’) seems to mock the fear that lies beneath, suggesting a coping mechanism through humor. This juxtaposition offers a darkly comic take on the seriousness of life and death, presenting a lens through which to examine our own reactions to the unavoidable fate that awaits all living things.

Crawling Through the Psyche – Facing Our Fears with Eight Legs

Beyond its spectral sounds and shadowy lyrics, ‘Boris the Spider’ taps into a primal human fear: the dread of the creepy and crawly things that scuttle in the dark. Spiders, in particular, evoke a near-universal unease or revulsion. The Who amplifies these visceral emotions through vivid descriptions and a bone-rattling chorus that chills to the core.

Musically, ‘Boris’ flaunts a rhythm that mimics the skittering of a spider’s legs across a surface, creating an immersive sensory experience. This artistic reflection on fear encourages listeners to confront discomfort, to look closer at what scares us, and perhaps in doing so, to become less afraid.

Eight-Legged Earworm – The Catchiest Arachnid Anthem Ever Spun

With its simple, repetitive chorus and memorable onomatopoeic words, ‘Boris the Spider’ refuses to leave listeners’ heads. Like a spider’s web catching unsuspecting victims, the tune lures and traps, showcasing The Who’s ability to craft catchy music alongside more complex compositions. It’s the stylistic dexterity of the band that allows a song like ‘Boris’ to coexist with the likes of ‘My Generation’ and ‘Baba O’Riley’.

The repetitive ‘creepy, crawly’ motif serves as both a haunting motif and a vehicle through which the music embeds itself into the collective consciousness. As a result, ‘Boris the Spider’ has become somewhat of an unlikely anthem over time, cementing its place in the annals of rock history.

Entwined in Humor – The Hidden Humor Behind the Haunting Chorus

There’s an unmistakable strand of humor wrapped within the silk of ‘Boris the Spider’. The whimsy of the language and the subject matter contrast sharply with the typical themes of rock music, paving the way for future artists to explore the absurd and the playful. Entwistle’s own bemusement while writing the song is palpable, allowing ‘Boris’ to scuttle beyond being a mere novelty tune, instead becoming a beloved piece in the quirky corner of rock.

By embracing the ridiculous and embellishing the mundane, ‘Boris the Spider’ invites listeners to share in a collective chuckle at the everyday horrors that dwell in the corners of our homes – and minds. It’s a song that reminds us to find levity in the darkness, to smile at our fear, and possibly, to sing along with the twisted tale of a named, doomed arachnid.