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Tame Impala — Elephant
Album: Lonerism
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1995









Released: 2012
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 5
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Well he feels like an elephant,
Shakin' his big grey trunk for the hell of it.
He knows that you're dreaming about being loved by him.
Too bad your chances are slim

And it's not like Mr. Shuck to get shy
when they ask him who is on top.
There must be something deep down in the dark down there.
But he's not too easily scared.

He's got friends but they got the fear,
Wouldn't care too much if he just disappeared.
Oh look, hey, there he is now coming down the stairs.

Here he comes...

He pulled the mirrors off his cadillac,
'Cause he doesn't like it looking like he looks back.
He talks like his opinion is a simple fact.

Somebody grabbed his collar
He cried the whole way home
Nobody remembered a thing when they saw him again
That's how it is till the end.
Comments (156)add comment
Such a badasss song!!!!! SOUNDS GREAT!!! Like early white stripes..
Posted 11 hours ago by URBANARCHITECT    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Sounds kinda Lennon-y to me.



The first time I heard this. My immediate thought is sounding like parts of Roll over lay down and let me in by Status Quo  then went Lennon-y
Posted 1 month ago by robstephens80    [ Reply ]
Check out the Wiggles cover via Triple J's LIke a Version
Posted 5 months ago by andrewsj    [ Reply ]
YESSSS!!! THIS SONG ALWAYS HITS LIKE A TRUCK!!!

...Or should I say... like an Elephant ;)
Posted 10 months ago by Nickstrat    [ Reply ]
 William wrote:

Uh, where are these "mainstream" radio stations blasting out the Tame Impala? I'd like to meet them.


Our local radio station, Live 105, played them before disappearing and then miraculously coming back. Too many commercials, but they play great music with lots of new stuff.
Posted 1 year ago by tragic_king    [ Reply ]
 TheKing2 wrote:


Like in John Lennon?


   and with McCartney-esqu bass lines..
Posted 1 year ago by moodfood    [ Reply ]
The album photo is a picture of the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. One of my favorite places. 
Posted 1 year ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
 vinylbob wrote:

The entire LP is very good.  



For sure, and unlike their last album which was a big change for the worse in my view - lost their edge.
Posted 1 year ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Glad to hear this back in rotation, it's been a while.
Posted 2 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 stretcher wrote:

I like it.
I hear the Lennon in there, but only the voice.
Anyone else hear Them Crooked Vultures / Queens of the Stone Age?



Or Claypool Lennon Delirium?
Posted 2 years ago by Exothermic    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Sounds kinda Lennon-y to me.



Like in John Lennon?
Posted 2 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
Few years back in Oakland... Crowd loved this song and Kevin remarked they never had that reaction before. 
Posted 2 years ago by kjf06    [ Reply ]
love hearing this right after blondie - call me. 
Posted 2 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:

I love the T-Rex-like wall-of-guitars sound within this, the early Floyd-like keys, the shimmering Sweet-like vocal harmonies, the rumbling, sinister Black Sabbath-like bass, and the trippy Jeff Lynne/ John Lennon-like voice and production... When I saw them that tour at The Boulder Theater, at proper psilocybin canna-chocolate-boosted orbit -- with White Denim opening, to boot! -- they sent us aloft, and kept us all out there for the duration.  See them jam if you can!



Great description. Thanks!
Posted 2 years ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
i could go for significantly more tame impala on RP. 8/10
Posted 3 years ago by wanderinglevel    [ Reply ]
Some of the guitar work sounds like it has been influenced by the Dr Who theme
Posted 3 years ago by Phil0901    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:

In the natural world, a tame impala is a dead impala.



or a Chevrolet
Posted 3 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Sounds kinda Lennon-y to me.



..or Tommy James
Posted 3 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Stomping, bass madness.....love it!
Posted 3 years ago by garydgould    [ Reply ]
I love the T-Rex-like wall-of-guitars sound within this, the early Floyd-like keys, the shimmering Sweet-like vocal harmonies, the rumbling, sinister Black Sabbath-like bass, and the trippy Jeff Lynne/ John Lennon-like voice and production... When I saw them that tour at The Boulder Theater, at proper altitude -- with White Denim opening, to boot! -- they sent us aloft, and kept us out there for the duration. You gotta see them jam!
Posted 3 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
The Wiggles children's group covered this for Triple-J's "Like a version" and came in at #1 on the hottest 100 for 2021.
Posted 3 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
Love his voice like Lennon
Posted 4 years ago by noe.architecte169    [ Reply ]
The Wiggles covered this song very recently (March, 2021). It's a trip!

Here's the youtube link!
Posted 4 years ago by Audiacity    [ Reply ]
I heard this in a record store in Melbourne and bought the CD on that basis.
I was visiting the city for the first time since I'd lived there as a kid in the 1970s.
I remember being introduced to such great music by Ian Meldrum's Countdown, so I've always associated Australia with different (more interesting) music than than which was being played when I got back to the US.
So it was great to have that magical 'record store experience' and come across this song.
'Here he comes'
Posted 4 years ago by douglas_linton    [ Reply ]
This song on his last tour.... Man, it was great... maybe it was the substances or maybe it was the laser eyes on the video projection or maybe it was both (yeah, it was definitely both) 
Posted 5 years ago by Jamunca    [ Reply ]
I like these guys, but I'd never really listened to the lyrics of this one. Weird stuff!
Posted 5 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Most definitely has a Dr. Who theme vibe.
Posted 5 years ago by Lenora    [ Reply ]
Love this line!  One of their best tunes IMHO.

"He pulled the mirrors off his cadillac,
'Cause he doesn't like it looking like he looks back."
Posted 5 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 BCarn wrote:

"Hatred"? Really? It's only a song. Chill. Now if it was Neil Young...well.
 

Or Phil Collins.
Posted 5 years ago by flyboy    [ Reply ]
I like it.
I hear the Lennon in there, but only the voice.
Anyone else hear Them Crooked Vultures / Queens of the Stone Age?
Posted 6 years ago by stretcher    [ Reply ]
Subconsciously, I’m thinking of watching a Dr Who episode ...
Posted 6 years ago by Ngoziman    [ Reply ]
Nah, 3
Posted 6 years ago by murr69st335    [ Reply ]
 ploba wrote:
my hatred for everything this band has done knows no bounds

 
"Hatred"? Really? It's only a song. Chill. Now if it was Neil Young...well.
Posted 7 years ago by BCarn    [ Reply ]
my hatred for everything this band has done knows no bounds
Posted 7 years ago by ploba    [ Reply ]
Very Floydian...not a bad thing
Posted 7 years ago by old_spice    [ Reply ]
 Hannio wrote:
Reminds me of something from Primus, but I can't think what.

 
I remember now - Shake Hands With Beef.
Posted 7 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Sounds kinda Lennon-y to me.

 

                                        So rate it a little higher ~

 
Posted 8 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Sounds kinda Lennon-y to me.
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
A nice 'shifting of gears' in this song  
Posted 8 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
scaling down bassline reminds me of "Money" Pink Floyd...nice
Posted 8 years ago by vanillagorilla    [ Reply ]
Instant 7!!  ...and the songs only begun, it may rate higher...
Posted 8 years ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]
More Tame Impala sir please
Posted 9 years ago by Kassbomb    [ Reply ]
 Cannon wrote:
Love that line. 
 
Me too. {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 9 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
"He pulled the mirrors off his cadillac,
'Cause he doesn't like it looking like he looks back"

Love that line. 
Posted 9 years ago by Cannon    [ Reply ]
 vinylbob wrote:
The entire LP is very good.  

 
Sounds like somebody should get busy and upload a few more songs from this LP/CD/Album.
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 aspicer wrote:
Love this track! Groovy, cool, fun, interesting...  {#Guitarist}

 
Agreed.  Reminds me a little bit of Metric.  
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Love this track! Groovy, cool, fun, interesting...  {#Guitarist}
Posted 9 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
The entire LP is very good.  
Posted 10 years ago by vinylbob    [ Reply ]
First time hearing this and not bad, although the middle section sounds like the opening tune to Airwolf the 80's TV shows with Jean Michel Vincent!!
Posted 10 years ago by Pioneer_Sing    [ Reply ]
 misterbearbaby wrote:
I had to get up from lunch to see if this was Pink Floyd's  "Meddle" or "Ummagumma," or maybe a track from the video "Live at Pompeii." (which, by the way, is f*ing FANTASTIC - from when Pink Floyd was a percussion unit) - Couldn't quite remember which, figured those neurons must have gotten damaged and urinated away long ago. TAME IMPALA!? W.T.F.!?

I wouldn't say their drumming is 'rubbish.' Look at the White Stripes- now there's some drumming that despite being rubbish actually works quite well. Not every rock drummer is Bonzo or Cozy...  Wanna see some Satanically-deranged drumming? Watch the 1972 video "Led Zeppelin"- Bonham was the Animal God of rock drumming; one must see him to believe him.

Yes, it's still 1972, baby.

 
Seems bill sees the White Stripes match too. he played them next
Posted 10 years ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
Originale.  
Posted 10 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
maybe
Posted 10 years ago by notftpdoug    [ Reply ]
I had to get up from lunch to see if this was Pink Floyd's  "Meddle" or "Ummagumma," or maybe a track from the video "Live at Pompeii." (which, by the way, is f*ing FANTASTIC - from when Pink Floyd was a percussion unit) - Couldn't quite remember which, figured those neurons must have gotten damaged and urinated away long ago. TAME IMPALA!? W.T.F.!?

I wouldn't say their drumming is 'rubbish.' Look at the White Stripes- now there's some drumming that despite being rubbish actually works quite well. Not every rock drummer is Bonzo or Cozy...  Wanna see some Satanically-deranged drumming? Watch the 1972 video "Led Zeppelin"- Bonham was the Animal God of rock drumming; one must see him to believe him.

Yes, it's still 1972, baby.
Posted 11 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
 midigitguy wrote:
Check out Todd's remix of this tune...
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBaW1RyGUz8
or
 https://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/tame-impala-elephant-todd
 

 
Tame Impala also do a neat cover version of Todd's song "International Feel".
Posted 11 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Check out Todd's remix of this tune...
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBaW1RyGUz8
or
 https://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/tame-impala-elephant-todd
 
Posted 11 years ago by midigitguy    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of something from Primus, but I can't think what.
Posted 11 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 BillG wrote:

Uh, where are these "mainstream" radio stations blasting out the Tame Impala? I'd like to meet them.

 

Probably not, but I don't even listen to radio stations at all except for WUSC and WRAS (who used to play Tame Impala before they became mainstream).  I think I was more referring to those blasted commercials and just assumed mainstream radio played them as well, but of course I would have no idea.
Posted 11 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
this song wouldn't be a 1/4 bad if it wasn't played every 10 minutes as a commercial for verizon
Posted 11 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]
In the natural world, a tame impala is a dead impala.
Posted 11 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
 Zep wrote:
What is a "radio station?"
 
(muttering/growling) "All you young punk whippersnappers that have never listened to a real radio.  Why, back in my day ....."

(It's not that far-fetched, people.) 
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:
i read the lyrics, too. i'm still unsure as to what they mean...
 
I have no clue, but I like them anyway.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 BillG wrote:
Uh, where are these "mainstream" radio stations blasting out the Tame Impala? I'd like to meet them.
 
What is a "radio station?"
Posted 11 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
One more retro sound. Reminds me some of Family.
Posted 12 years ago by JBarDom    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
I remember when I first heard this song I thought it was pretty cool.  Gawd that seems like a lifetime ago!  My fervent hope is that I will be fortunate enough to never hear it again.  As long as I don't listen to mainstream radio I should be safe.......right?

 
Uh, where are these "mainstream" radio stations blasting out the Tame Impala? I'd like to meet them.
Posted 12 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
For me, the way these guys play -- especially on cuts like The Bold Arrow of Time and I Don't Mind (Innerspeaker album) calls up lots of wonderful associations, from Black Sabbath and Sweet to Hendrix and T-Rex, and I love the way they stay in pretty much full-on Barrett mode the whole time...  I also think the cover's very Floydian -- the French palace (Versailles? or something like it) off-limits to outsiders.
Posted 12 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
I remember when I first heard this song I thought it was pretty cool.  Gawd that seems like a lifetime ago!  My fervent hope is that I will be fortunate enough to never hear it again.  As long as I don't listen to mainstream radio I should be safe.......right?
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
8.  Heard it enough times to decide, and read the lyrics.  (Is the "Lyrics" button a relatively new addition?)

Yep, I like it.

 
i read the lyrics, too. i'm still unsure as to what they mean...
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
I was planning on going to see them here in Richmond but the show sold out.

TI are big Todd Rundgren fans and they had him do a remix of this tune. 
Posted 12 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Impala are known as the McDonald's of Africa since everything and everybody eats them.
Posted 12 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Beth Orton is a drag! Never heard a singer with such a boring voice.....
Posted 12 years ago by Ghiaap    [ Reply ]
8.  Heard it enough times to decide, and read the lyrics.  (Is the "Lyrics" button a relatively new addition?)

Yep, I like it.
Posted 12 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Familiar and shameless copy of the descending and reoccurring riff in "Money" by Pink Floyd. 
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Holy Clear Channel repetition, Batman!{#Eek}
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 favrood wrote:
Beatles circa 1976 after a few listens of Wind and Wuthering...

 

There were no Beatles in 1976.
Posted 12 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
Texture and timbre and cool ...
Posted 12 years ago by ccjemmett    [ Reply ]
i like it more every time i hear it for some reason. always grabs me.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
How to copy five or six different bands within one only song ... terrible !
Posted 12 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
Beatles circa 1976 after a few listens of Wind and Wuthering...
Posted 12 years ago by favrood    [ Reply ]
The rest of the album not so impressive, this one though - hits me every time!
{#Arrow} 9
Posted 12 years ago by macmat    [ Reply ]


This Elephant?
https://youtu.be/gO60Gygw3W0


Posted 12 years ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
... and tonight Bill follows it with T Rex:  "Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for your loooooooove."

Nice. 
Posted 12 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 joempie wrote:

Glad it's not Muse though... I like this song, you can hear the influences of Queens of the Stone Age I think, plus some typical glam influences. The rest of the album was not nearly as good I thought...

 
Yep. They came to our village. A bit lame really.
Posted 12 years ago by maxmox    [ Reply ]
... as if beatles and pink floyd met and traveled in time to years later and found body in this delicious body called Tamed Impala
Posted 12 years ago by savasmeister    [ Reply ]
I am digging these guys - nice tasty reinvention of the past, injected with some new post-modern rock sensibilities.
Posted 12 years ago by grant    [ Reply ]
Like early Floyd. But not as good.
Posted 12 years ago by bb_matt    [ Reply ]
Boy this one sure got old fast, but it had a lot of help apparently here too!{#Lol}
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 nevar23 wrote:
The Beatles + Kasabian + Oasis?
 
You beat me to it.
I'm hearing Beatles + Suzi Quatro
And no, I'm not that old. ;-)
Posted 12 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
I don't know why, but this song makes me want to buy a Blackberry. :-)
Posted 12 years ago by burdell    [ Reply ]
this one gets played daily, it seems.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
channeling T. Rex!!  love this tune from guys who probably weren't even born when Marc Bolan was stomping around in his platforms!
Posted 12 years ago by Highspirits    [ Reply ]
Definitely a very cool tune.
Posted 12 years ago by kayakingclark    [ Reply ]
The Beatles + Kasabian + Oasis?
Posted 12 years ago by nevar23    [ Reply ]
 daedalus wrote:
Ugh ! Gary Glitter...
 
I can hear that, too.
Posted 12 years ago by swaller    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear this, another layer, another nuance reveals and scintillates, making me like it even more...impeccable timing with the change-ups within this jamming gem, too!
Posted 12 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Anybody want to identify the cover photo location?  Looks like some James Bond Bad Guy is throwing a hell of a lawn party.
Posted 12 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Pink Sabbath.  {#Eh}
Posted 12 years ago by MoonDweazel    [ Reply ]
Muse meets ELP..
Posted 12 years ago by kaybar    [ Reply ]
I agree this is becoming a little overplayed now, but man I love this song. Especially love the breakdown mid-way with the keyboards.
Posted 12 years ago by winotron    [ Reply ]
 richlister wrote:
What the Beatles should have sounded like.
 

Seriously??
Posted 12 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
LIKE!  Thx for turning me on to these guys.
Posted 12 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
Boris the Spider by the Who
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

Good point, but this much more whimsical and fun than anything Sabbath ever did.

 
It's a cool song,and I agree with the whimsy part. It reminds me of Boris the Spider in that regard....
Posted 12 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
 gypsyman wrote:
I know. How about some Uriah Heep. Maybe from Magician's Birthday.
 

Yes!
but I like it! 
Posted 12 years ago by raga    [ Reply ]
They played a shortened (unfortunately!) version of this mad jammer on Jimmy Fallon a few nights back, and THEY ROCKED! Good to see them: With Hofner bass and Rickey guitar (Beatles' gear), sporting groovy old-school rocker clothes and hair...FELT LIKE A FLASHBACK, FOR SURE — DIGGIN' IT IMMENSELY!
Posted 12 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
What the Beatles should have sounded like.
Posted 12 years ago by richlister    [ Reply ]
 lososs wrote:
played a bit too many times over the last couple of days though.. I know because I am starting to wear out the PSD button
(not that there's anything wrong with the song per se, it just doesn't work for me)
 

Tend to agree. Seems like I've been hearing this song everyday for the past week.
Posted 12 years ago by 25demayo    [ Reply ]
played a bit too many times over the last couple of days though.. I know because I am starting to wear out the PSD button
(not that there's anything wrong with the song per se, it just doesn't work for me)
Posted 12 years ago by lososs    [ Reply ]
Sounds like they lifted this directly from Doctor Who!

<iframe xx="560" yy="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VkcHgI_TIYQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Posted 12 years ago by clickfaster    [ Reply ]
 dig wrote:
Syd Barrett meets Black Sabbath. Love it!
 
Good point, but this much more whimsical and fun than anything Sabbath ever did.
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:
Beginning of the song reminds me of a song from Muse (don't know which, but a recent one).
 
Glad it's not Muse though... I like this song, you can hear the influences of Queens of the Stone Age I think, plus some typical glam influences. The rest of the album was not nearly as good I thought...
Posted 12 years ago by joempie    [ Reply ]
Beginning of the song reminds me of a song from Muse (don't know which, but a recent one).
Posted 12 years ago by Dinges,_the_Dude    [ Reply ]
Overrated band. Boring track.
Posted 12 years ago by nicknt    [ Reply ]
 dig wrote:
Syd Barrett meets Black Sabbath. Love it!
 
Very interesting point....well done.
Posted 12 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Just received the album last week. Played it all week-end. Thank you Radio Paradise !{#Sunny}
Posted 12 years ago by FrnaZ    [ Reply ]
Wow!  Holy underratings batman!

Suffering from hipster fatigue I guess.


Posted 12 years ago by blackjackshellac    [ Reply ]
i like.
Posted 12 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
Syd Barrett meets Black Sabbath. Love it!
Posted 12 years ago by dig    [ Reply ]
Ugh ! Gary Glitter...
Posted 12 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
Hey folks take my advice: never use a brush with thatmusic during having a shower! Sunday, bloody sunday!
Posted 12 years ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
 gypsyman wrote:
I know. How about some Uriah Heep. Maybe from Magician's Birthday.
 

Now that's a thought. Love Uriah Heep.....
Posted 12 years ago by 25demayo    [ Reply ]