VERSE
Knocking 'Round the Zoo
James Taylor
Just knocking around the zoo on a Thursday afternoon
There's bars on all the windows and they're counting up the spoons
And if I'm feeling edgy there's a chick who's paid to be my slave
But she'll hit me with a needle if she thinks I'm trying to misbehave
Now the keeper's trying to cool me says I'm bound to be alright
But I know that he can't fool me 'cause I'm putting him uptight
And I can feel him getting edgy every time I make a sudden move
And I can hear them celebrating every time I up and leave the room
Now my friends all came to see me they point at me and stare
Said he's just like the rest of us so what's he doing in there
They hide in their movie theaters drinking juice-keeping tight
'Cause they're certain about one thing that zoo's no place to spend the
night
Just knocking around the zoo on a Thursday afternoon
There's bars on all the windows and they're counting up the spoons
And if I'm feeling edgy there's a chick who's paid to be my slave
But she'll hit me with a needle if she thinks I'm trying to misbehave
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Translated byAllen Morningstar
About this Song
Knocking 'Round the Zoo by James Taylor is a reflection on the singer's time in a mental hospital. The song uses imagery of a zoo to describe the chaotic and often claustrophobic nature of the institution. Themes of mental health, confinement, and the struggle for personal freedom are evident throughout the lyrics. Key poignant moments include the descriptions of the daily routines and the desire to escape the metaphorical bars that hold the narrator. This song is a candid and evocative exploration of mental illness and institutional life.
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