Story Behind the Song
As most of Bittersweet, this was recorded in a garage recording studio in Southern California, though it was written in Somerville, Mass.
It started out being about our cat, but it quickly grew into something else.
One thing I remember. Dan, the percussionist, actually played a small, plastic bird he had clipped to his conga, as well as a rubber chicken. I'm not sure you can tell on the recording.
Lyrics
Turning into an Animal - Paul Henry
Ingrid's getting paranoid, she's hiding under chairs,
Turning into an animal.
Tommy's seeing predators that aren't really there, you know he's
Turning into an animal.
Look at his hands! Look at his feet! He's started hunting for his meat!
Turning into an animal.
Betty's being indiscreet, she paints her face when she's in heat, she is
Turning into an animal. Turning into an animal.
What happened to that lady I knew,
that cool and steady socialite?
She's getting city-wise, uncivilised,
she's learning how to bite.
Can't take her anywhere no more,
she spills her drink and licks the floor.
Turning into an animal.
Now maybe, it's the city, and maybe, it's my mind.
Turning into an animal.
But lately, in the mirror, I've been waking up to find, I'm
Turning into an animal.
Now my eyes are always bloodshot, and my clothes are feeling wrong.
Turning into an animal.
My nails are getting dirty and my teeth are getting long, I'm
Turning into an animal.
Is it because I was the man that I was?
With every year I watch him fade away.
And his little paws are growing claws,
And now he hunts his prey.
We stalk the town, we spit and fight.
We drink and drive on Friday night, we're
Turning into animals.
And who are you? And are you sure?
There is no guarantee that you're not
Turning into an animal. Turning into an animal.
Oh, that face is no disguise, you have begun to metamorphosize!
Turning into
Turning into
Turning into an animal.
Ingrid is my kind of cat, and more that that - she's an animal!
©1991 Paul Henry. All rights reserved.
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