Of Monsters And Men -- Alligator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NunAl4BRVx8
(https://i.imgur.com/oFTvahv.jpg?1)
“Alligator” carries the confusing yet beautiful tone the narrator experiences during her emotional awakening. Though the narrative is vague and disjointed, the song’s story appears to be written from the perspective of an “Alligator” who is laid in the river as her final resting place, only to be brought back to life as she is in her element for the first time. This resurrection causes her to confront the wildness inside of her and come to terms with her true identity as she lets go of the fear of accepting it. The disjointed images and sounds described in “Alligator” place an emphasis on emotion and perception over the external world. The entire song is written from the perspective of someone who is in the midst of an experience made up almost purely of emotional intensity.
While “Alligator” is an abstract song lyrically, it is not at all void of meaning. The lyrics paint a picture of the inner struggle between fear of the unknown inside of us and the acceptance of what we may uncover. That journey is communicated powerfully as the lyrics partner with both the music and vocals. Through the subtle narrative told primarily through emotions, Of Monsters and Men have given a song of victory over uncertainty and fear to their listeners. “Alligator” is the moment of triumph over one’s fear, frozen in time, and communicated in a kaleidoscope-esque fashion to remind us of what it feels like when we push off into the unknown in spite of our fear, in hope of something better.
Clifford Stumme/Arielle Anderson