Released: 2014
“Animals” by Maroon 5 can be interpreted as a tale of intense and carnivorous lust. The lyrics revolve around the undeniable physical attraction and intense connection between two people, painted in the raw, predatory instincts of animals.
The first verse, “Baby, I’m preying on you tonight / Hunt you down, eat you alive / Just like animals…” metaphorically conveys the primal desire the protagonist feels towards their love interest. The use of hunting and animalistic imagery reflects the desire’s potency and raw nature. It’s like real talk straight out of a wildlife documentary, tiger chasing the gazelle kind of a vibe.
“Maybe you think that you can hide / I can smell your scent for miles” suggests persistence and an almost obsessive longing, echoing the sense of a predator tracking its prey. This ain’t playing hide and seek, it’s more of a sensory overload, pheromones stronger than the strongest cologne.
The lines, “It’s like we can’t stop, we’re enemies / But we get along when I’m inside you, yeah…” nuances the complexity of their relationship. It alludes to the idea that despite conflicts or differences, their physical attraction remains incredibly strong. Borderline toxic love, something Romeo and Juliet should take notes on!
In the verse, “You can start over, you can run free / You can find other fish in the sea… But you can’t stay away from me”, the singer conveys the cyclical nature of their relationship. While they both may attempt to find other partners or escape this intense bond, they cannot deny the power of their attraction. Seems like they’re hooked, deep down in love’s abyss with no divers around.
The refrain, “Don’t tell no lie, lie, lie, lie / You can’t deny-ny-ny-ny / The beast inside…” emphasizes this honesty about their raw, animalistic longing for each other. It invites the love interest to acknowledge and accept this shared attraction and its primal nature. Basically, ‘Don’t pretend, darling. We’re all animals in the end.’ So, it’s a savagely romantic tune that taps into some of our deepest and most untamed desires.
