Southbound Pachyderm by Primus

Album: Tales From The Punchbowl (1995)

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The lyric is by Primus frontman Les Claypool, who came up with the idea after the phrase "Southbound Pachyderm" popped into his head as a good band name. He conjured up images of elephants with wings flying southward (no word on if was watching Dumbo at the time), and wrote the lyric. The song has Primus' trademark absurdity, but does cover a serious topic. >>
Suggestion credit:
Joe - Chicago, IL
"Southbound Pachyderm" was released as a single from Primus' fourth album, Tales From The Punchbowl. By this time, the band had played Woodstock '94, headlined Lollapalooza, and toured with U2. They made no effort to capitalize on their renown by hewing to popular taste - the album is just as twisted as their previous efforts.
The video is a claymation production by Lance Montoya, who did the sculptures on Primus' album covers. The video shows the flying elephants as described in the lyrics as they take on poachers.

Comments: 3

Jt Balaam from Santa Maria, CaI had once heard, and it makes sense, is that Southbound Pachyderm refers to the decline of the republican party, being as their symbol is an Elephant.
Ryan from East Lyme, CtActually, this song is about Illegal poaching in Africa. In return this creates a dwindling elephant population- Just watch Primus' DVD- Blame It On The Fish.
Don from San Antonio, TxCome on, there's more facts than THAT! The video was made by the team that made "James & The Giant Peach" when they weren't working on the film.

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