Elephant

Album: Lonerism (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Tame Impala is a Psychedelic Rock project led by Australian musician, singer and producer Kevin Parker. Their name refers to the impala, a medium sized antelope, "Not so much domesticated, the band explained to FasterLouder, "more like, less afraid of things; not running away all the time." This is the first single from their second album, Lonerism.
  • Parker explained the song's meaning to NME: "It's not really a song about being a loner; it's a song about the bully," he said. "The guy who thinks he's great. The jock. You can imagine a real reclusive kind of guy who's a bit bitter about this guy who thinks he's great. Which is the opposite vibe of the loner, so it presents him in the worst light."
  • Tame Impala took home the Best Album award at the 2013 ARIAs for Lonerism. They also won Best Rock Album and Best Band at the event.
  • Kevin Parker suggested to Grantland that he is not a fan of the song. In the interview it is claimed that Parker "seems embarrassed by the empty-headed bluesy swagger of 'Elephant'" and the Tame Impala frontman is also quoted as saying, "It's a little bittersweet because, like, that song paid for half my house."
  • Children's entertainers The Wiggles covered the track on the Australian national radio station Triple J for the segment Like a Version on March 4, 2021. Their version went viral, receiving over 1 million global views on Triple J's YouTube page in its first week.
  • The Wiggles version of "Elephant" reached #1 on the 2021 Triple J Hottest 100, Australia's annual listener-voted poll of the most popular songs of the year. It's the first time a cover topped the poll.
  • "Elephant" won Best Song at the EG Music Awards in 2012.

Comments: 1

  • Patricus Rexus from NoybAre you kidding me. Think of what has come out in the last 10 years that even attempts to rock. An ode to PF with a real back beat. You guys should jam with Wolfmother and see what comes out of it. Quit the commercial nonsense.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.