Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: garage
Song Meaning of “Ape Me” by Toys That Kill
Ape Me by Toys That Kill paints a picture of someone feeling trapped in a cycle of carrying out everyday duties without any fulfillment or sense of purpose. The narrator is in a state of existential distress, asking the listener ‘Can you answer me, what am I supposed to be?’ and ‘What is the point when nothing’s gained?’. The notion of conformity is highlighted: ‘When all the other apes seem so content, why can’t I find the same thing?’
The lines ‘Staring at the walls I’m just a tiny speck’ emphasise the trapping feeling that the individual feels, emphasised again in the lines ‘The shape I trace is just a pointless line. The path is hazy and I’m losing my mind’. The narrator yearns for an escape from their dull existence and to find their purpose in life but it is easier said than done with all the distractions their minds battle with.
The chorus of the song ‘Ape me, pretend I’m someone else’ reflects an individual melding into society for the sake of fitting in. It symbolises the people who try to avoid their true feelings and instead ‘ape’ others, seeking joy from their regular routines but never really discovering true happiness or fulfilment. The narrator’s journey ultimately appears to be one of self-discovery and resilience; ‘Still I try and find my peace of mind’ and ‘On and on until I find my escape’.