Toes

"Toes" is a song by the British indie rock band Glass Animals. It is the eighth song on their debut studio album, ZABA, and it was released on June 9th, 2014 by Wolf Tone/Caroline International and on June 17th, 2014 by Harvest Records in the United States. It is based off The Island of Doctor Moreau and the Heart of Darkness.

Lyrics
Put your hand down, boy, welcome to my zoo Put your head inside my big black wild, while I can still help you See the snake baboon, funky, chic and smooth Honey, can you spy the divine ape-swine? 'Cause he can see you

I’m a man, I’m a twisted fool My hands are twisted too Five fingers, two black hooves I’m a man, don’t spin me a lie Got toes and I can smile I’m crooked but upright

And all I ever want is just a little love I said in purrs under the palms And all I ever want is breaking me apart I said to the thing that I once was

I’m a man, I’m a twisted fool My hands are twisted too Five fingers, two black hooves I’m a man, don’t spin me a lie Got toes and I can smile I’m crooked but upright

To the left now, boy, underneath the moon By the thick tan sand and the tall thin grass One more thing for you See the distant flume in the sleepy dunes Makes my nerves clench close and my bones go cold When I see that room

And all I ever want is just a little love I said in purrs under the palms And all I ever want is breaking me apart I said to the thing that I once was

I’m a man, I’m a twisted fool My hands are twisted too Five fingers, two black hooves I’m a man, don’t spin me a lie Got toes and I can smile I’m crooked but upright

Themes

 * Dehumanization (or to be more inclusive of other species: Depersonization): The narrator is told that they aren't a person deserving of consideration because of physical impairment or different natural inclinations. They respond that they are a human despite their imperfections or what others percieve as imperfections.
 * Different means, same end: The narrator can accomplish "man" tasks through other means. "I'm crooked but upright." There's more than one way to be a person.
 * Lust: Tell yourself it's just love but your desires are getting stronger than your ability to develop a healthy relationship.
 * Nature vs Morality: "And all I ever want is breaking me apart."
 * Toxic Masculinity: Needing to be twisted to be a man or twisting oneself to fit gender stereotypes they don't fit into.

Comparison to other versions

 * The First Moreau: Prendick lures Sturmins too close to the House of Pallisades or Pain and he gets uncomfortable and swings away.
 * Vivisector: Beast Within: "Who are we? There are five fingers on our hands, and yet we're not human." Ironically the character models have four fingers.
 * The Ape-man finds solidarity with Prendick because they both have five fingers.

Listen at

 * Official version: Linkfire, Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Deezer, Napster, Tidal
 * Live versions: Esquire_Youtube, Stanford_Youtube, London_Youtube, Paris_Youtube, Bogota_Youtube, Observatory_Youtube, Milwaukee_Youtube
 * Fan covers: Emily Rea, Slowed, Slowed&Reverb, Nightcore, Kramble, DLRY, Tom Kaos, Cragezy (Piano) and sung by Romane Mey,
 * Fan videos: Danny Vulich, Mikhail Olson, LaraVi Shanster, Satellite City

"Toes" is also featured in the Taken 3 (2014) opening credits and Reign Season 3 Episode 8 Terror of the Faithful when Lord Narcisse gives a ride to Lola.