They Might Be Giants – A User’s Guide To They Might Be Giants (Rhino/Elektra, 2005)
I più fortunati di noi, se addito uno “strumentopolo misterioso”, se abbozzo un “ballettopolo”, se dico “Tisca Tusca Topolino”, sanno di cosa parlo. La sigla della non infausta (lo dicono gli aruspici) serie 3D “La casa di Topolino”, se ho letto bene i titoli di coda (a proposito di topo), è opera loro. I They Might Be Giants. I chi? A riguardo dei The Who, la dichiarazione d’intenti, a rigor di suono duro, distorto e singhiozzante dell’epocale “My Generation”, “Hope I die before I get old”, i TMBG, nel loro programmatico album di debutto del 1986, l’han trasformata in una quadriglia dal titolo “I Hope that I Get Old Before I Die”. L’indizio è già iniziato. L’inizio è già indiziato. In quell’ LP c’erano anche “Youth Culture Killed My Dog” e “Nothing gonna change my chlothes”. Qui, invece, ci troviamo difronte ad una raccolta. Ad una “guida per l’utente”. Come recita l’adesivo applicato sul CD “29 Must-Have They Might Be Giants Classic Tracks on 1 Disk From 9 albums, 17 years, 2 Johns”. I “Johns” sono John Flansburg e John Linnell. Uno chitarra, l’altro alla fisarmonica, tastiere e sax. Cantano entrambi. OK. Perchè mai rigettare le raccolte? O, almeno non questa! Qui serpeggiamo, tra suoni casalinghi e lavorato serico, fra brani famosi e brani “offbeat”, ma rappresentativi. Canzoni che raramente superano i due minuti, ma sono stipatissime di idee. Ridicole ed irriverenti. Ironiche. Confacenti a new weaver che si sfottono anche da soli. E suonano proprio come quando vostra moglie vi sorprende a mangiare fuoripasto!
Eredi del parodismo zappiano, almeno nei primi lavori, e dei pastiches dei Residents, ma quanto questi erano votati all’avanguardia, tanto loro risultano figli del Pop più corrivo e di consumo. Han un che di Elvis Costello. Come la Bonzo Dog Doh Dah Band fanno incetta di nonsense. Mascherano l’intelligenza con l’idiozia e viceversa. Hanno un approccio enciclopedico e dissacrante alla storia della musica popolare. Con l’urgenza del Rock, ma integralmente ludica. Dipinti surreali, humour alla Monty Pyton, guitti degni del miglior partito della camminata beota! Della “Great Society” americana ritraggono il (mal)costume e la (mala)parata. Poi effigiano la condizione umana con effetto comico, cosmicomico e cartoonistico.
I loro sketch parodistici sono concitatissimi, arrangiati in modo paradossale, orchestrati in modo grossolano, ma non farraginoso. Stop and Go fulminanti. Interruzioni che sembrano fanfaronate. Ripartenze celeri. Senza motivo. Motivi senza motivo. Illuminanti per questo.
Cloroformizzano il Music Hall ed il Pop, liofilizzano il Rock e il Folk, conservano a lunga durata il Country. Dentro ai loro armadi, “dove gli uomini sono vuoti soprabiti”, ci sono Beat, Ragtime, Doo-Wop, Polka, Hard Rock, Vaudeville, ballate Soul, Country ’n’ Western, Blues, Hip Hop, Easy Listening. Di stanza a Brooklyn, “la gomma del ponte”, ma originari del Massachusetts, noto per la vulcanizzazione della gomma e, più recentemente, per gli studi sui processi di produzione della butadiene da fonti rinnovabili. Ecco, in continuità e giustificato, l’interesse anche per i ritornelli Bubblegum!
Voci nasali, mai chiare, impazziscono di colpevole sarcasmo e mai di innocente malinconia. Sembrano sempre sul punto di intonare uno Yodel, che puntualmente non giunge mai.
Con Boss of me, dalla colonna sonora della sitcom “Malcolm in the middle”, creano il ritornello perfetto, orecchiabile, incazzoso, accattivante, massimale.
You’re Not The Boss Of Me
You’re Not The Boss Of Me
You’re Not The Boss Of Me
And You’re Not So Big.
Lo ripetono due volte. Che si vuole di più’? È così bello che si impara subito. Lo canti con immediatezza. Solo che c’è piccolo problema; bummmm! Dopo la strofa “n°2”, cominci tiratissimo a cantare, e hai pure in mente un bersaglio, ma…
You’re Not The Boss Of Me
And You’re Not So Big.
Tolgono due versi!!! Anticipano l’epilogo, lavorano di sottrazione. La terra ti cade da sotto i piedi e sprofondi. Il Pop è una grande fregatura, credevi aggiungesse qualcosa alla tua vita e te la toglie subito. Una celia. Uno scherno. Un’inezia? Uno scherzo tanto stupido da essere geniale. A me fa ridere come poche altre cose. Infrangono l’impeccabilità che avevano appena creato, come se Shakespeare togliesse due versi ad un sonetto. Stessa identica cosa. E via!
“Don’t let’s Start”. Un Funky melodico alla Talking Heads. Completo di una completezza inspiegabile. Adatto a reprimere i più impellenti impulsi alla compagnia nel castoro.
“Istanbul Not Constantinople”. La riprendono dai Four Lads, gruppo vocale canadese dei 50. Gli autori, Jimmy Kennedy e Nat Simon, si erano rifatti palesemente a “Putting On The Ritz” del geniale Irving Berling (1929). Loro ci buttano dentro ritmi balcanici, violini tzigani, fisarmonica, ottoni, coretti idioti. Il tutto in una grandezza totale per il (suc)cesso.
“We’re The Replacements”, ritornello bubblegum per canzonare il gruppo (spesso impresso sulle magliette di Winona Ryder), il suo status e i suoi parties. Il ghiribizzo di irridere il divismo del Rock.
I palindromi sono divertenti. “O mordo tua nuora o aro un autodromo”. “Recai piacer”. “E Nilla gelava nuda, ratta radunava le galline”. Ma il migliore l’han intuito loro: “I Palindrome I”. E, ovviamente, ne han fatto una canzone. “You, Son of a Bitch, I Palindrome I!”.
“Birdhouse in Your Soul”, un surf epico, fa molto ridere malgrado sia la tastiera ad avere le battute migliori…
“Your Racist Friend” è tex-mex, attualissimo nelle implicazioni. “Practicle Man” è una canzone suonata col Cajon. Il siparietto filosofico di “Older” è metateatrale e metacognitivo.
Il loro cantuccio poetico, in definitiva, se lo sono ritagliati nella musica popolare americana. Qui da noi non hanno attecchito. Ancora succubi del modello di vita americano, non apprezziamo abbastanza la corrosione messa in atto da questi due John.
“Potrebbero essere giganti”, eppure sono un gruppo rock di nani. Facile! Come un mattino domenicale. Ma quel nome, che ricalca un film del 1971, si riferisce al “Don Chisciotte” di Cervantes, uno dei pochi romanzi che abbia afferrato il senso di svariate cose, tra cui l’esistenza. È Chisciotte che vede i mulini a vento e dice «potrebbero essere giganti». Avesse potuto sentire i TMBG, avrebbe detto: «Meglio la vergogna sul viso che una macchia sul cuore», oppure «la stirpe si eredita, la virtù si acquista; e la virtù vale da sola quello che la stirpe non vale». Insomma, avrebbe intravisto un “virtuoso” duo.
Elenco tracce e testi
03 Particle Man (01:58)
Particle Man, Particle Man
Doing the things a particle can
What's he like? It's not important.
Particle Man.
Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
If he's underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, Particle Man
Triangle Man, Triangle Man
Triangle Man hates Particle Man
They have a fight, Triangle wins,
Triangle Man
Universe Man, Universe Man
Size-of-the-entire-universe Man
Usually kind to smaller man, Universe Man.
He's got a watch with a minute hand,
Millenium hand, and an eon hand
And when they meet, it's happy land
Powerful man, Universe Man
Person Man, Person Man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can, Person Man.
Is he depressed, or is he a mess?
Does he feel totally worthless?
Who came up with person man?
Degraded man. Person man.
Triangle Man, Triangle Man
Triangle Man hates Person Man
They had a fight, Triangle wins
Triangle Man
04 Don't Let's Start (02:36)
Chorus:
Don't Don't Don't let's start
This is the worst part
Could believe for all the world
That you're my precious little girl
But don't don't don't let's start
I've got a weak heart
And I don't get around how you get around
When you are alone you are the cat, you are the phone
You are an animal
The words I'm singing now
Mean nothing more than meow to an animal
Wake up and smell the cat food in your bank account
But don't try to stop the tail that wags the hound
D, world destruction
Over an overture
N, do I need
Apostrophe T, need this torture?
Chorus
No one in the world ever gets what they want and that is beautiful
Everybody dies frustrated and sad and that is beautiful
They want what they're not and I wish they would stop saying,
Deputy dog dog a ding dang depadepa
Deputy dog dog a ding dang depadepa
D, world destruction
Over an overture
N, do I need
Apostrophe T, need this torture?
Chorus
I don't want to live in this world anymore
I don't want to live in this world
Chorus
05 She's an Angel (02:36)
I met someone at the dog show
She was holding my left arm
But everyone was acting normal so I tried to look nonchalant.
We both said, "I really love you,"
The Shriners loaned us cars
We raced up and down the sidewalk twenty thousand million times
Why did they send her over anyone else?
How should I react? These things happen to other people
They don't happen at all, in fact
When you're following an angel
Does it mean you have to throw your body off a building?
Somewhere they're meeting on a pinhead
Calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things
I heard they had a space program
When they sing you can't hear, there's no air
Sometimes I think I kind of like that and
Other times I think I'm already there
Gonna ask for my admission
Gonna speak to the man in charge
The secretary says he's on another line,
Can I hold for a long, long time?
I found out she's an angel
I don't think she knows I know
I'm worried that something might happen to me
If anyone ever finds out
Why, why did they send her over anyone else?
How should I react? These things happen to other people
They don't happen at all
When you're following an angel
Does it mean you have to throw your body off a building?
Somewhere they're meeting on a pinhead
Calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things
I heard they had a space program
When they sing you can't hear, there's no air
Sometimes I think I kind of like that and
Other times I think I'm already there
When you're following an angel
Does it mean you have to throw your body off a building?
Somewhere they're meeting on a pinhead
Calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things
06 Cyclops Rock (02:42)
I taught you how to cyclops rock and then you turn around and break my heart
And waste my cyclops time and mess up my cyclops mind.
I'm sick like Chuckie was sick, my defeated heart keeps beating on.
I won't die, like Chuckie won't die, but I'm not here to socialize.
Gotta find a new place to hang out, because I'm tired of living in hell.
I'm a mess since you cut me out but Chuckie's arm keeps me company.
I'm a fright with my tombstone smile
All the children run away from me.
Gotta find new friends to hang out with, because you're all afraid of me.
It was sweet like lead paint is sweet but the after-effects left me paralyzed.
I just stare with my one glass eye hoping you won't be back again.
There's a whole new generation waiting to be wrecked by you.
07 Istanbul (not Constantinople) (02:35)
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Oh Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
So, Take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Oh Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul
Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Oh Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
So, Take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Oh Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
Istanbul
08 Purple Toupee (02:38)
I remember the year I went to camp
I heard about some lady named Selma and some blacks
Somebody put their fingers in the President's ears
It wasn't too much later they came out with Johnson's wax
I remember the book depository where they crowned the king of Cuba
Now that's all I can think of, but I'm sure there's something else
Way down inside me I can feel it coming back
Purple toupee will show the way when summer brings you down
(Purple toupee when summer brings you down)
Purple toupee and gold lame will turn your brain around
(Purple toupee and gold lame)
Chinese people were fighting in the park
We tried to help them fight, no one appreciated that
Martin X was mad when they outlawed bell bottoms
Ten years later they were sharing the same cell
I shouted out, "Free the Expo '67"
Till they stepped on my hair, and they told me I was fat
Now I'm very big, I'm a big important man
And the only thing that's different is underneath my hat
Purple toupee will show the way when summer brings you down
(Purple toupee when summer brings you down)
Purple toupee and gold lame will turn your brain around
(Purple toupee and gold lame)
Purple toupee is here to stay after the hair has gone away
The purple brigade is marching from the grave
We're on some kind of mission
We have an obligation
We have to wear toupees
Notes
Following are the lyrics to the Dial-a-Song demo:
Now that's all I can think of, but I'm sure there's something else
Way down inside me I can feel it coming back
Purple toupee will show the way when summer brings us down
(Purple toupee will show the way)
Purple toupee and gold lame will turn your brains around
(Purple toupee and gold lame)
Down on the ground is where I found a popular revolution
Purple's the shade that brightens in the grave
I was down, but now I'm feeling proud
They stepped on my face, they told me I was fat
Now I'm flying planes, I'm a big important man
And the only thing that's different is underneath my hat
Purple toupee will show the way when summer brings us down
(Purple toupee will show the way)
Purple toupee and gold lame will turn your brains around
(Purple toupee and gold lame)
Purple toupee is here to stay after the real thing's gone
This is the kind that never fades away
Purple toupee
Purple toupee
09 James K. Polk (03:05)
In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump
10 Birdhouse in Your Soul (03:19)
I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I have a secret to tell
From my electrical well
It's a simple message and I'm leaving out
The whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue canary one note spelled l-i-t-e
My story's infinite
Like the Longines Symphonette, it doesn't rest
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am
There's a picture opposite me
Of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores
And kept the beaches shipwreck free
Though I respect that a lot
I'd be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off and
Countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness
Like guardian angels it's always near
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
(And while you're at it
Keep the nightlight on inside the
Birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch (and while you're at it)
Who watches over you (keep the nightlight on inside the)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul (birdhouse in your soul)
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
11 Ana Ng (03:21)
Make a hole with a gun perpendicular
To the name of this town in a desktop globe
Exit wound in a foreign nation
Showing the home of the one this was written for
My apartment looks upside down from there
Water spirals the wrong way out the sink
And her voice is a backwards record
It's like a whirlpool and it never ends
Ana Ng and I are getting old
And we still haven't walked in the glow
Of each others' majestic presence
Listen, Ana, hear my words
They're the ones you would think I would say
If there was a me for you
All alone at the '64 World's Fair
80 dolls yelling "Small girl after all"
Who was at the DuPont pavillion?
Why was the bench still warm?
Who had been there?
Or the time when the storm tangled up the wire
To the horn on the pole at the bus depot
And in back of the edge of hearing
These are the words that the voice was repeating
Ana Ng and I are getting old
And we still haven't walked in the glow
Of each others' majestic presence
Listen, Ana, hear my words
They're the ones you would think I would say
If there was a me for you
When I was driving once
I saw this painted on a bridge
"I don't want the world, I just want your half"
They don't need me here, and I know you're there
Where the world goes by like the humid air
And it sticks like a broken record
Everything sticks like a broken record
Everything sticks until it goes away
And the truth is we don't know anything
Ana Ng and I are getting old
And we still haven't walked in the glow
Of each others' majestic presence
Listen, Ana, hear my words
They're the ones you would think I would say
If there was a me for you
(Repeats until end)
12 The Guitar (03:51)
Hey
Who's that playing
Hey
The guitar?
Is it Jim?
I don't know
Is it Jim?
I don't know
In the spaceship, the silver space ship, the lion takes control
In the spaceship, the silver space ship, the lion takes control
Hush my darling, be still my darling,
the lion's on the phone
Hush my darling, be still my darling,
the lion's on the phone
Turn it up
the guitar
I can't hear
the guitar
In the spaceship, the silver space ship, the lion waves good-bye
In the spaceship, the silver space ship, the lion waves good-bye
13 Bangs (03:14)
Bangs
Above your eyes your hair hangs.
Blow my mind your royal flyness I dig your bangs.
Bangs to drape across your forehead
To swing concordant angles as you incline your head.
Once with a girl I fell in love some time ago now she had
Bangs are that on which the world hangs.
I'm only holding your hand so I can look at your bangs.
Bangs are like a pocket T-Shirt as casual as that while fully intentional
And in case you think I'm here cause I like making chit chat
Just remember what I said the money's under your hat.
bangs are that on which the world hangs
I'm only holding your hand so I can look at your bangs
Bangs above your eyes your hair hangs
blow my mind your royal flyness I dig your bangs
bangs to drape across your forehead
to swing concordant angles as you incline your head
And although I like you anyway, check out your haircut.
A proscenium to stage a face that needs no makeup
Bangs are that on which the world hangs.
I'm only holding your hand so I can look at your bangs.
I'm only holding your hand so I can look at your bangs.
14 The Statue Got Me High (03:06)
The statue got me high
The statue got me high
A monument of granite sent a beam into my eye
The statue made me die
The statue made me die
It took my hand it killed me and it threw me to the sky
The stone it called to me
(and now I see the things the stone has shown to me)
A rock that spoke a word
(an animated mineral it can be heard)
And though I once preferred a human being's company
They pale before the monolith that towers over me
The statue got me high
The statue got me high
The truth is where the sculptor's chisel chipped away the lie
The statue made me fry
The statue made me fry
My coat contained a furnace where there used to be a guy
The stone it called to me
(and now I see the things the stone has shown to me)
A rock that spoke a word
(an animated mineral it can be heard)
And as the screaming fire engine siren filled the air
The evidence had vanished from my charred and smoking chair
And what they found was just a statue
Standing where the statue got me high
And now it is your turn
(your turn to hear the stone and then your turn to burn)
The stone it calls to you
(you can't refuse to do the things it tells you to)
And as the screaming fire engine siren fills the air
The evidence will vanish from your charred and smoking chair
And what they found was just a statue
Standing where the statue got me high
And what they'll find is just a statue
Standing where the statue got you high
15 New York City (03:04)
You called me last night on the telephone
And I was glad to hear from you 'cause I was all alone
You said, "It's snowing, it's snowing - God I hate this weather!"
Now I walk through blizzards just to get us back together
We met in the springtime at a rock-n-roll show
It was on the Bowery when it was time to go
We kissed on the subway in the middle of the night
I held your hand, you held mine, it was the best night of my life
'Cause everyone's your friend in New York City
And everything looks beautiful when you're young and pretty
The streets are paved with diamonds and there's just so much to see
But the best thing about New York City is you and me
Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry,
Co-op City, "Cats" and Tiffany's
Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge
The Empire State where Dylan lived
Coney Island and Times Square
Rockefeller Center
Wish I was there
You wrote me a letter just the other day
Said "Springtime is coming soon, so why don't you come to stay?"
I packed my stuff, got on the bus, I can't believe it's true
I'm three days from New York City and I'm three days from you
'Cause everyone's my friend in New York City
And everything looks beautiful when you're young and pretty
The streets are paved with diamonds and there's just so much to see
But the best thing about New York City is you and me
'Cause everyone's my friend in New York City
And everything looks beautiful when you're young and pretty
The streets are paved with diamonds and there's just so much to see
But the best thing about New York City is you and me
16 Doctor Worm (03:02)
They call me Dr. Worm.
Good morning. How are you? I'm Dr. Worm.
I'm interested in things.
I'm not a real doctor,
But I am a real worm;
I am an actual worm.
I live like a worm.
I like to play the drums.
I think I'm getting good,
But I can handle criticism.
I'll show you what I know,
And you can tell me if you think I'm getting better on the drums.
I'll leave the front un-locked 'cause I can't
Hear the doorbell
When I get into it I can't tell if you are
Watching me twirling the stick.
When I give the signal, my friend
Rabbi Vole will play the solo
Some day somebody else besides me will
Call me by my stage name, they will
Call me Dr Worm.
Good Morning how are you, I'm Dr Worm
I'm interested in things.
I'm not a real doctor,
But I am a real worm;
I am an actual worm.
I live like a worm.
and
I like to play the drums.
I think I'm getting good,
But I can handle criticism.
I'll show you what I know,
And you can tell me if you think I'm getting better on the drums.
I'm not a real doctor,
But they call me Dr. Worm.
17 Boss of Me (02:59)
Yes, no, maybe -
I don't know.
Can you repeat the question?
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
Life is unfair, so I just stare - at the stain on the wall where ...
The TV'd been, but ever since we've moved in it's been empty
Why I, why I'm in this room -
There is no point explaining!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
Life is a test, and I confess:
I like this mess I've made so far.
Grade on a curve, and you'll observe -
I'm right below the horizon.
Yes, no, maybe I don't know.
Can you repeat the question?
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
[Guitar Solo]
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now!
You're not the boss of me now, and you're not so big!
Life is unfair!
18 Your Racist Friend (02:55)
This where the party ends.
I can stand here listening
to you and your racist friend.
I know politics bore you,
but I feel like a hypocrite
talking to you and your racist friend.
It was the loveliest party that I have ever attended;
If anything was broken, I'm sure it can be mended.
I can't tolerate this bobbing and pretending:
Listen to some bullet-head, and the madness that hes saying.
This is where the party ends.
I'll just sit here wondering
how you can stand by your racist friend.
I know politics bore you,
but I feel like a hypocrite
talking to you and your racist friend.
This where the party ends.
I can stand here listening
to you and your racist friend.
I know politics bore you,
but I feel like a hypocrite
talking to you and your racist friend.
Out from the kitchen, from the bedroom to the hallway.
Your friend apologizes; he could see it my way.
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking.
Can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding.
This where the party ends.
I can stand here listening
to you and your racist friend.
I know politics bore you,
but I feel like a hypocrite
talking to you and your racist friend.
19 Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) (02:54)
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees
Yo ho, it's hot, the sun is not
A place where we could live
But here on Earth there'd be no life
Without the light it gives
We need its light
We need its heat
We need its energy
Without the sun, without a doubt
There'd be no you and me
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees
The sun is hot
It is so hot that everything on it is a gas: iron, copper,
aluminum, and many others.
The sun is large
If the sun were hollow, a million Earths could fit inside.
And yet, the sun is only a middle-sized star.
The sun is far away
About 93 million miles away, and that's why it looks so small.
And even when it's out of sight
The sun shines night and day
The sun gives heat
The sun gives light
The sunlight that we see
The sunlight comes from our own sun's
Atomic energy
Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine.
The heat and light of the sun come from the nuclear reactions of hydrogen,
carbon, nitrogen, and helium.*
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees
Notes
*Live versions of this song are improvised extensively. Some variants on this section:
Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine. The heat and light of the sun are caused by the nuclear reaction between hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and helium.
Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine. The heat and light from the sun come from the nuclear reaction between oxygen, hydrogen, helium, and hydrogen.
You know, Frank, scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine. The heat and light from the sun are caused by the nuclear reaction between hydrogen and you, Frank O'Toole.
Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine. The heat and light from the sun come from the nuclear reaction between hydrogen, nitrogen, helium, carbon, boron, chloron, fluoron, moron, and estrogen.
Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine. The heat and light from the sun are caused by the nuclear reaction between hydrogen, helium, oxygen, estrogen, and hair.
20 They'll Need a Crane (02:31)
Love sees love's happiness
But happiness can't see that love is sad
That love is sad
Sadness is hanging there
To show love somewhere something needs a change
They need a change
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
To take the house he built for her apart
To make it break it's gonna take a metal ball hung from a chain
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
To pick the broken ruins up again
To mend her heart, to help him start to see a world apart from pain
Lad's gal is all he has
Gal's gladness hangs upon the love of lad
The love of lad
Some things gal says to lad aren't meant as bad
But cause a little pain
They cause him pain
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
To take the house he built for her apart
To make it break it's gonna take a metal ball hung from a chain
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
To pick the broken ruins up again
To mend her heart, to help him start to see a world apart from pain
Don't call me at work again no no the boss still hates me
I'm just tired and I don't love you anymore
And there's a restaurant we should check out where
The other nightmare people like to go
I mean nice people, baby wait,
I didn't mean to say nightmare
Lad looks at other gals
Gal thinks Jim Beam is handsomer than lad
He isn't bad
Call off the wedding band
Nobody wants to hear that one again
Play that again
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
To take the house he built for her apart
To make it break it's gonna take a metal ball hung from a chain
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
To pick the broken ruins up again
To mend her heart, to help him start to see a world apart from pain
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
They'll need a crane, they'll need a crane
They'll need a crane
21 I Palindrome I (02:21)
Someday Mother will die and I'll get the money
Mom leans down and says, "My sentiments exactly,
You son of a bitch"
I palindrome I (I palindrome I)
I palindrome I (I palindrome I)
And I am a snake head eating (snake head)
The head on the opposite side (snake head)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
See that bulletproof dress hanging from the clothesline
See the medical chart with the random zig-zag
Now I'll help it decide
I palindrome I (I palindrome I)
I palindrome I (I palindrome I)
And I am a snake head eating (snake head)
The head on the opposite side (snake head)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
"Son I am able," she said "though you scare me."
"Watch," said I
"Beloved," I said "watch me scare you though." said she,
"Able am I, Son."
See the spring of the grandfather clock unwinding
(Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age)
See the hands of my offspring making windmills
(Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age)
Dad palindrome Dad
I palindrome I (I palindrome I)
I palindrome I (I palindrome I)
And I am a snake head eating (snake head)
The head on the opposite side (snake head)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
I palindrome I (manonam)
23 John Lee Supertaster (02:00)
Flans: When I was 39 years old, I heard a story. I found out that there [are] people walking among us who have superpowers. These people are called Supertasters. To a Supertaster, bitter fruits taste far more bitter, and sweets far more sweet. Then, just a few months ago, I had the chance to meet a real, live Supertaster named John Lee.
And this is his true story:
Nothing tastes the same (nothing tastes the same)
To a Supertaster (Supertaster)
When he tastes a pear (tastes a pear)
It's like a hundred pears (it's like a million pears)
He's got superpowers (superpowers)
He is a Supertaster (Supertaster)
Every flavor explodes (explodes and explodes)
Explodes and explodes
John Lee Supertaster
Tastes more than we do
Everything has a flavor
Some flavors are too much
Can't shut his mouth (can't shut his mouth)
'Cause he's a Supertaster (Supertaster)
Though he looks like a man (talks like a man)
He is a Supertaster (Supertaster)
Can't drink coffee or beer (coffee or beer)
'Cause he's a Supertaster (Supertaster)
Loves ice cream and pie (ice cream and pie)
He is a Supertaster
John Lee Supertaster
Tastes more than we know
Everything has a flavor
Some flavors must go
24 Older (01:54)
You're older than you've ever been
and now you're even older
and now you're even older
and now you're even older.
you're older than you've ever been
and now you're even older,
and now you're older still.
Time!...is marching on,
and time...is still marching on.
This day will soon be at an end
and now it's even sooner
and now it's even sooner
and now it's even sooner
this day will soon be at an end
and now it's even sooner
and now it's sooner still..
You're older than you've ever been
and now you're even older
and now you're even older
and now you're even older.
you're older than you've ever been
and now you're even older,
and now you're older still.
25 We're the Replacements (01:50)
Hi, we're the Replacements (hi)
Hi, we're the Replacements (hi)
Hi, we're the Replacements (hi)
And we're playing in a rock'n'roll band (we're playing in a rock'n'roll band)
We're having a good time (we're)
We're having a good time (we're)
We're having a good time (we're)
Rock'n'rollin' 'til the break of dawn (Rock'n'rollin' 'til the break of dawn)
Hey, where's Tommy? Someone find Tommy
We're out on the road
Moving equipment, where's the equipment
Soon we're going home
Then we'll have a party (then)
Then we'll have a party (then)
Then we'll have a party (then)
Rock'n'rollin' 'til the break of dawn (Rock'n'rollin' 'til the break of dawn)
Hi, we're the Replacements (hi)
Hi, we're the Replacements (hi)
Hi, we're the Replacements (hi)
And we're playing in a rock'n'roll band (we're playing in a rock'n'roll band)
I don't wanna!
Hi
Hi
Hi
We're playing in a rock'n'roll band
We're
We're
We're
Rock'n'rollin' 'til the break of dawn
28 Clap Your Hands (01:22)
Uh huh
Uh huh uh huh
Uh huh
Uh huh uh huh
Uh huh
Clap your hands
Clap your hands
Clap your hands
Clap your hands
Clap your hands
Stomp your feet
Stomp your feet
Stomp your feet
Stomp your feet
Stomp your feet
Jump in the air
Jump in the air
Jump in the air
Jump in the air
29 Spider (00:51)
Ladies and gentlemen
Ladies and gentlemen
Spider
He is our hero
Spider
Get rid of
Spider
Step on spider
Spider
We love you spider
I promise not to kill you
Spider
Spider
We love you spider
Spider
Get rid of
Spider
Must stop
Spider
He is our hero
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