This picture captures 1990 better than any other picture in the world.
I thought I had gotten enough of ‘clever’ bands last week but apparently not cause there I was in my car today thinking about They Might Be Giants. And since I can’t find videos for any of the songs I like the most off of Flood I’m just gonna do Birdhouse In Your Soul. Cause nothing says clever like a song that just keeps repeating itself at the end. And is about a night light? Maybe?
Actually – I guess that’s the point of this post. Someone tell me wtf this song is even about. And be convincing or else I will go back to more straightforward 90’s songs. Did you ever hear anyone ask what Baby Got Back was about? Didn’t think so.
You know – video and lyrics (WHICH YOU NEED TO INTERPRET) after the jump. Oh, and as a bonus, I’m including Craig Ferguson doing Istanbul (Not Constantinople) as a cold open from his show cause I love that song and I would have made the post about that but for some reason I need to have the original video. It’s not anarchy here, you know.
They Might Be Giants – 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
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
While you’re at it
Leave 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) While you’re at it
(Who watches over you) Leave the nightlight on
(Make a little birdhouse in your soul) 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) While you’re at it
(Who watches over you) Leave the nightlight on
(Make a little birdhouse in your soul) 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
Craig Ferguson rules.
Never cared for this band much …there were much better bands of the same type like the Judybats and others that I can’t remember because I’m old.
.-= Talen´s last blog ..Songkran 2010 videos =-.
Sad. A semi-literate dweeb-o-matic penning an anthem for all those sad souls clinging to the lifeboat of belief they can influence the girl of their dreams without the effort of conversation. “Oh, I hope she notices me.” Gak.
.-= catswiththumbs´s last blog ..U.S. Navy Donates F-14 Fighters to Greenpeace =-.
The 80’s and early 90’s were the best of times.
so far only cats is even close to doing this right
I love TMBG. They are the more literate, less profane Dead Milkmen.
vange cleverly wrote:
Dead Milkmen much better but not as good as Violent Femmes…
.-= Talen´s last blog ..Songkran 2010 Videos =-.
I love the Femmes but on a pure goofball love, there is no one better than the Milkmen. They make me laugh so much. Every time I pass a sign for the zoo, I have to sing:
One of them blowing a big spit bubble
Slam on the brakes at the first sign of trouble
Head on collision bodies everywhere
Head on collision retards beware
vange, your guess is terrible! try again!
You’re not the boss of me.
Okay…so we are agreed that Acadia should scrap this post and rewrite it as a homage to the Dead Milkmen and the Violent Femmes….get to it Acadia!
.-= Talen´s last blog ..Songkran 2010 Videos =-.
But I like TMBG and Acadia’s article!
Talen cleverly wrote:
You two write it. I can see the title now: Amusing Punk Bands Amuse Non-Punks.
@ vange:
What’s the song about?
You are all crazy! It’s a happy little song about a bird shaped night light and the feeling of security it instills. Across from the nightlight is a picture of a lighthouse. A lighthouse and a night light are beacons, guiding us to safety. We all crave safety.
Someone else said it better than I could but here you go Acadia; I agree with this interpretation:
This song is more sinister than most people make it out to be. Think about the first few lines: “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.” Basically, while I do agree with the “night light” interpretation, the nightlight isn’t the protagonist, but the antagonist. The night light, while it gives light, gives false, weak light. The light is a sort of birdhouse, which doesn’t give shelter, but instead encloses and entraps. The child in this story must learn to sleep without his nightlight, and in so doing, learn to think for himself. The demo version further supports this.
@ Evangeline:
OK – so who is he talking to when he says he wants to be the bee?