@wiggletgh No, but you're not the first person to ask me that. I actually get a kick when people think I do drugs, 'cause I don't need drugs to be this way. It's the line about his mother that made me think of Eminem; how he kept bad-mouthing her in his early raps, and how she sued him for mis-portraying her, etc.
Tmbg classic i saw this tour ! Seems like it wasn't so long ago but 19 years whew it was a bit This song makes more sense to me now it's about self destructive patterns and screwed up people clearly
@sun4ever777 I actually see this song as a metaphor for the rhythms of life, how even though we try to be different we still echo our parents at various times. The lines "see the hand of my offspring making windmills" when compared to the previous line about the spring of the grandfather clock unwinding it conjures the image of time standing still. But that is just my take. I'm interested in your reply.
@metalraygear I love your comments ! We come from different backgrounds though, mine more working class and I was totally on my own seriously, my folks old school Porrtuguese fishing and carpentry. I discovered music totally on my own and I love the TMBG for such a DIY approach that must be seen as influential in our day and age. They did this before the Internet and managed to get the success they did regardless!
@toiroforcado I agree they did very much DIY; they had a little help from MTV and got their music on some shows. What I love about TMBG is the complexities of the music it's self and the deep lyrics which are all very literary... Maybe minus a few songs but the wacky sensibilities that they bring are fantastic and just not done by anyone else.
@snipelfritz While that is somewhat a part of what i was talking about; I was really meaning their rise to greatness.... They didn't get alot of sponsorship or do ads (i think they might have done some) in order to get their names out there.... That is until MTV came along- but that was before they were all about marketing themselves and more about helping the musicians who they featured.
I like how he kind of struggles with the big palindrome ("Son I am able..") near the end, you can hear him laugh haha. I was thinking, damn, that must be hard to remember and recite like that.
The Ouroboros or Uroborus[1] is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon swallowing its own tail and forming a circle.
The Ouroboros often represents self-reflexivity or cyclicality, especially in the sense of something constantly re-creating itself, the eternal return, and other things perceived as cycles that begin anew as soon as they end.
I like how they played an instrumental version of the bridge as an intro. I wish they did that more. Hell, I wish it were like that on the studio recording.
One of my all time favorites too... I used to listen to it in College and try to figure it out while doing homework. It took me awhile to figure out as Overandoveture says, the entire song is filled with palindromes. Pretty impressive. (A palindrome is obviously something that reads the same from left to right or right to left), like the line "Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age". Even the The 27-word bridge is word-symmetrical. Classic.
"'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'." is one. The "man o nam" backup vocals are palindromes. "Egad, a bass tone denotes a bad age" (also sang as backups) is one.
@Carnage85 I think it has to do with "getting the money" a "snaking eating itsel from the opposite side" its an allusion to a backwards life, Your kids end up eating up what you accumulated in your life like a life going backwards
@toiroforcado Or that a palindrome is a word sentence or phrase that is spelt the same way backwards as forwards. "A snake eating the head on the opposite side" but that's my opinion.
@toiroforcado I think it's more that a palindrome is something read the same backwards as forward. "A snake head eating the head on the opposite side" But that's a more simplistic view of it.
@Carnage85 The song contains many palindromes, some of them are the backing vocals though. "Man O Nam" is one. "Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age" is another. Also the middle section of the song is a word palindrome: "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".
@Carnage85 actually, one verse is a palindrome. it's the one that goes "'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". Also when Flansberg says 'Man o' Nam' in the backround. Hope that makes things easier for you to understand
@Carnage85 It actually has quite a few palindromes, as well as being about the overall concept of things turning in on themselves. Gratz on being dumb, though.
They Might Be Giants sold their souls to the devil. I love such evil, satanic music, such as TMBG. I love their occult themes of the Ouroborus (snake eating its own head). Their spellcraft of palindromes is sinister. Topics of greed, money, death of parents. Evil.
I love TMBG, but I think they should go back to using this sort of lineup for their live shows. They have so much going on in the recordings and sometimes with a minimalist band setup you loose some of it.
What are you talking about? TMBG records with a full band and plays with one too. They haven't been just themselves since like 1990... and even before then, they would have people accompanying their playing. Their earlier recordings were just themselves, but I don't think they've done many songs live by themselves.
It's rather daring to perform with only 2 people I think, since your music has to be really strong to endure the thinness of only two instruments... but I'm happy either way.
omg..I love TMBG. I'm only 13(don't let my profile fool you)but my friend introduced them to me and i've like totally fallen in love!!! But yea...I had to look away at the beginning when he sated at the camera; my dad stares at me like that. My favorite song of theirs is "birdhouse in Your Soul" it cracks me up and calms me every time I listen to it. Their songs NEVER get old.
This sounds fantastic for a live version of the song. The lyrics are still what always crack me up...."See the bullet-proof dress hanging from the clothes line..." I saw them in concert twice, back in the day. I still have my ticket stubs!! TMBG forever!!!
I've seen them in Toronto twice, both at Lee's Palace. This was about a decade ago though, I don't know if they still ever tour around outside the NYC area. Still, if you ever get a chance to see them live, they're awesome.
Wow. One of my favorite things about They Might Be Giants is that no matter how long you've been a fan, there's still some extra meaning crammed into some lyric that you've been overlooking this whole time. And then when someone points it out to you, you're blown away yet again.
This is, in my opinion, Linnell's coolest Accordion. It's interesting to note that now he's using a pick up system, or mics, on it. Must of blew out the other one way out of tune! The older one in the "Racist Friend" video sounded blown out at the very end.
Mind if I post a reply to this video in the form of Metal Detector Live from Cast Your Pod to the Wind? The live version is so much better than the studio version, since it doesn't have the actual metal detector sounds in it.
Its been a while but check out Superfurry Animals from the United Kingdom, especially "Herman Loves Pauline" or "She's got SPIES", they got that harmonies down pat.
I'm so excited to see them in Chattanooga in February :D
uchihaclan95 2 weeks ago
thank you blues clues - that was how i first saw them. they performed "Clap your hands" in a letter to joe.
101californiachick 1 month ago
Always that sheepish gaze from behind the accordion. In concert it's like he's staring INTO YOUR SOUL...
TheAcburton 2 months ago 3
BOYS!
DoctorMezzo 2 months ago
John is so cute<3 And by John, I mean both of them.
BriBri897 4 months ago 2
ugh ill pass....
GiantsNewYork 4 months ago
Love the CD longbox! Takes me right back.
micahnewman 5 months ago
Lol why is that guy making eye contact so intensely with the camera? What a cree- I AM IN LOVE WITH JOHN LINNELL.
AnnabelLee129647 6 months ago 6
@AnnabelLee129647 ALL HAIL THE HYPNOJOHN!
AngelusDlion 4 months ago 5
Comment removed
AnnabelLee129647 6 months ago
Why is one of the tags Sarah Palin
LudusVan 6 months ago 15
he definitely looks like a younger jon stewart here.
marcsummers 6 months ago
I was 13 when I heard this song on the pre-CBS live105 from San Francisco. It's the first TMBG song I ever heard. Heart it forever.
ImitationOfChris 7 months ago
Remember those giant CD boxes??
TomFromJersey 7 months ago
1:50-2:00 I didn't know anyone could be as 90's as the bassist is.
thedavetrain 7 months ago
Eminem ought to sing a cover of this song... It;s the first verse that really makes me think of him.
eisemanrenyardjake 9 months ago
@eisemanrenyardjake Eminem? Sing? BAHAHAHA... oh wait.
kurzuul 9 months ago
@eisemanrenyardjake Are you high?
wiggletgh 8 months ago
@wiggletgh No, but you're not the first person to ask me that. I actually get a kick when people think I do drugs, 'cause I don't need drugs to be this way. It's the line about his mother that made me think of Eminem; how he kept bad-mouthing her in his early raps, and how she sued him for mis-portraying her, etc.
eisemanrenyardjake 8 months ago
I find it ironic that the word for palindrome is NOT a palindrome.
zkxv 9 months ago
@zkxv thats really not ironic at all.
zzyehf 9 months ago
@zkxv how is that ironic? :S
edobriensgrin 9 months ago
it is, isn't it
1979TheBand 7 months ago
@zkxv yeah haha
101californiachick 1 month ago
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look at the smug look on that guy's face god what a douchebag
plaidpirate 9 months ago
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what a bunch of faggots
plaidpirate 9 months ago
Su, food parts dad's trap, doofus!
bowlsallbroken 11 months ago
@bowlsallbroken god one but i think it suppose to have a meaning to some degree......( Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is so tragic )
MrPapiPop 10 months ago
@bowlsallbroken good one, but i think it suppose to have a meaning to some degree......( Cigar? Toss it in a can. It is so tragic )
MrPapiPop 10 months ago
@MrPapiPop
It makes a *little* bit if sense, if you're sufficiently imaginative... except for the insulting part, I guess.
bowlsallbroken 9 months ago
I love how on almost all of the TMBG vids, the comments are all polite back and forths :D
BrownTupperware 11 months ago 2
@BrownTupperware OOOHHHH NNOOOO! i have read some down right stupid ones! including the infomus and most popular comment "SO GAY" (god i hate that)
MrPapiPop 10 months ago
nice work. Word palindrome bridge is bridge palindrome word. Work nice!
SleepyTymeT 1 year ago
love those old cd packages.
aazxc159 1 year ago
That one guy at the start of the cheer, after he said the bands name is their biggest fan! >.>
Habegger23 1 year ago 30
@Habegger23 LOL! it's true, a big YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! hahaha
suiseisekiryu 11 months ago
@Habegger23 Thought he'd prolly never admit it, it was probably Paxus Calta.
pianoman930 7 months ago
the shot of paul at 1:38 is great
aazxc159 1 year ago
Was it a car or a cat I saw?
Baranski62 1 year ago 3
@Baranski62 A dog a panic in a pagoda
aarsho 1 year ago
@Baranski62 good one
MrPapiPop 10 months ago
dude, john is shooting some serious eyes in this video
d983394 1 year ago 6
Haha is that David Letterman?
chocolate11pie 1 year ago
* * * * *
franknwalters 1 year ago
Linnell's hair was fantastic in this performance
jsh357 1 year ago
Tmbg classic i saw this tour ! Seems like it wasn't so long ago but 19 years whew it was a bit This song makes more sense to me now it's about self destructive patterns and screwed up people clearly
Man o man
sun4ever777 1 year ago
@sun4ever777 I actually see this song as a metaphor for the rhythms of life, how even though we try to be different we still echo our parents at various times. The lines "see the hand of my offspring making windmills" when compared to the previous line about the spring of the grandfather clock unwinding it conjures the image of time standing still. But that is just my take. I'm interested in your reply.
metalraygear 1 year ago
@metalraygear I love your comments ! We come from different backgrounds though, mine more working class and I was totally on my own seriously, my folks old school Porrtuguese fishing and carpentry. I discovered music totally on my own and I love the TMBG for such a DIY approach that must be seen as influential in our day and age. They did this before the Internet and managed to get the success they did regardless!
toiroforcado 1 year ago
@toiroforcado I agree they did very much DIY; they had a little help from MTV and got their music on some shows. What I love about TMBG is the complexities of the music it's self and the deep lyrics which are all very literary... Maybe minus a few songs but the wacky sensibilities that they bring are fantastic and just not done by anyone else.
And thanks for paying me the compliment.
metalraygear 1 year ago
@metalraygear I assume you're referring to Dial-a-song, because that's probably the most DIY thing any band has ever done.
These guys were/still are awesome. I saw them about three years back.
snipelfritz 1 year ago
@snipelfritz While that is somewhat a part of what i was talking about; I was really meaning their rise to greatness.... They didn't get alot of sponsorship or do ads (i think they might have done some) in order to get their names out there.... That is until MTV came along- but that was before they were all about marketing themselves and more about helping the musicians who they featured.
metalraygear 1 year ago
Oh damn, he's got brown hair!
UltraSyre 1 year ago
they might be giants is my favorite band, thumbs up if it is yours too.
suicidalpenguins4u 1 year ago 4
"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."
ezekieloak 1 year ago 2
These guys rock live.
IdeonFukkatsu 1 year ago
Dear God, I love these guys.
whutzat 1 year ago
Paul Schaffer vocals for the WIN!!!
codyhenrytrombone 1 year ago
I like how he kind of struggles with the big palindrome ("Son I am able..") near the end, you can hear him laugh haha. I was thinking, damn, that must be hard to remember and recite like that.
omgpickles 1 year ago
from Wikipedia...
The Ouroboros or Uroborus[1] is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon swallowing its own tail and forming a circle.
The Ouroboros often represents self-reflexivity or cyclicality, especially in the sense of something constantly re-creating itself, the eternal return, and other things perceived as cycles that begin anew as soon as they end.
marycarnival 1 year ago
Such a classic and great video
Kutzizzle 1 year ago
at 1:37 Paul Schaffer appears.
Why? No one knows. Yet there he is.
couchonroof 1 year ago
one of my fav TMBG preformaneces
MarioSonic304 1 year ago
MORON - this is NOT LIVE. THIS IS RECORDED.
sidewalkpilot 1 year ago
A man a plan a canal panama
I always loved that palandrome
THEEAJ 1 year ago
racecar
CaseyBob417 1 year ago
A great version, but you can't hear Linnell's accordion playing at all.
einootspork 1 year ago
@einootspork I beg to differ -- but you cares, I'm just looking at his dreamy eyes.
ClueSign 1 year ago
"No", I tut. "It's no constitution"..
informationplz 1 year ago
"No Mel Gibson is a casinos big lemon. "That is a palindrome sentence.
dcarr84 1 year ago
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They Might Be THE MOST OBNOXIOUS BAND IN THE WORLD!
SuperKarmaX 1 year ago
@SuperKarmaX You have to have a sense of humor and a love for clever, some what random and/or sarcastic verses....ah, you wouldn't understand. :~)
vivalaleta 1 year ago
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@vivalaleta -- I appreciate their lyrics, but they should stick to poetry because the lead singer's voice is the definition of irritating
SuperKarmaX 1 year ago
For some good Palindromes should watch Bob by Weird al :D
ThysiosX 1 year ago 3
snake eating itself refers it infinity.
joeevil 1 year ago
o.o sometimes john (with the accordian) Looks like hes trying to look in my soul...kinda creepy. but i love him ^_^ <3 they might be giants!!!
ixipower2527 1 year ago
o.o sometimes john (with the accordian) Looks like hes trying to look in my soul...kinda creepy. but i love him ^_^ <3 they might be giants!!!
ixipower2527 1 year ago
o.o sometimes john (with the accordian) Looks like hes trying to look in my soul...kinda creepy. but i love him ^_^ <3 they might be giants!!!
ixipower2527 1 year ago
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Does anyone else see John Flansburgh as a precursor to the Decemberists' Colin Meloy?
Nasal delivery, verbose lyrics, overall appearance...? Just a thought. Both are amazing bands.
KelseyGrossFilms 1 year ago
Does anyone else see John Flansburgh as a precursor to the Decemberists' Colin Meloy?
Nasal delivery, verbose lyrics, overall appearance...? Just a thought. Both are amazing bands.
KelseyGrossFilms 1 year ago
Man, i wish i was there when TMBG was at their peak.
chillyramune 1 year ago
Is it strange that I'm a straight man and I have this weird man-crush on John Linnell?
pseudocaveman 1 year ago
@pseudocaveman No, it is not.
ezekieloak 1 year ago
XD It sounds like the second guitarist flubbed on the ending.
Boojispud 1 year ago
wierd Weird Al has a palindrome song and plays the accordian
richardmulroy 1 year ago
LOL when cd's came packaged like that
I actually have this album..wish i still had that sweet box
richardmulroy 1 year ago
The best intro to this song I have ever heard! It made me want to jump with Flans!
SRoode 1 year ago
Watch Paul Schaffer get down with the Johns the with down get Schaffer Paul Watch
monztre 1 year ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
apollo 18 was IMHO the last really good album they made. Linnell has such an excellent voice and Flansburgh's voice is so awful, kind of a shame.
morgansterne 1 year ago
''Flansburgh's voice is awful''??? What!
pogogo51 1 year ago 2
I love how John always makes eye contact with the cameras
KRISTY1000CYBORG 1 year ago 39
@KRISTY1000CYBORG Suzanna Hoffs-ish!
SRoode 1 year ago
@KRISTY1000CYBORG
I feel thoroughly eye fucked.
verynicelad 7 months ago
I like how they played an instrumental version of the bridge as an intro. I wish they did that more. Hell, I wish it were like that on the studio recording.
SirDandypuff 1 year ago 4
One of my all time favorites too... I used to listen to it in College and try to figure it out while doing homework. It took me awhile to figure out as Overandoveture says, the entire song is filled with palindromes. Pretty impressive. (A palindrome is obviously something that reads the same from left to right or right to left), like the line "Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age". Even the The 27-word bridge is word-symmetrical. Classic.
skyfire2001 2 years ago 5
Apollo 18 palindrome \ palindromo
martinifrank 2 years ago
Comment removed
Carnage85 2 years ago
There are palindromes all throughout.
"'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'." is one. The "man o nam" backup vocals are palindromes. "Egad, a bass tone denotes a bad age" (also sang as backups) is one.
overandoverture 2 years ago
@Carnage85 I think it has to do with "getting the money" a "snaking eating itsel from the opposite side" its an allusion to a backwards life, Your kids end up eating up what you accumulated in your life like a life going backwards
toiroforcado 2 years ago 2
@toiroforcado Or that a palindrome is a word sentence or phrase that is spelt the same way backwards as forwards. "A snake eating the head on the opposite side" but that's my opinion.
Jinxedem 1 year ago
@toiroforcado I think it's more that a palindrome is something read the same backwards as forward. "A snake head eating the head on the opposite side" But that's a more simplistic view of it.
Jinxedem 1 year ago
@Carnage85 The song contains many palindromes, some of them are the backing vocals though. "Man O Nam" is one. "Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age" is another. Also the middle section of the song is a word palindrome: "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".
astralbee 1 year ago
Comment removed
SRoode 1 year ago
@Carnage85 "Son I am able..." is a long palindrome of words... "Egad a base tone denotes a bad age" is a palindrome of letters.
SRoode 1 year ago
@Carnage85 actually, one verse is a palindrome. it's the one that goes "'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". Also when Flansberg says 'Man o' Nam' in the backround. Hope that makes things easier for you to understand
tomakaze23 1 year ago
@Carnage85 It actually has quite a few palindromes, as well as being about the overall concept of things turning in on themselves. Gratz on being dumb, though.
ebbv 1 year ago
THAT version should have been on the CD :p
fuduzan5562 2 years ago
haha look at how not fat flansy was back then!
krissurbrook 2 years ago 3
Linell's eyes are so twinkly. :3
xfilliamhmuffmanx 2 years ago
and flirty!!
thegenero 1 year ago
I've NEVER seen this song live before this video. I Palindrome I is one of my all time favorite songs of theirs.
AlexzAficionado 2 years ago 2
This version sounds like TMBG backed up by The Attractions.
Love.
piledhighanddeep 2 years ago 18
thoughtful observation
toiroforcado 2 years ago
@piledhighanddeep Yes, word!
ClueSign 1 year ago
@piledhighanddeep Awesome observation.
WilhelmZollern 9 months ago
TMBG. Greatness.
odinata 2 years ago
It's so funny how Linnell can hardly stand to look at the camera without shying away.
r3dk9 2 years ago 6
This must have been the zenith of Mr. Letterman's career, to be sure.
edmundnschrag 2 years ago 23
@edmundnschrag No doubt. What a pain in the ass.
saguaroboy 1 year ago
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They Might Be Giants sold their souls to the devil. I love such evil, satanic music, such as TMBG. I love their occult themes of the Ouroborus (snake eating its own head). Their spellcraft of palindromes is sinister. Topics of greed, money, death of parents. Evil.
angelofshred 2 years ago
What the hell is wrong with you?
Antimatter245 2 years ago 3
I lol'd
ConnerHawke 2 years ago
rofl
ckyfan969696 2 years ago
lmao
suchducks 2 years ago
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
309204386 2 years ago 3
Lol. I say that to people.
This version IS great. And on Letterman, no less.
miketheratguy 2 years ago
You wouldn't happen to have a higher quality version of the sound? This version of the song is fantastic.
Qwazin 2 years ago
*sigh*
The Johns are two of the sexiest nerds on the planet.
I love them both, but the looks John shoots the camera as he's singing...? Let me just say I'm glad I keep a towel by my computer! ^_~
sugargoindown 2 years ago
Lol you should see them live. And you should take me with, because I've never seen them live and because I too am a nerd and could use some lovin'.
miketheratguy 2 years ago 2
Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age... lol
Carriboo9 2 years ago 5
LOVE this song! Good video.
SeanSM92 2 years ago
I love TMBG, but I think they should go back to using this sort of lineup for their live shows. They have so much going on in the recordings and sometimes with a minimalist band setup you loose some of it.
Kichigai90 2 years ago
???
What are you talking about? TMBG records with a full band and plays with one too. They haven't been just themselves since like 1990... and even before then, they would have people accompanying their playing. Their earlier recordings were just themselves, but I don't think they've done many songs live by themselves.
It's rather daring to perform with only 2 people I think, since your music has to be really strong to endure the thinness of only two instruments... but I'm happy either way.
anubite001 2 years ago
You know that they are Paul's favourite band ^^ ...Is it true that Paul Schaeffer wrote the Cake in the Rain song?
KELLYELLEKG 2 years ago
Paul wrote 'It's Raining Men'
VHShit 2 years ago
Can barely hear Flans.
weedbix 2 years ago
You son of a bitch. Mom dad sis and also racecar
dcarr84 2 years ago 2
great great great memories...I remember listing to this on the way to high school...lol!
Bigrippa96 2 years ago 2
omg..I love TMBG. I'm only 13(don't let my profile fool you)but my friend introduced them to me and i've like totally fallen in love!!! But yea...I had to look away at the beginning when he sated at the camera; my dad stares at me like that. My favorite song of theirs is "birdhouse in Your Soul" it cracks me up and calms me every time I listen to it. Their songs NEVER get old.
bbadgrrulz 2 years ago 3
The way he looks at the camera makes me feel uneasy... But I think that's just because of the huge fangirl crush I have on them.
One of their best songs. Man.
DJFarchnaught 2 years ago 5
He does have a SUPER intense stare. O_O
God this song takes me back. ^^
zellychan 2 years ago 4
Ooh, I have a huge fangirl crush on them, too. Welcome to the club. XD
This definitely is one of their best songs; you're right about that. ^^
TheAbominableRedhead 2 years ago 3
Comment removed
cocoabeenut 2 years ago
@cocoabeenut He was people mag's 4th most beautiful person in 1994. I couldn't get if it was a joke or not. Still a fantastic (and quite nice) guy...
kirkpear 2 years ago
@kirkpear It wasn't a joke, but it wasn't People's choice. They allowed people to vote, and TMBG's fans bombarded them with Linnell votes.
NyeTunes 1 year ago
Same here... Wait, I'm a guy too.
What are these feelings I'm feeling?!
ZergRushJohnny 2 years ago 11
Agreed. That little smile at 1:24 utterly destroys me.
ftlob 2 years ago 5
I got into TMBG in 94-95...one of my inspirational groups as a song writer...especially vocal style.
pUnKrOcKnINjAgAmEr 2 years ago
tmbg best lyrics best tunes best group seen them at coatham bowl redcar uk years and years ago top notch
steve2863 2 years ago 3
This sounds fantastic for a live version of the song. The lyrics are still what always crack me up...."See the bullet-proof dress hanging from the clothes line..." I saw them in concert twice, back in the day. I still have my ticket stubs!! TMBG forever!!!
SkatePunkMan1980 2 years ago 4
Its odd for me but I have never seen this cool band live in Toronto?!?!?! whats with that?
toiroforcado 2 years ago
I've seen them in Toronto twice, both at Lee's Palace. This was about a decade ago though, I don't know if they still ever tour around outside the NYC area. Still, if you ever get a chance to see them live, they're awesome.
Tiljack 2 years ago
How come the studio versions of this song have disappeared?
jwmellott 2 years ago 3
Man how great..!
The memories...
Songoku93 2 years ago 2
the great music aside...this was back when Letterman "still had it"...
karatezombie 2 years ago 3
John Palindrome John, I Palindrome I :]
jonnyveliky 2 years ago 5
fuck.. this must have been amazing
starsky51 2 years ago 5
"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."
ezekieloak 3 years ago 4
Wow. One of my favorite things about They Might Be Giants is that no matter how long you've been a fan, there's still some extra meaning crammed into some lyric that you've been overlooking this whole time. And then when someone points it out to you, you're blown away yet again.
AKAcronny 2 years ago 2
This is, in my opinion, Linnell's coolest Accordion. It's interesting to note that now he's using a pick up system, or mics, on it. Must of blew out the other one way out of tune! The older one in the "Racist Friend" video sounded blown out at the very end.
Drworm89 3 years ago 2
i love this song so much. *sigh*
this is a great vid. please, post more live vids if you can.
beaniepq 3 years ago
they might be giants are the best no one can match them no matter how hard is tried
megen1996 3 years ago
linnel looks like bob blumer in this one lol.
sonamy123 3 years ago
Paul Shaeffer looks quite different back in 92. Oddly, Letterman looks pretty much the same.
Fmaack 3 years ago 4
Mind if I post a reply to this video in the form of Metal Detector Live from Cast Your Pod to the Wind? The live version is so much better than the studio version, since it doesn't have the actual metal detector sounds in it.
NvPGulstab 3 years ago
Yep its all in the harmonies
toiroforcado 3 years ago
Okay, since it's just an audio file, I'll put it to the lyrics.
NvPGulstab 3 years ago
Looking forward to that :)
suchducks 3 years ago
It's kind of difficult, fortunately I can just copy/paste from This Might Be a Wiki.
NvPGulstab 3 years ago
Whatever just do it
toiroforcado 3 years ago
Damn you john linnell
why must you be so sexy
regurgitatedlie 3 years ago 2
I so totally, and completely agree...he sends me.
ClueSign 3 years ago 4
sweeeet!
doffy1 3 years ago
2:32 is great
dfeltch 3 years ago
Agreed-- Music these days can benefit from some vocal harmonies. Like the Beatles!
toiroforcado 3 years ago
Its been a while but check out Superfurry Animals from the United Kingdom, especially "Herman Loves Pauline" or "She's got SPIES", they got that harmonies down pat.
toiroforcado 3 years ago
thanks I checked them out and they're great
dfeltch 3 years ago
good for you!
toiroforcado 3 years ago
Linnell has pretty eyes.
hippiekyd416 3 years ago
Classic! Thanks for posting!
mrbradj