In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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?
When 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,
Millennium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it's a 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 have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle 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?
When 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,
Millennium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it's a 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 have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man
Lyrics submitted by Irrational
Particle Man Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I don't know just who the hell Triangle Man thinks he is, but how dare he hog two verses to himself in a song about our hero Particle Man? It seems unfair to emphasize Triangle Man where his only accomplishment is to beat up both Particle Man and Person Man just because he hates them.
Having said that, though, I must admit that our faith in particle man may not be well-founded. After all, we don't really know what he's like, but there must be something if Triangle Man hates him so. But at the same time, Triangle man hates Person Man. What could Triangle Man have against Person Man, a person that has been clubbed in the skull with a cooking utensil and now spends his days depressed and living in a garbage can? Does Particle Man also hate Person Man, or are they partners united by their hate of Triangle Man?
Also a concern is, what is Particle Man doing underwater? Just what does it mean for all of us if the water actually does get him? Would the now him water in turn get us him? Is getting him a good thing, or bad? If bad, can we recover from catching the him?
Finally, what part does Universe Man play? Whose side is he on? He's usually kind to smaller men, but if he's the size of the entire universe (man) then Particle Man, Person Man, and Triangle Man are all smaller men. He could very well be on Triangle Man's side if he allows him to simply beat up the two others, especially when one of those two has brain damage from a previous encounter with a frying pan. Such an occurrence would explain the exception identified by the use of the term 'usually'. But why would his watch need minute, millennium, and eon hands? Does his watch face still go to 12? does this mean he wishes to measure up to 12 eons? For what reason?
Fucked if I know.