I was working all night in my office
When a man I had recently killed
Called me up from a phone near my building
So I looked out the window at him
He had the same obsequious manner
That was the reason I had him killed
So to calm my nerves I sang this song
To him, over the phone

Turn around, turn around
There's a thing there that can be found
Turn around, turn around
It's a human skull on the ground
Human skull on the ground
Turn around

I was out by myself in the graveyard
I was doing an interpretive dance
When I felt something heavy and pointed
Strike me in the back of the neck
And then the ghost of my dance instructor
Pushed me down into an open grave
And as dirt rained down she played a xylophone
And sang me this song

Turn around, turn around
There's a thing there that can be found
Turn around, turn around
It's a human skull on the ground
Human skull on the ground
Turn around

We were waving our arms out the window
Of a fast moving passenger train
Acting in an irresponsible fashion
Until the engineer whose back had been turned
And who we thought would find us highly amusing
Quickly swiveled his head around
And his face which was a paper-white mask of evil
Sang us this song

Turn around, (round) turn around (round)
There's a thing there that can be found (there's a thing there that can be)
Turn around, (found) turn around (round)
It's a human skull on the ground (it's a human skull on the)
Human skull (ground) on the ground (round)
Turn around (turn around, turn around)

Turn around, (round) turn around (round)
There's a thing there that can be found (there's a thing there that can be)
Turn around, (found) turn around (round)
It's a human skull on the ground (it's a human skull on the)
Human skull (ground) on the ground (round)
Turn around (turn around, turn around)


Lyrics submitted by Irrational

Turn Around Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Turn Around song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    A fun song to sing quietly to yourself if you want to scare the people around you.... :)

    ThatOtherGuyon September 25, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Oh yea, great song to sing on the subway while wearing obscenely gothic clothes and in an upbeat tone.

    Cruxapheticaon February 28, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think "Turn Around" is about no matter how you try to be "in control", carefree, or easy-going, there's always something coming up behind you to haunt you...especially death, which is indicated by the skull.

    hockpa2eon August 09, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    from the vibes i'm getting in some of these responses, maybe my interpretation is going to seem a little upbeat, but...

    put yourself into a really awkward, painful, horrible situation, like any one of the three scenes in the lyrics (or any just generally bad situation at all: you got dumped, fired, broke an extremity, etc.). sure, you feel bad, maybe scared, or perhaps even doomed, but hey, you're not dead yet, right? it'll be at least a little while before you're another skull on the ground, so cheer up for as long as you can!

    the chorus i suppose could be summed up as, "well, at least you have your health."

    KSOfmon November 25, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "We were waving our arms out the window of a fast-moving passenger train acting in an irresponsible fashion until the engineer whose back had been turned and who we thought would find us highly amusing quickly swiveled his head around and his face which was a paper-white mask of evil sang us this song."

    Just wanted to point out what might be the longest sentence ever committed to lyrics.

    wheckson July 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've never heard anyone say this, but I think this song has some serious Masonic references. I don't even know if the Johns are Masons. It appears to me to refer to the best known part of the Third Degree Ritual. Where the Master is killed by one of his associates then is Raised. Right down to the fact that when you are raised they have you turn around to look where you were and there is a skull where your head would be. Any way. Any Masons out there? I'm one and see a lot of correlation. I would appreciate a brother to back me up.

    Jopperm2on July 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always freak people out when singing this song.

    TheyMightBeAwesomeon March 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics are missing some of the repitition of chorus.

    ayyamanaon December 25, 2009   Link

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