So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Hi can't believe there aren't more comments on this song. IMO, this is, by far, the best APC song lyrically, and one of the best by MJK. The whole song is a satire on modern society and how we, as a species, are wrecking our world, or at least letting it be wrecked. The upbeat melody is sarcastically contrasting against the end of the world theme of the lyrics, evidenced with references to the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. Throughout the song we get constant references to a nuclear holocaust ("atomic pageantry"/"Under the mushroom cloud confetti"/"In an afterwind"(and not empty wind btw)) which MJK sarcastically compares to a fireworks show. I believe the motivation behind this song is the constant displays of nuclear power between Trump and Kin Jong Un, to which MJK says "bravissimo". Instead of worrying about this, we waste our time and money with unnecessary things (apps, plastic surgery, nationalism (flags)...) Brilliant.

The song's name comes from the name of the fourth book in Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, though the song's lyrics touches more on the subject of the deaths of celebrities. The song makes allusions to many celebrity deaths in including Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka), David Bowie (Major Tom), Muhammad Ali, Prince, and Carrie Fisher (Leia). I think the song is a sarcastic yet altruistic at heart anthem of sorts about how we all cope with the absurdity of life (often in illogical ways unfortunately) & how we all process it & move on.

First of all i really like the fact that the lyrics close the loop on the title. In Douglas Adams "So long and thanks for all the fish" Arthur Dent listens to the bowl telling him that all the dolphins left earth for an alternate universe, being fully aware of earths upcoming destruction. "All the dolphins have moved on - Signaling the final curtain call in all its atomic pageantry". Same goes for, as my predecessing commetator EternalTearsOfSorrow mentions, some celebrities who passed away along the years. However it lacks in sarcasm. The lyrics try to distract from the impact or meaning or legacy we leave on this planet and point out that as soon as we leave our world, wether by death or by physical leave, none of that will have any meaning for whats next. In total the song heavily reminds of the the three wishes Alexander The Great had on his death bed for his funeral, especially his third wish: "I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is TIME."

Should read "absent flags" not "apps and flags"

From: http://www.flagstuff.com/owner-absent-flag Definition of "absent flag"... For most of the past century, members of the most prestigious yacht clubs have flown the Owner Absent flag from the starboard spreader while at anchor to signal visitors when the owner would not be on board to receive them. Despite the advent of cell phones, the tradition still lives on.

Also note: the celebrities mentioned lived in a time where apps were not a thing, for the most part.

It's "absent flags". A reference to the elite and their unused boats - nothing more than a show of their ludicrous wealth.

I love the beginning it reminds me something like an Old Collective Soul song... the song seems to be a tribute to those who've recently passed, our heroes, some idols, and icons that touched our lives.

I feel like the bit about Time being money and vice versa and the more "popular" luxuries of today distract us from the more beautiful things... and people truly do piss way too much money and time away on things that are only temporary fixes or fads.

Who's Reenie's mom?

While referencing Douglas Adams’s “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”, Maynard is talking about things and people disappearing from this world. In the book, the dolphins left Earth because they knew it will be destroyed, and so in here it’s shown as a symbolic sign of the end closing in. In the meantime, people are ignoring the signs, because they’re distracted with producing, consuming and vanity to the point that they don’t even understand what’s going on and will see a nuclear apocalypse as a fireworks display. Also, using the phrase “moved on” suggests that maybe we can avoid the end by moving on to another planet, like the dolphins did.