Short People

Randy Newman may well be an asshole, but that's not the point. The idea of the song is to take a particularly ridiculous prejudice and exaggerate it to the nth degree. Maybe some people are insensitive to short people, maybe even a little prejudiced against them, but no one actually hates them as a group for goodness sake..... By exaggerating a particularly absurd prejudice, Newman was making fun of prejudice in general.

Also you are correct ereed6 Randy Newman has stated that the song was written from the perspective of a crazy person. Very cool you knew that. I still don't think that negates the fact that the song is making a point on discrimination. When I talk to a racist or sexist person, I often walk away thinking that they are lunatics. They are irrational, they lack a clear concept of reality, and project paranoid thoughts onto individuals who are of no threat to them. Sounds like a crazy person to me! From a song writing perspective the character singing the song would have to be crazy. No sane person would believe those things. But it becomes this crazy person's beliefs that ultimately become a perfect critique on discrimination.

I Heard Glenn Danzig wanted to kick Randy's ass after this was released

Got into lift at a Randy concert (he was backed by the LSO) - very tall elegant blonde turned to her equally distinguished male companion and whispered "I see we have some short people too" - it was kind of amusing, even if I wasn't supposed to hear - btw - I've known to tell a few blonde jokes "What do you call a blonde in a particle-physics department? Ans - the cleaner.

I think Randy is mildly prejudiced on this - he is squint-eyed, overweight etc but at least not short - he's gets a catharsis out of this in a way - so do I.

ur all wrong.. he's a nazi...

out..

This song is written from the perspective of a crazy person. There is no deep meaning. It's just silly. Randy Newman told me this in concert 3 days ago.

what does this song mean to me? humm... well either Randy Newman is a comedy mastermind or the biggest asshole on the planet... u decide

         Peace out

The ridiculous thing about this song is that he obviously doesnt mean it but after it was released midgets protested outside of anywhere he was performing

'They got little hands, little eyes, they walk around telling great big lies'

Lol, this song always cracks me up. I am of the belief also, that Newman is merely poking fun at predjudice in general with this song.

You were right about "Short People are just the same As you and I (A Fool Such As I) All men are brothers Until the day they die (It's A Wonderful World)"

being a key part of the song. However, it's not the "true meaning" of the song. It's more like a cynical imitation of how people talk in one way, and think ridiculous thoughts about other people again right after that. People are hypocrites. Short people can be replaced by gay people, black people, female people, just about any group there is. Newman is holding a mirror, showing us how arrogant and short-minded we are. Why would we be any better than any other of us? Don't judge people too soon.