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.
Someone tell me why
I do the things that I don't want to do
When you're around me, I'm somebody else
Someone tell me why I act like a fool
When things don't go my way
When you're around me, I'm somebody else
There is good reason I guess
Having once gone too far
When you clean out the hive
Does it make you want to cry
Are you still being followed by the teenage FBI
Someone tell me why [x2]
I do the things that I don't want to do
When you're around me, I'm somebody else
Someone tell me why I act like a fool
When things don't go my way
When you're around me, I'm somebody else
There is good reason I guess
Having once gone too far
When you clean out the hive
Does it make you want to cry
Are you still being followed by the teenage FBI
Someone tell me why [x2]
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I think the lyrics are fairly obvious - about acting like a different person in front of certain people. "Teenage FBI" references the typical teenager stereotype of being horribly judgemental based on one's clothes and actions. The line about cleaning out the hive confuses me though.
Fucking love this song.
I love this song. Tis amzing!
fucking awesome
This song is about picking your nose. The singer was originally a teacher, and teenage fbi refers to teenagers catching you while picking your nose. The line "When you clean out the hive" makes this kind of obvious. "Having once gone to far" - Putting your finger too far up there, or not stopping and getting caught.
thats silly. and 1000 bongs is the coolest name i've ever heard. i cant even live.
I think Dr Ray might be right. There are times when you pick too hard or accidentally rip out a hair and it's so painful it makes you almost want to cry.
So why is the guy tempted to pick? Is he around some girl who has a nice smell?
Teenage FBI seems to be a reference to the teen's belief that everyone is always watching them causing them to make doubly sure that they look good, and that they're not doing anything stupid.
I think if you put all of the above meanings together you get the true meaning of the song: picking your nose leads you to be caught by the "teenage FBI" or aka - the kids that pick on you for picking your nose.
This song is about picking your noise? I really doubt that.... but hey! Maybe...
Also, "Teenage FBI" was on the first Buffy soundtrack