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The World's Address Lyrics

I know you deceived me, couldn't sleep last night
Now my tear stains on the wall reflect an ugly sight
I can see your secrets
No need to confess
Everyone looks naked when you know the world's address

The world's address
A place that's worn
A sad pun that reflects a sadder mess
I'll repeat it for those who may not have already guessed
The world's address

Life's parade of fashion just leaves me depressed
Under every garment I can see the world's address
Call the men of science and let them hear this song
Tell them Albert Einstein and Copernicus were wrong

The world's address
A place that's worn
A sad pun that reflects a sadder mess
I'll repeat it for those who may not have already guessed
The world's address

Call the men of science and let them hear this song
Tell them Albert Einstein and Copernicus were wrong

The world's address
A place that's worn
A sad pun that reflects a sadder mess
I'll repeat it for those who may not have already guessed

The world's address
A place that's worn
A sad pun that reflects a sadder mess
I'll say it one more time for those who may not have already guessed
The world's address
Song Info
Submitted by
qshapadooy On May 15, 2002
4 Meanings

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Cover art for The World's Address lyrics by They Might Be Giants

The pun that the chorus refers to is the title of the song. 'The World's Address' becomes 'The World's A Dress'. Once you see this, it becomes obvious that the song is a critique on the way our society focuses on outward appearance.

"Life's parade of fashion just leaves me depressed Under every garment I can see the world's a dress " This says to me that the constant focus on following the changing trends has worn thin. If one looks, one can easily see through every new fad and style and notice that our world has become shallow and vain.

I'm not quite sure what the meaning is behind the line, "Tell them Albert Einstein and Copernicus were wrong" One theory I have is this: Copernicus had a large hand in proving that the Earth is not the center of the Universe. The ideals that this song is disagreeing with would seem to think otherwise.

Albert Einstein wrote an essay called "The World As I See It". One of the ideas largely expressed in this essay is that man is dependant on each other's happiness for satisfaction. "But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people -- first of all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness is wholly dependent, and then for the many, unknown to us, to whose destinies we are bound by the ties of sympathy." These sentiments similarly clash with the shallow society that this song is speaking out against.

This leads me to believe that the line, "Tell them Albert Einstein and Copernicus were wrong", is meant to be ironic, a sarcastic lash against our society today.

Or maybe I don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Either way, it's a good song. =)

Cover art for The World's Address lyrics by They Might Be Giants

Heh, that's pretty darn clever.

"The world's a dress, a place that's worn..."

Nifty.

Cover art for The World's Address lyrics by They Might Be Giants

42 Milky Way Dr. or 36-24-26

Cover art for The World's Address lyrics by They Might Be Giants

I think that's right. The song hints to that a few times pretty explicitly. They say "a sad pun" - this certainly is a pun. And when he says "I'll repeat it for those who may not have already guessed" he's saying that there is one thing for people to guess that will make them realize what it's about, and hopefully saying the title - or saying "the world's a dress" - one more time will make it all clear.

 
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