Love this song. Love this song. It's not exactly straightforward, it's a bit sideways, but I don't think there is an excessive amount of hidden meaning. It's about a guy who is very confused -- he puts on make-up and then goes outside, maybe to do some yardwork, but starts combing his hair with the rake.
The narrator of the song is apparently with-it enough to realize that he might have a have a situation on his hands, but the best he can do in putting a name to it is "a brain problem situation." I imagine an old guy saying that fumbling, uncertain line from the chorus to his doctor, and it makes me laugh. I would love to know where Linnell came up with this. It sounds like something someone would really say.
Later we find out that it might actually be winter outside (or maybe the snow is a reference to his old age? Why 29 inches of snow? His age?), and that his brain problem has caused him buried his snowscraper. The man is obviously struggling. The way I hear it is that he even thinks the scraper going to grow in the spring? Like a tree of snow scrapers? Sheesh!
Later still we find out the guy is on the bottle (the paper bag) and at some point he gets busted for DUI and thrown in the drunk tank. Flansburgh joins in at this point and I take his part of the song (using "we" instead of "I") to be the brain itself joining in with the man -- maybe the man has passed out or something. Maybe this is the narrator from "Thunderbird"? I'm not sure if the booze is the cause of his brain problem, but it can't be helping. Again, a great song, might be my favorite from the whole The Else package.
They Might Be Giants (and probably especially Linnell) are great with Buffy Speak (Some other good examples being They'll Need A Crane and Someone Keeps Moving My Chair).
They Might Be Giants (and probably especially Linnell) are great with Buffy Speak (Some other good examples being They'll Need A Crane and Someone Keeps Moving My Chair).
I think the snow scraper was buried by the snow, hence the direct irony/unsolvableness, and it would emerge in spring when the snow melts. I don't think it's underground.
I think the snow scraper was buried by the snow, hence the direct irony/unsolvableness, and it would emerge in spring when the snow melts. I don't think it's underground.
Love this song. Love this song. It's not exactly straightforward, it's a bit sideways, but I don't think there is an excessive amount of hidden meaning. It's about a guy who is very confused -- he puts on make-up and then goes outside, maybe to do some yardwork, but starts combing his hair with the rake.
The narrator of the song is apparently with-it enough to realize that he might have a have a situation on his hands, but the best he can do in putting a name to it is "a brain problem situation." I imagine an old guy saying that fumbling, uncertain line from the chorus to his doctor, and it makes me laugh. I would love to know where Linnell came up with this. It sounds like something someone would really say.
Later we find out that it might actually be winter outside (or maybe the snow is a reference to his old age? Why 29 inches of snow? His age?), and that his brain problem has caused him buried his snowscraper. The man is obviously struggling. The way I hear it is that he even thinks the scraper going to grow in the spring? Like a tree of snow scrapers? Sheesh!
Later still we find out the guy is on the bottle (the paper bag) and at some point he gets busted for DUI and thrown in the drunk tank. Flansburgh joins in at this point and I take his part of the song (using "we" instead of "I") to be the brain itself joining in with the man -- maybe the man has passed out or something. Maybe this is the narrator from "Thunderbird"? I'm not sure if the booze is the cause of his brain problem, but it can't be helping. Again, a great song, might be my favorite from the whole The Else package.
They Might Be Giants (and probably especially Linnell) are great with Buffy Speak (Some other good examples being They'll Need A Crane and Someone Keeps Moving My Chair).
They Might Be Giants (and probably especially Linnell) are great with Buffy Speak (Some other good examples being They'll Need A Crane and Someone Keeps Moving My Chair).
I think the snow scraper was buried by the snow, hence the direct irony/unsolvableness, and it would emerge in spring when the snow melts. I don't think it's underground.
I think the snow scraper was buried by the snow, hence the direct irony/unsolvableness, and it would emerge in spring when the snow melts. I don't think it's underground.