1.Hello Radio
Vocal：John Linnell
Hello
Hello
Hello
2.It's Not My Birthday
Vocal：John Linnell
Well the rain falls down without my help I'm afraid
And my lawn gets wet though I've withheld my consent
When this grey world crumbles like a cake
I'll be hanging from the hope
That I'll never see that recipe again
As I walk, I think about a new way to walk
As I think, I'm using up the time left to think
And this train keep rolling off the track
Trying to act like something else
Trying to go where it's been uninvited
It's not my birthday
It's not today
It's not my birthday, so why do you lunge out at me？
When the word comes down, 'Never more will be around'
Though I'll wish you were there, I was less than we could bear
And I'm not the only dust my mother raised
So, I'm rattling the bars around this drink tank
Discreetly I should pour through the keyhole or evaporate
completely
But there'd be no percentage, and there'd be no proof
And the sound upon the roof is only water
And the rain falls down without my help I'm afraid
And my lawn gets wet though I've withheld my consent
When this grey world crumbles like a cake
I'll be hanging from the hope
That I'll never see that recipe again
It's not my birthday
It's not today
It's not my birthday, so why do you lunge out at me？
When the word comes down, 'Never more will be around'
Though I'll wish you were there, I was less than we could bear
And I'm not the only dust my mother raised
I am not the only dust my mother raised
3.I'll Sink Manhattan
Vocal：John Flansburgh
I'll sink Manhattan
Right under the sea
I'll find the sweetest spot to watch
As it goes away
You were so happy
With the things that you said
Like, 'He's my lower half,' you laughed
But you're going to cry
A river of tiny tears flow from your crocodile eyes
Too late to apologize, I say, as flood waters rise
I'll sink Manhattan
I'll sacrifice friends
I think they'd understand my plan
I'll never be sure
I've got a message
So before I get through
I'll find your answering machine
And I'll sink it first
Burn your forget-me-nots
Admit that true love can die
No, I won't apologize, my love, just kiss me goodbye
4.Nightgown Of The Sullen Moon
Vocal：John Linnell
Fell in the door
And you fell on the floor
With your hand on the knob
Looking up and abruptly
Forget what you're thinking
Fire alarms go off in your head
You live
In the nightgown of the sullen moon
How the windows lean into the room
In the nightgown of the sullen moon
Drug trip, it's not a drug trip so you feel a bit insulted
Space walk, it's like a space walk with the corresponding weight
loss
And you're nothing but air, with your hand in the air
And your shoelaces tied up together with care
There's a feeling of boredom
Of the big whoredom
Following dressing up
In the nightgown of the sullen moon
How the windows lean into the room
In the nightgown of the sullen moon
In the nightgown of the sullen moon
How the windows lean into the room
In the nightgown of the sullen moon
Your head is on the moon
It's not necessary to breathe
Forever is a long time
Your head is on the moon
It's not necessary to breathe
Forever is a long time
Your head is on the moon
Your head is on the moon
5.The World's Address(Joshua Fried Re-Mix)
Vocal：John Flansburgh／John Linnell
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
6.Hey, Mr. Dj, I Thought You Said We Had A Deal
Vocal：John Linnell
I could never sleep my way to the top
'Cause my alarm clock always wakes me right up
And since my options had been whittled away
I struck a bargain with my radio DJ
I said I'd like this song to be number one
He said 'I'd really really like to help you my son'
And then I knew that I would have him to thank
Because he asked me how much I had in the bank
He said to think long term investment and
That all the others had forgiven themselves
He said the net reward would justify
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives
He said the record wouldn't have to be hot
And no one ever seemed to care if it's not
It would depend on something else that I've got
And that the other ones who'd given it a shot
Had seen a modest sum grow geometrically
And then they had forgiven themselves
Because the net reward had justified
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives＊
Hey Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal
I thought you said, 'You scratch my back and I'll scratch your
record'
And I thought you said we had a deal
Well, I told you about the world (its address)
I wonder when they're gonna clean up the mess
You know the rabid child is still tuning in
Chess piece face's patience must be wearing thin
Because they haven't played this song on the air
Not that anyone but me even cared
And the Disk Jockey has moved out of town
The district courthouse says he's nowhere to be found
He said to think long term investment and
That all the others had forgiven themselves
He said the net reward would justify
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives
Hey Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal
I thought you said, 'You scratch my back and I'll scratch your
record'
And I thought you said we had a deal
Notes
＊These four lines, in the Dial-a-Song version, are substituted
with：
Had gone and made the world their oyster
And that everybody had forgiven themselves
They know the net reward justifies
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives
7.Lady Is A Tramp
Vocal：Carla Thomas
Yeah
Yeah
Tramp
8.Birds Fly
Vocal：John Flansburgh
Birds fly into my windshield
Thoughts fall from my thoughts
This good luck charm hanging off my arm
Was left here by the police
Words fall out of my pockets
And cats dance under my feet
This colorful spell under which I live
Protects me from all I write
And the microscope reveals the scope
Of my very best intentions (best intentions)
Yes, the tiny light shines twice as bright
On the only nice part of me
Birds fly into my windshield
Thoughts fall from my thoughts
This good luck charm hanging off my arm
Was left here by the police
And the microscope reveals the scope
Of my very best intentions (best intentions)
Oh yes the tiny light shines twice as bright
On the only nice part of me
9.Kitten Intro
There's something coming. There's a new car on the horizon.
It's coming very slowly. It makes a noise.
It has kittens painted all over it. With a new kind of fur.
Cleaner, but with a unique smell.
Yet, one of these kittens is not prepared to have a good time.
It stands alone. Away from the crowd.
It's your kind of kitten.
Now the time has come to climb into that car and to shake the
paw of destiny.
No... no... They Might Be Giants are not Satanists.
They are not posing as an easy-listening Nazi rock band trying
to lure intellectuals into believing what they already know to
be true.
No. Listen to the sound of my voice. Put away your big blue
cigars.
And make way... yes, make way, ladies and gentlemen... for They
Might Be Giants!
10.Weep Day
I never went to the tropical island
Though everybody said they saw me there
And it wasn't me you punched a hole in
At the West German protest march
Simultaneous events don't happen
We are isolated temporally
And a part is never called the whole thing
Though it bothers us to know it's so
Every man is made of two opinions
Every woman has a second half
And it's samba time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man (samba
time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man)
Yes, it's samba time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man (samba
time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man)
I didn't write the words you hear me singing (didn't write the
words you hear me singing)
I didn't sing the line before this one (didn't sing the line
before this one)
You are not the one I was addressing (you are not the one I was
addressing)
That person took a train to Africa (Africa)
Where he met the consulate from Belgium
Who is now a Buddhist in a cave
Who is pitching for the Oakland Raiders
Striking out the batter she became
Every man is made of two opinions
Every woman has a second half
And it's samba time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man (samba
time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man)
Yes, it's samba time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man (samba
time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man)
Yes, it's samba time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man (samba
time for Tambo and Weep Day for Urine Man)
Weep Day for Urine Man (Weep Day for Urine Man)
Weep Day for Urine Man (Weep Day for Urine Man)
Weep Day for Urine Man (Weep Day for Urine Man)
Weep Day Weep Day
Weep Day Weep Day
Weep Day Weep Day
Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep)
Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep)
Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep)
Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep)
Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep)
Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep) Weep (Weep)
11.The Big Big Whoredom
Come on baby turn that frown upside down
Tell me why you ain't been around
What is it brings you down？
We work the hardest to be the smartest (we work)
We work the hardest to be the smartest (we work)
We work the hardest to be the smartest (we work)
We work the hardest to be the smartest (we work)
And the big big whoredom scared me
No, no, baby I ain't convinced it ain't so bad as you paint it
There's plenty more heads of hair for us out there
We'll strike it rich, a monster switch (monster)
We'll strike it rich, a monster switch (monster)
We'll strike it rich, a monster switch (monster)
We'll strike it rich, a monster switch (monster)
But the big big whoredom scares me (no no it doesn't do that)
The big big whoredom scares me (no no don't be sad)
The big big whoredom scares me (please please stop it)
The big big whoredom scares me (don't don't)
The big big whoredom scares me (please)
The big big whoredom scares me (no)
The big big whoredom scares me
The big big whoredom scares me
The big big whoredom scares me
12.I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You(Adaptation)
Never thought I'd fall
But now I hear the call
I'm getting sentimental over you
Things you say and do
Just thrill me through and through
I'm getting sentimental over you
Once I wondered why
I'd sit at home and sigh
I'm getting sentimental over you
Words cannot describe
This poetry inside
I'm getting sentimental over you
I thought I was happy, I could live with myself
Now I see that love is all that I'm thinking of
Won't you please be kind
And just make up your mind
That you'll be sweet and gentle
Be gentle with me
'Cause I'm getting sentimental over you
I thought I was happy, I could live with myself
Now I see that love is all that I'm thinking of
Won't you please be kind
And just make up your mind
That you'll be sweet and gentle
Be gentle with me
'Cause I'm getting sentimental over you
13.Become A Robot
Here's hoping you don't (hoping you don't)
Become a robot (clang clang)
Clang, clang, whoops, too late
Here's hoping you don't (hoping you don't)
Become a robot (clang clang)
Clang, clang, whoops, too late
Let's stick together 'cause we're number 8＊
Let's stick to numbers 'cause we're great＊
Here's hoping you don't (hoping you don't)
Become a robot (clang clang)
Clang, clang, whoops, too late
Hey!
Wait!
Here's hoping you don't (hoping you don't)
Harbor a deathwish＊ (help help)
Help, help, help yourself
Here's hoping you don't (hoping you don't)
Harbor a deathwish＊ (help help)
Help, help, help yourself
Hip, hip, horrific are the words we sing
Hip, hip, horrific is our thing
Here's hoping you don't (hoping you don't)
Become a robot (help help)
Help, help, help, help
Help, help, help
Notes
＊These lines are disputable.
The liner notes to Then： The Earlier Years claim that the lines
in the first bridge are as written here,
and that in the second verse the line is 'harbor a wishnik.
' Many fans claim to hear 'harbor a deathwish' or 'harbor a
penguin,' but 'deathwish' seems the most likely. Others hear
'number A／'cause we're gray' in the first bridge
rather than what is printed here.
14.Which Describes How You're Feeling
Vocal：John Linnell
Which describes how you're feeling all the time
Which describes how you're feeling all the
Feeling all the time
There's this guy in the sky and he makes you want to
Want to make you sigh, like the time
When you felt like you're feeling all the time
And you sighed at the cracks in the ceiling all the time
You said 'I'm feeling fine' but it didn't really rhyme
It didn't rhyme, overseas
Which describes how you're feeling all the time
It describes how you're feeling
Which describes how you're feeling all the time
When you lie that your life's unappealing all the time
But your lie doesn't rhyme with the word overseas
Overseas there's this guy
Who describes how you're feeling all the time
In his mind he can find how you're feeling all the time
From behind distant lines
Even straighter than his spine
Which is fine
Which is fine
And describes how you're feeling all the time
Notes
The bridge is replaced by the backwards message in the demo
version.
15.Swing Is A Word
Who can snap my fingers？
Nobody can, nobody can
Where's my cat's pajamas？
In the can, the big trash can
Swing is a word
Six feet down
Swing is a word
Six feet down
Swing is a word
Six feet down
Swing is a word
Six feet down
3-8-7-6-9-6-2-night＊
Swing is a word (3-8-7)
6-9-6-2
Swing is a word (3-8-7)
6-9-6-2
Swing is a word (3-8-7)
6-9-6-2
Swing is a word (Swing is a word)
Six feet down
Notes
＊The Then liner notes have 'narrr' insted of 'night.'
This may be the case, but then the wonderful joke (2night) is
lost.
16.Doris Cunningham
I think you have another song for us. Would you like to perform
it？
What's the name of the song？
Oh, I think I know that one! Great, great.
17.Counterfeit Fake
Vocal：John Flansburgh
Hey, hey, counterfeit fake
History wants you, they made a mistake
Hey, hey, counterfeit fake
History wants you, they made a mistake
Hey, hey, counterfeit fake
History wants you, they made a mistake
Hey, hey, counterfeit fake
History wants you, they made a mistake
18.Schoolchildren Singing 'Particle Man'
Vocal：John Linnell
Particle man, particle man
Doing the things a particle can
What's he like？ It's not important
Particle man
Is he a dot, or is he a speck？
When he's underwater does he get wet？
Or does the water get him instead？
Nobody knows, Particle man
Triangle man, Triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
They have a fight, Triangle wins
Triangle man
Universe man, Universe man
Size of the entire universe man
Usually kind to smaller man
Universe man
He's got a watch with a minute hand,
Millenium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it's a happy land
Powerful man, universe man
Person man, person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can
Person man
Is he depressed or is he a mess？
Does he feel totally worthless？
Who came up with person man？
Degraded man, person man
Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man
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