Unintentionally Scary Song
I have been a fan of They Might Be Giants for quite some time, actually since before college. But until today, for some reason, the actual words to this song titled “Sleepwalkers,” on their “No!” album have escaped me.
If you listen to the original version, which was only available on the original “Dial-A-Song” not the “new” Internet enabled version (which is also down!)
Compare this to some of their more lighthearted songs such as “Particle Man” from “Flood” which is still one of my most favorite albums.
or Birdhouse in your Soul, from the same album.
If you really listen to the lyrics of this song, it’s actually very comforting.
Even for fans of TMBG like myself, I still find surprises. Like this even MORE scary song they did for ABC’s Nightline.
Yeah… I’m not going to be sleeping tonight.
Sleepwalker Lyrics:
See them over there
See them moving down the road
Their arms held out ahead
And their eyes, their eyes are closed
Don’t make any noise
Cry out loud or stamp your feet
You’ll wake the girls and boys
Who are walking in their sleep
Every night they throw aside their blankets
Swing their feet down, stand up and move out to the street
Like they’re under a spell and together
They roam across the country and they’re walking in their sleep
You’ll recognize them when you see
Their rumpled hair and stocking feet
It seems like they want something
But we don’t know what it is
But here they come again
Yes, here they come again
Move aside and let the people go by
They don’t see you thinking that they’re home in their beds
They must not be disturbed when they’re wandering
All across the country and they’re walking in their sleep
Perhaps when they awake
They’ll remember everything
They’ll think it was a dream
It will be forgotten then
But don’t make any noise
Cry out loud or stamp your feet
You’ll wake the girls and boys
Who are walking in their sleep
Particle Man Lyrics:
Particle man, particle man
Doin’ 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
Millennium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it’s a happy land
[Inaudible] 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
Birdhouse in Your Soul Lyrics:
I’m your only friend
I’m not your only friend
But I’m a little glowing friend
But really I’m not actually your friend, but I am
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I have a secret to tell from my electrical well
It’s a simple message and I’m leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me filibuster vigilantly
My name is Blue Canary one note spelled L I T E
My story’s infinite like the Longines Symphonette it doesn’t rest
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
I’m your only friend
I’m not your only friend
But I’m a little glowing friend
But really I’m not actually your friend, but I am
There’s a picture opposite me of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores and kept the beaches shipwreck free
Though I respect that a lot I’d be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness like guardian Angels its always near
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you?
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
While you’re at it
Keep the nightlight on inside
The birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
(And while you’re at it)
Who watches over you?
(Keep the nightlight on inside the)
(Birdhouse in your soul)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
(And while you’re at it)
Who watches over you?
(Keep the nightlight on inside the)
(Birdhouse in your soul)
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I’m the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul