I got the new TMBG Venue Songs CD/DVD and it's having the usual impact on my life. I listened to the CD a few dozen times, and then I obsessed on this one song. For the past two days, whenever I'm listening to music, I'm exclusively listening to this song. I still haven't got all the words absolutely, one line in these lyrics is reconstructed from aural fragments, but I won't tell you which one, it would disturb the flow. Ladies and gentlemen, "Renew My Subscription" by They Might Be Giants!
Renew My Subscription
Well, I don’t write too many letters
I figured I’d better write something now
I saw the thing about the heartsick shut-in
Thought that I would cut in and tell you about how
It woke me from a lifelong daydream
While I was aging you wrote it all down
And though I recognized the words when I read them
I know I never said them to people out loud
Renew my subscription
to Desperate Bellowing magazine
It sure does have a familiar ring
You might say I fit the description
Renew my subscription to Miserable Freakshow Quarterly
Every back issue I saw spoke to me
Acknowledging it’s my addiction
Renew my subscription!
=====
I want to be a much better person
Instead, I worsen with every day
But there’s a drug whose name I’m not sure of
Which I need more of to feel okay
They told me exercise and diet
If I would try it, would cure my ills
But though I’m already past my quota
I want another load of those magic pills
Refill my prescription
To whatever that thing is that makes
The carpet stop turning into snakes
In lieu of my coming conniption
Refill my prescription
And free me from where I don’t want to be
Standing outside the unopened pharmacy
Before I confirm your prediction
Refill my prescription!
2 comments:
I've never caught TMBG in their many area performances. I would love to see them live. Smart rock is so rare.
Hello! I totally agree - I just got Venue Songs too and am totally obsessing on Renew My Subscription.
I think the name of the first magazine is "Desperate Fellow in Magazine". But you might be right. Don't you just wish there really was a "Miserable Freakshow Quarterly?"
I wonder if they refuse to name a drug that stops turning the carpet into snakes because they got in trouble with the song AKA Driver on John Henry, cos it was really about Nyquil Driver but that's a real drug and the drug owners didn't want the drug named.
I also love the tracks "Asbury Park" and "London" and quite a few others which will grow on me as time goes by. Nice to meet another They fan!
Abby
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