The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Ana Ng" by the artist "They Might Be Giants"

The song "Ana Ng" by They Might Be Giants is a story about longing for a distant and unknown soulmate. The lyrical hero imagines shooting a hole through a globe, connecting his location with the place where Ana Ng supposedly lives. This fantasy emphasizes the distance and inaccessibility of the object of his affection.

The image of an inverted world, where water flows the other way and Ana's voice sounds backward, reinforces the sense of separation and misunderstanding. The hero feels lonely and unheard, like at a crowded but impersonal World's Fair, surrounded by soulless dolls.

The repeating lines "Ana Ng and I are getting old, and we still haven't walked in each other's majestic presence" express regret for a missed opportunity for closeness and understanding. The hero dreams of meeting, of being heard, but this dream remains unattainable.

The inscription on the bridge "I don't want the world - I just want your half" emphasizes the hero's longing for unity, for a person who would complement him. The final lines about the "broken record" of reality underscore the feeling of hopelessness and uncertainty.