CATEGORIES » MEANING OF THE SONG

The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Or So I Have Read" by the artist "They Might Be Giants"

Contents

The song "Or So I Have Read" by They Might Be Giants is a satirical look at how easily people accept information as truth, especially when it's presented with an air of authority or mystery.

The lyrics present a series of absurd "facts," claiming they were "read" or "heard" somewhere. Animals smelling dreams, dyed milk becoming clear, striped "barber poles" in the wild, clouds made of bones, astronauts landing on heads - all of these are parodies of pseudoscientific theories and urban legends.

The chorus "Everything you know is true, and the opposite is true" amplifies the absurdity by demonstrating how, without critical thinking, any information, even contradictory, can seem convincing.

The song mocks gullibility and encourages listeners to be mindful of their sources, question what they read, and not believe everything they hear.

Animals can smell your dreams

Or so I have read

That explains the constant sniffing

Under your bed

Or so I have read

It says it right here

And did you know

That mixing paint with milk will make it clear?

Barber poles are found in the wild

And caught in a cage

If you count the stripes

You can determine their age

Or so says the sage

That authored this page

Who owns a self-consuming timepiece

Called the chronophage

Everything you hear is a fact

And the opposite is also correct

If you swallowed up the planet

You would be a wiser man

It would be inside your head

So I have read

You may not believe this

But it has been shown

The reason clouds are white

Is that they're made out of bone

And when I found out

I slapped my own face

For now I know why skeletons

Are up in outer space

Someday in the distant future

So I have read

Microscopic astronauts

Will land on your head

There's so much to know

Can't put this book down

A mime is the hybrid offspring

Of a human and a clown

Everything you hear is a fact

And the opposite is also correct

If you swallowed up the planet

You would be a wiser man

It would be inside your head

Or so I have read

More Articles
"Old Pine Box" by They Might Be Giants depicts a person in a state of extreme mental distress, possibly experiencing psychosis. The lyrics are full of metaphors describing their erratic behavior and the desperation of those around them
The song "No One Knows My Plan" by They Might Be Giants tells the story of a man imprisoned who seems oddly content, even gleeful, in his predicament. He possesses a secret knowledge, his "plan", that remains hidden from others
The song "Number Three" by They Might Be Giants tells the story of a man obsessed with creating music, despite its seeming insignificance in the eyes of others. He has written only two songs in his entire life, and now a third appears
The song "No Cops" by They Might Be Giants uses a humorous and exaggerated tone to create the image of an explosive and unpredictable concert. The lyrical hero addresses different participants of the event - the audience on the balcony and stalls, the sound engineer, the security guard who is unaware of the chaos happening inside
The lyrics of "Nanobots" by They Might Be Giants paint a picture of a world overtaken by various types of tiny robots nanobots, yellow robots, and marching robots. The repetitive lines "Making
"Music Jail, Pt. 1 & 2" by They Might Be Giants uses the metaphor of jail to describe the feeling of being trapped and overwhelmed in the world of music
Feedback: mail@wikimeaning.com
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
About Wikimeaning