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Interpretations:Take Out The Trash

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I think the song is fairly literal. The narrator of this song is telling someone to break up with her cheating boyfriend, aka "taking out the trash". "And once you get him out, tell him not to come back again." -Akagi

I think the lyrical interest lies in the fact that its a female empowerment song that comes from a male singer. Is he the woman's gay best friend? Perhaps the singer is a friend who'd like to have a relationship (or merely relations) with the female he's advising and he's delivering disingenuous encouragement so he can then.... *ahem* aid in the healing process. See also: "Your Woman" by White Town. TV's Kyle

Or, y'know, he's just giving good advice? O_o I don't see it as insincere, but that's probably because I just imagine Flans singing it... -Particle
Yeah, that appears to be exactly what Akagi was suggesting. I just wanted to present another possibility. TV's Kyle

I think he is telling his friend to stop going out with his friends old boyfriend.

A great song to play whilse driving with the sun on your face. Flansburgh brings some of his Mono Puff groovyness to the Giants. A good vocal performance it's best to not take the lyrics too seriously. Flansburgh hasn't been this protective of the female since the dismal Hypnotist of the Ladies from Apollo 18. Thankfully he's just offering advice this time, but for those who are quite cynical the subtext seems to be dump your boyfriend so you can go out with me. Flansburgh will no doubt argue that he's writing a pro-woman song, but I always think it's easier for a woman to sing such songs. It would probably have worked better overall in conveying the message if he'd got his wife Robin to sing it. All of this should not detract you from a groovy song which Flans will love singing live. (Mr Tuck)

I don't think my interp is "quite cynical". TMBG lyrics have a tendency to be more than meets the eye, which is why we HAVE an interpretation section. While these ones seem more straightforward than usual, I thought it might be interesting to try looking at them a different way. Why is this upsetting to people? --TVsKyle 20:23, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
I don't believe that the narrator is saying "Break up with him so you can go out with me". I don't remember anywhere in the song that is suggesting that. I think it is more like the narrator is a close friend of the girl he is talking to (maybe even the girl's brother) who has no intention of dating the girl. The narrator seems to just be saying "Your boyfriend treats you like dirt and you deserve better". It does seem that the narrator is male though, since he says "Girl!", but that doesn't mean that he's male for sure. So, the narrator could be female.

-Philip8o

To note, "it's Thursday now" refers to the usual 'trash day' on most of suburbia being on a Thursday. --Mongoose 08:08, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Actually, it's Wednesday for me. And really, it all depends on which district in which you live.
I think "it's Thursday now" refers to a woman waiting for her man to follow up on a weekend's date and Thursday is the day it becomes totally unacceptable that he hasn't called yet. --Wetreplies 23:51, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
I agree, it could also be that she needs to have him out of her life so she can begin making new plans Hitako47


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