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Interpretations:We Live In A Dump

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I just wanted to get the ball rolling on discussion for this great new song. This is one of the Giants' most bubblegum-catchy songs in years. The lyrics concern a narrator who lives in relative squalor, enjoying a lazy, bohemian slacker lifestyle ("Our friends are all nuts," but "Don't wake me from my dream.") Perhaps the person singing the verses is different from the guy doing the chorus; the former is trying to convince the latter that they live in a bat-infested dump ("What's good about that?") but the latter seems somewhat content with the lifestyle ("Why be realistic?").

At the Pittsburgh show last night, Flans said something to the effect that the song is kind of about how TMBG was in their early days. - FrankEinstein

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Podcast 6A, to me, seems to have sort of a rock opera feel to it... We Live In A Dump is the opening act, with the roommates arguing over their living conditions. I'm A Little Airplane is from the viewpoint of the more slacker roommate as he gets really really baked. Cut to Free to Be You and Me, where the non-slacker roommate goes, "okay, whatever." Then I Never Go To Work caps off the mini-opera, with the non-slacker roommate doing double-overtime to cover rent for his now former friend...

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This song could be a theme for any wacky sitcom ever. - FireLily

I think this song speaks for itself to most of us. I just wanted to point out that even if bats did lay eggs, and sealing wax contained lead, the bats would probably not be adversely affected. This is due to the simple fact that said wax is for sealing envelopes, not for making your ceiling shine like new. I found that out the hard way...

--Phlodo 15:15, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

I think this song is about several animals, namely bats and monkeys, who live together in a small apartment or dorm room. "Hanging out" obviously would then refer to the bats hanging from the ceiling, whereas "making plans" could refer to the monkeys at the typewriters. "The lead that's in the ceiling/sealing wax" may refer to the monkeys' dislike for the bats, hoping that they get lead poisoning and die.

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