Interpretations:All Alone
- Song
- Lyrics
- Interpretations
- Credits
- Guitar Tab
- Bass Tab
- Chronology
Interpretation 1[edit]
I think this song is sad, but beautifully sad. Once a normal germ, it grows and -- while it feels special (hence "behold the mystery that is me!") -- it has no one to show how special it is to. It spends 3 years alone just growing and getting even more special, the whole time alone with no one to show off to or talk to. Finally, 3 years later when it gets back to Earth it is in the spotlight! Naturally it is happy, but then they discover that it is not so special to them after all and that lets it down. Therefore, it regresses back to being sad ("We're all alone").
The sad story coupled with the upbeat folky music is a nice touch, like I said it makes it beautifully sad. I think Linnell may have been depressed or sad when writing this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.112.18.70 (talk • contribs) 06:45, 22 May 2006
It's historical: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reports_of_Streptococcus_mitis_on_the_Moon 24.99.86.197 20:53, 10 May 2014 (EDT)
Existential loneliness from a germ[edit]
I always interpreted this song through a lens of existential dread. We humans wonder why there is no other intelligent life out there and the idea of being entirely alone in this cold universe is terrifying in it's implications. This germ that spent years on the moon developing and growing super smart enough to be able to communicate with humans, after saying "look how incredible I am!!! I evolved like you and am intelligent and communicating! Isn't that an incredible miracle???", then confirms through it's unearthly knowledge that there is no other life. It's just Us, and this one little molecule of intelligence. There's no other intelligent life out there. Which is, of course, terrifying and lonely to think of.
I don't normally interpret TMBG songs this literally, but the way Linnell sings this as a folksy story way has always made me see the more literal side of this song and believe that's what it's about. A super smart germ, confirming there is no alien life out there(besides the germ in question). -elilupe
