Interpretations:I've Got A Fang
- Song
- Lyrics
- Interpretations
- Credits
- Guitar Tab
- Bass Tab
- Chronology
Based on the sound of the song, and the bleak way the song is sung I'd have to say this is mocking Goth culture. Many Goths go to parties wearing glow in the dark fangs, and pretending they are vampires, in a scarily serious way. The song mocks the action of these blood drinkers by revealing that they are, in fact, drinking Tomato juice and pretending it's blood. It mocks the attitudes 'Didn't like me because I look so bad' probably isn't the case, but Goths like to think they're being discriminated against for being dark, when really they're being made fun of for looking like idiots. -- Timus
Tis one seems to be pretty clear: The guy was born with a large, triangular fang, which never seemed to unusual to him, as he uses it for everyday situations, like opening a can of tomato juice. When he goes out into society, however, he finds that people are wary of his unusual appearance. When he finally finds a girl who can look inside of him and ignore his tooth, his hopes are ruined by her dad, who thinks he looks bad, and her mom, who's head exploded like an atom bomb. Another strangely enjoyable lament from Linnell! - Stiddy
Oh, Sherman Fangsworth, this could be about you! This song always makes me think of "Fangface" ( http://www.wingnuttoons.com/Fangface.html ), a '70s-era Ruby Spears cartoon. Coincidence? Hmm... --Hellesfarne
"I've got a fang" sounds like he has a desire for the girlfriend, and that it is embarassingly obvious to the parents, so they hate him. The fang's a big hard boney part that everyone can see.
He has such a serious fang for the girl, he could open a can with it - a little braggadocio about a part of his anatomy. Sharp teeth have connotations of id, also, the beast within. This song is about his boner, guys. -~ Christina Miller
If everyone can see it... he really oughta put some pants on.
Actually no, I totally agree with you, especially the id part.
Colton
Colton: Tee hee! Far be it for me to tell a monster what to do with his fang, having none myself. ;) - Christina
"Open up a can of tomato juice," refers to taking his girlfriend's virginity with his fang/church key. A can cannot be resealed once opened. The tomato juice reference is close to being anatomically explicit. Even without seeing an erection, her parents could consider him a monster because his fang threatens their girl's maidenhood.
Oooo, good one - I have to agree. Even under the theory that "correctly viewed, everything it lewd," you still have to consider that he could have opened up a can of anything, soda, orange juice, whatever, but the tomato juice is a specific visual. Additionally, you make a Bloody Mary (the hair of the dog for the morning after) or a Virgin Mary (no explanation needed) out of tomato juice. This's why I love TMBG. Poetry is cramming the maximum meaning in the minimum words, and these guys do that with such ease. And it's *funny*. I remember the guy I lost my can of tomato juice to, baby - my mother could see the fang way before I did, and her head nearly exploded like an atom bomb. :) (Christina Miller, January 2005)
I assumed the fang in question was just an attitude, or maybe a piece of fang jewelry a la Bill Weasley, or... some sign of rebellion. Or it could have been a physical deformity of some sort--but the tomato juice line made me think that if that was the case, the main character isn't letting deformity / weird-looking-ness / whatever it is impede his life. But now I think I might prefer the fang / wang interpretation.
For some reason, this song always reminded me of Count Duckula. Y'know, the vampire vegetarian duck? Just me...? Oh, okay.
I noticed some nice imagery with the chorus: the emphasis moves from front to back. I've got a FANG, I've GOT a fang, I'VE got a fang. It sort of 'looks' like the emphasis is being sucked from the tip of the word towards the top, like blood sucked through a fang. That would seem to support the idea that he is, in fact, an actual vampire.
This song always reminded me of a cartoon or the Adam's Family or Edward Scissorhands in its vulnerable monster vibe thing. It's a tough sell for a song and if it's going to work you'll need the melody and lyrics to work. It doesn't. Linnell went for a heavy arrangement I guess to fit in with the theme - I first heard the song live and my memory of it is pain, it was easily the loudest gig I've ever been too and with this arrangement my teeth were rattling (the heaviest band I've seen are the Pixies and they sounded like The Carpenters compared to this gig!). It's a monotonous dirge and the lyric "Girlfriend took me to meet her Dad, didn't like me because I looked so bad' might fit the idiom but it's hardly going to keep Dylan awake at night is it? That they don't play it anymore probably tells it's own story (Mr Tuck)
