Interpretations:I Am Not Your Broom
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Someone else's tool[edit]
A song about not being the "tool" of someone else. Possibly a reference to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" --Walrus 16:08, November 13, 2004
Just a fun song[edit]
They Might Be Giants have been known to have songs that don't necessarily have a deep meaning, but are just fun songs, this happens to be one of them. It is literally a song about a broom who is sick of sweeping for John and wishes to pursue a new life elsewhere. --Lars 00:50, March 6, 2005
- I think that john and john intended this to be a fun thing and nothing more. if anybody wants to discuss tmbg im me at finneganswake05 on aim. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.188.117.71 (talk) 15:22, October 23, 2005
- I seriously doubt it has a meaning any deeper than a guy's broom refuses to sweep and happily shuffles away into the distance. Seriously. ~AgentChronon 12:49, September 17, 2006
- Same here. I know that it does have the possibility to be a song with meaning, but it sounds more like just a silly song. ~Shuxiray 18:49, September 26, 2008
- I seriously doubt it has a meaning any deeper than a guy's broom refuses to sweep and happily shuffles away into the distance. Seriously. ~AgentChronon 12:49, September 17, 2006
Interpretation 3[edit]
While I don't think it was intended, I find that this song has somewhat of a meaning to it. The broom quits his job, certain that he can make it to the top if he's not oppressed by John. But right afterwards, you hear sweeping noises. The broom is a broom, and as such can't do anything but sweep. As discontenting as his life is, it's the only one he can ever have. --Mushroom Pie 'n stuff 14:42, April 3, 2005
Neglected wife[edit]
I think its about a neglected wife who sick of cleaning for her husband. --Your Best Friend Tyler 14:41, September 15, 2006
Children[edit]
It's ironic that this was included on No! because it's a fun song that a kid would laugh at. Of course, the Johns have several anti-work songs, and this could be interpreted as a kid's metaphorical speech to their chore-centric parent. (A child of a John, perhaps?) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.83.151.194 (talk) 01:25, May 24, 2013
Transgender metaphor[edit]
The broom deciding not to sweep anymore is a metaphor for deciding not to conform to the roles of one's assigned gender. As the broom throws off his “chains of servitude,” he is escaping from the confines of his assigned at birth gender and finally accepting himself as the man (broom) he was meant to be.
Garfield[edit]
Call me crazy if you must, but I think this song is a metaphor for Garfield. the broom is Garfield ]\\, and "John" is, wel, Jon Arbuckle.