Interpretations:Take Out The Trash

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Literal interpretation

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 22:49, April 27, 2007

Female empowerment, male singer

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 12:52, May 2, 2007

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 18:57, May 16, 2007

Yeah, that appears to be exactly what Akagi was suggesting above. I just wanted to present another possibility. TV's Kyle 19:55, May 16, 2007

Interpretation 3

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) 11:00, May 31, 2007

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 19:50, February 21, 2008

Six years is a long time to get back to you Phil but well "I'm not say that all boys are the same" is the lyric that backs up my argument. Flans creepy narrator is trying to worm his way in. (Mr Tuck)

i feel like reading that far into it says more about the interpreter than the song, tuck. Apollo (colloquia!) 18:59, 28 October 2014 (EDT)

Thursday

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. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lucretius (talk • contribs) 19:56, February 21, 2008

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 00:12, August 8, 2007

That's always how I read it, with the implication of not wasting another friday on this loser... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.51.57.35 (talk) 15:58, May 20, 2010

I always thought it was a reference to Thursday being 'Ladies' night' at most bars.

Interpretation 5

I think he is telling his friend to stop going out with his friends old boyfriend. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tmbgfan (talk • contribs) 02:59, February 28, 2008

you need to take out the trash. the can is full.

Sequel to Your Racist Friend

I think this might be a part 2 of Your Racist Friend because it seems like the narrator absolutely got tired of their friend's racist friend so now they're kicking the racist friend out.

The narrator's friend obviously seems to not be aware of how badly racist their friend is so now instead of just not listening to them and their/her racist friend, they want them to completely unfriend them because the narrator is tired of the friend's racist remarks to him or others, no matter how much they may be kidding.

-and once you get him out Tell him not to come back again? Girl! Put that cat in the bin after what he said. After everything he did! Saying this so the person can leave and stop being racist around them.

It's fine if you disagree, though. This just comes in my head everytime I listen to this song or Your Racist Friend. Seems too obvious.

Cant Keep Jamincin Down (talk) 00:25, 20 January 2024 (EST)

The Trash is George W. Bush

The girl is lady liberty and the trash is George W. Bush. It was confirmed in interviews that much of this album is at least subconsciously about Bush-era politics and the Iraq war, and this interpretation is in line with that theme. It's comparing bush to a shitty boyfriend.