Lyrics:Battle O' 'Im
| Battle O' 'Im |
| By: They Might Be Giants |
| Year: 2001 |
JF: This next song is called the "Battle Of 'Im", ladies and gentlemen. We're gonna divide our band into three different sections. The people in the band named Dan are gonna represent the Dan section. That would be Mr. Dan Miller on the electric guitar, Dan Hickey on the drums, and Dan Weinkauf on the bass. Usually we call them Dan, but for purposes of this next part of the show, they're gonna be known as the Dans. John and I will be known as Johns. And Jim O'Connor, our trumpet player and Tim Newman, our trombone player are gonna be known as the Ims. But wait, hold your applause 'til you get to the t-shirt stand, ladies and gentlemen. Because this portion of the show is really all about you. And I don't mean you as an audience. I mean you individually as I'm pointing at you right now. I think you know who I'm talking about. You! This is how it works: You put your left fist in the air when the Dans are playing and chant the word "Dan". Okay. We following? Haven't had too many drinks now? JL: I'm seeing some right fists. JF: Check it out, check it out, check it out! When the Johns play, right fist in the air. Alright. And when the Ims play, both fists in the air. Okay? This started in St. Louis in the 40s. It's actually a still photograph. But we're moving closer and closer. So this is how it works, this is your soundcheck. Starts with the left fists in the air and I don't wanna see you! …not putting your fist in the air. You know who I'm pointing at. I can see you. I can see into your mind. You're thinking "I'm not doing this. This is bullshit." Well you're wrong, sir. You're dead wrong. You're cheating yourself out of the first good time you've had in months. You wonder why your friends don't call anymore. That's because you don't put your fist you don't put your fist in the air at the rock show. We're playing it all like "???". We've got your number, fella. We wanna see your left fist in the air for the Dans, right fist in the air for the Johns, and both fists in the air for the Ims. Okay, this is the soundcheck, this is how it goes. JF and audience: Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! JF: Wait, wait. Right. JF and audience: John! John! John! John! John! John! John! JF: Ope, it's gonna be just like a Queen show. Check this out. Alright, and then the final: JF and audience: Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! JF: Alright, alright. Don't wear yourself out. I was once on the six train and this happened. It was crazy. It started with a guy by the conductor saying "Let's turn this mother out." Alright, so, um. Alright, this is how it goes. The Battle Of The Ims. Fellas, count it off, it starts with the Dans. Let's– here we go! JF and audience: Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! JF: Beautiful music is so hard to find John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! Dan! JF: Aah Aaaah Aaaaaah Aaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! John! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! Im! JF: I think the Ims are winning. The Ims, ladies and gentlemen! The Ims have won! Jim O'Connor! Tim Newman! JL: John I think we definitely lost that one. JF: Yeah, we totally lost. Yeah. JL: In fact, we always lose. JF: Yeah. I hate that. The thing– people ask us why we play with such good musicians, but think about, why would you, like, work with people that play worse than you? Strange. |
