Outtakes

This page includes various songs that were recorded for They Might Be Giants albums but either didn't make the cut, were held off for other albums or included in special releases.

They Might Be Giants (1986)

• Fake Out In Buenos Aires - Mentioned by John Flansburgh in 1996 as a song recorded for the album, but left off because they "thought it would have appeared indulgent."^[1]
• They Might Be Giants - Recorded for the 1985 Demo Tape, but left off the finished album. According to Flansburgh, the band didn't want this song on this album "because it seemed too weird."^[2] Would later be re-recorded for Flood.

Lincoln (1988)

• It's Not My Birthday - An alternate version of this song made for Lincoln was present on a Dubway Studios track sheet also featuring "Shoehorn With Teeth", "Lie Still, Little Bottle", "Ana Ng" and "Purple Toupee"^[3], but the recording would not make it to the album. A self-produced recording would soon appear on the They'll Need A Crane EP after Lincoln's release and Miscellaneous T in 1991.
• They Might Be Giants - Withheld from the debut album, this song was considered by the band for an appearance on Lincoln, but was once again held off.^[4] Would later appear on Flood.

Flood (1990)

• Fingertips - The original demo for this song was mentioned by John Linnell in 1992 as being ready for an appearance on Flood, but was held off due to the amount of material already collected for the album.^[5] Would later be completed for release on Apollo 18.
• Hovering Sombrero - In a description for Mink Car, the Johns mentioned that the song was originally written during the recording for this album.^[6]
• Maybe I Know - Mentioned in a 1989 newsletter as one of the songs "slated to be on Flood," when the album was going to have 17 songs. ^[7] Would later be recorded for Long Tall Weekend.
• Tiny Doctors - Demoed alongside Particle Man and written amongst many of the songs on Flood according to the TMBG Unlimited description, but never ended up making it past the sketch stages.

Apollo 18 (1992)

• Welcome To The Jungle - Although not directly stated by the band to have been considered for the album, a 1992 issue of music publication R&R published before the release of Apollo 18 stated this song was one of the titles included in the album, alongside "The Statue Got Me High", "I Palindrome I" and "Hypnotist Of Ladies". It would instead be released on The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) EP later in the year.

John Henry (1994)

• About Me - Recorded at Excello Studios during the John Henry Demos sessions, Flansburgh said it may have been considered "too slight" for the final album, as "there was a 'make the band serious' thing going on at the time."^[8] Would later appear on Severe Tire Damage.
• Dark And Metric - Recorded during the John Henry sessions in 1994 after being written by John Linnell alongside "Subliminal", the song was mentioned by John Linnell in a 1995 interview to have not been chosen for release.^[9] It would later appear on Dial-A-Song and would be released on Long Tall Weekend.
• Drinkin' - Recorded during the John Henry Demos sessions, it was featured on a 1993 sampler containing many of the demos for songs that would appear on John Henry. Would later appear on Long Tall Weekend.
• Lullabye To Nightmares - Originally released on the Hello The Band EP, this song was recorded for John Henry with an extended opening and coda during the John Henry Demos sessions, but didn't make the cut. A new mix of the recording omitting the coda and extended opening would be released on Long Tall Weekend.
• Mrs. Train - Recorded during the John Henry sessions in 1994, it was confirmed by Flansburgh on Tumblr to have been held off from the album^[10]. Would first appear on Back To Skull.
• Ondine - Recorded during the John Henry Demos sessions in 1993, it was featured on a leaked 1993 demo tape containing various other recordings from the sessions. It was also confirmed by Flansburgh on Tumblr to have been held off from John Henry in 1994^[11]. Would first appear on Back To Skull.

Factory Showroom (1996)

• Certain People I Could Name - Mentioned by John Flansburgh on alt.music.tmbg as being included for the album,^[12] but was put aside for Long Tall Weekend. The song also appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions. On tmbg.com, it was presumed that the song was removed from the album due to its mid-tempo.^[13]
• Counterfeit Faker - Mentioned by John Flansburgh on alt.music.tmbg as being included for the album,^[14] but was also put aside for Long Tall Weekend. The song also appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions.
• Maybe I Know - Withheld from Flood, Flansburgh mentioned that there were plans to put this song on the album, as well as possible plans for release on a final Elektra EP, but both ideas never materialized.^[15] Would later appear on Long Tall Weekend.
• Older - A demo of this song titled "You're Older" would appear on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions. New recordings would later appear on Long Tall Weekend and Mink Car, with the latter version mirroring the original arrangement of the demo.
• On The Drag - Mentioned by Flansburgh as being recorded for the album, but removed due to it sounding "generic".^[16] Would later be re-recorded for the Working Undercover For The Man EP.
• Rat Patrol - Mentioned by John Flansburgh on alt.music.tmbg as being included for the album,^[17] but was also put aside for Long Tall Weekend. The song also appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions.
• Reprehensible - Appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions. According to Flansburgh, the song wasn't included on the album because "Elektra couldn't handle it." Would later appear on Long Tall Weekend.
• Sensurround - A remake of the soundtrack version, live show banter before this album's release mentions that this version was originally intended for the album. Would later appear on the S-E-X-X-Y EP and a Japan-only release of the album.
• They Got Lost - Originally titled "TMBG Got Lost", this song appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions. Would later be released as a live track on Severe Tire Damage, while the original recording was released on Long Tall Weekend.
• Token Back To Brooklyn - Appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions. Would later make it to the album but only as a hidden track, which would be omitted on foreign releases of the album. It would also reappear on Long Tall Weekend.
• Unforgotten - Appeared on a leaked cassette featuring songs from the Factory Showroom recording sessions. Would later appear on the S-E-X-X-Y EP and a Japan-only release of the album.

Severe Tire Damage (1998)

• A Stranger's Eye - Mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album.^[18]
• Counterfeit Faker - Withheld from Factory Showroom, this song was mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album.^[19] Would later appear on Long Tall Weekend.
• I Am Not Your Broom - Mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album.^[20] Would later appear on No!
• I'm Sick (Of This American Life) - Originally titled, "I've Learned The Value Of Human Sacrifice", this song was mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album.^[21] Was later re-recorded when the band was dared by Sarah Vowell from This American Life,^[22] it would also see an appearance on the 2002 compilation They Got Lost.
• Older - Withheld from Factory Showroom, this song was mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album. ^[23] Would later appear on Long Tall Weekend.
• On The Drag - Withheld from Factory Showroom, this song was mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album. ^[24] Would later appear on the Working Undercover For The Man EP.
• Reprehensible - Withheld from Factory Showroom, this song was mentioned by Flansburgh as a song that was going to be on Severe Tire Damage,^[25] but the song was once again held off. Would later appear on Long Tall Weekend.
• Triborough Bridge - Mentioned by the band in a September 1997 newsletter as a track potentially intended for release on the album.^[26]

Mink Car (2001)

• Boss Of Me - Although the song appeared as a bonus track on numerous releases of the album, it would not make it to the tracklist of the US release. When asked why in 2002, Flansburgh said that the band "kinda wanted to get out of the shadow of the song."^[27] It would be included as a bonus track on the 2022 vinyl re-release of the album.
• I'm Your Boyfriend Now - Recorded as a demo in 2001 for Mink Car, the song wouldn't make the cut. A new recording would later appear on Cast Your Pod To The Wind.
• Kids Are Different Now - Although not directly stated by the band to have been considered for the album, the working title for Mink Car was originally Unreliable Narrator, named directly after the song^[28]. It would instead first appear on eMusic Freebies in 2000.
• McGyver - Likely recorded during sessions for Mink Car, this song would only appear as a bonus track on the Japanese release of the album until 2022, where it was featured as a bonus track on the vinyl re-release.
• On The Drag - Withheld from Severe Tire Damage, this song was re-recorded with a new arrangement during the Butcher Bros. sessions for a new album in 1999^[29]. Due to the collapse of the sessions, the song would instead appear first on the Working Undercover For The Man EP.
• Rest Awhile - Recorded during the Butcher Bros. sessions for a new album in 1999^[30], it was mentioned by John Linnell as a song that would appear on the "next record".^[31] Due to the collapse of the sessions, the song would instead appear first on the Working Undercover For The Man EP.
• Thunderbird - Recorded during the Butcher Bros. sessions for a new album in 1999^[32], it was the only song not chosen to be re-recorded or released on the Working Undercover For The Man EP or Mink Car after the collapse of the sessions. Would later be re-recorded and released on The Spine.
• Your Mom's Alright - Recorded during sessions for Mink Car in 2000 alongside "Mr. Xcitement"^[33], this song would be released numerous times in 2001, which included the European and Japanese releases of Mink Car and the Man, It's So Loud In Here EP. The song however would not end up making it to the final tracklisting of the album. It would be included as a bonus track on the 2022 vinyl re-release of the album.

No! (2002)

• Clowntown - Released in a preview sampler for the album, it was mentioned in the TMBG Unlimited description as being deemed "too creepy to be for kids (by everyone)".
• Glug Glug Glug - Mentioned by Flansburgh in a 2000 radio interview as a song he was writing for the album.^[34] Althought it didn't make it to the album, it most likely ended up on Malcolm In The Middle as a track with different lyrics, with the title of the song possibly being a placeholder.^[35]
• I Am A Human Head - Mentioned on tmbg.com as a track that ended up coming across as adult-themed.^[36] Would first appear on the Working Undercover For The Man EP.
• Monsters Of Mud - Released in a preview sampler for the album, it was also intended to be a B-side for a single from No!, but the plan was seemingly scrapped.^[37]

The Spine (2004)

• Fun Assassin - Recorded during sessions for The Spine^[38], it would instead be cut from the album and released on The Spine Surfs Alone EP.
• I'm All You Can Think About - Recorded during sessions for The Spine^[39], it would instead be cut from the album and released on The Spine Surfs Alone EP.
• I'm Your Boyfriend Now - Withheld from Mink Car, the song was mentioned by John Linnell in 2001 after the release of said album as a track that the band would've liked to include on the "next rock album".^[40] Would later appear on Cast Your Pod To The Wind.
• No Answer - Mentioned by John Linnell in 2001 after the release of Mink Car as a track that the band would've liked to include on the "next rock album".^[41]
• Now Is Strange - Recorded during sessions for The Spine,^[42] but like many of the songs listed by the band as "Halloween songs", the song would be cut from the album and instead released on The Spine Surfs Alone EP.^[43]
• The Other Side Of The World - Recorded during sessions for The Spine^[44] possibly under the early title of "The Spine Surfs Alone Pt. II"^[45], it would instead be cut from the album and released on The Spine Surfs Alone EP.
• Renew My Subscription - Although cut from the tracklisting of the final album, it was featured as a bonus track on an iTunes only release of the album. Would later appear on Venue Songs and a 2023 vinyl release of The Spine as a bonus track. The studio demo for this song may have been recorded during early sessions for The Spine in 2003.
• The Spine Surfs Alone - Recorded during sessions for The Spine^[46] under the previous title of "The Spine Surfs Alone Pt. I", it would instead be cut from the album and released on The Spine Surfs Alone EP.
• Skullivan - Recorded during sessions for The Spine^[47], but like many of the songs listed by the band as "Halloween songs", the song would be cut from the album and instead released on The Spine Surfs Alone EP.^[48]
• Tumbleweed - Mentioned by John Linnell in 2001 after the release of Mink Car as a track that the band would've liked to include on the "next rock album".^[49]
• Your Mom's Alright - Withheld from Mink Car, the song was mentioned by John Linnell in 2001 after the release of said album as a track that the band would've liked to include on the "next rock album".^[50]

Here Come The ABCs (2005)

• T-Shirt - Released only as a single in 2005, it was mentioned by Richard O'Connor of Asterisk as being "TOO HARDCORE for the big D corporation".^[51] Early tracklisting on tmbg.com placed this song in between "D Is For Drums" and "ZYX".^[52]

Venue Songs (2005)

• Avalon - Although this song was a part of the Venue Songs project, it did not see a release on the physical or digital version of the compilation. Instead, the song was only available on the band's Free Tunes page.
• Irving Plaza - Although this song was a part of the Venue Songs project, it did not see a release on the physical or digital version of the compilation. Instead, the song was only available on the band's Free Tunes page.

The Else (2007)

• Canajoharie - Mentioned by Linnell as originally being recorded for the album in a 2011 interview.^[53] Would later appear on Join Us.
• College Town - Mentioned by Flansburgh in a 2015 interview as being worked on as early as The Else. Would later appear in the 2015 iteration of Dial-A-Song as a track "recorded as a demo".^[54]
• Fudge Factory - Originally intended for the album according to Linnell, this track features a drum loop provided by the Dust Brothers, who helped produce The Else.^[55] The song would later become "Seven", which was released on Here Come The 123s.
• Our Cannibal Friends - Written "long in the beginning" according to Flansburgh^[56], but did not receive a studio recording due to incomplete lyrics. Despite this, the song was performed live alongside various robot instrumentalists after The Else's release as a part of LEMUR's "Robosonic Eclectic"^[57] series at the 3LD Arts & Technology Center.

Here Come The 123s (2008)

• One Two Three Four - Only included on exclusive Amazon.com versions of the album and DVD, this song was initially slated to be on the main tracklisting between "Even Numbers" and "Ooh La! Ooh La!", but was rejected.

Here Comes Science (2009)

• Tesla - Recorded as early as 2008,^[58] this song would be left off due to the subject matter seeming "too troubling" for the album.^[59] Was also mentioned to have originally been a list song.^[60]
• Waves - Originally intended for the album, it was removed from the original tracklisting and released as an Amazon.com bonus track accompanying the MP3 release. The band decided to drop the song from the main release after Disney became unhappy with the song's video, with the band having to make lyrical changes to the song.^[61]

Join Us (2011)

• Cave Fish - Mentioned by Flansburgh to be a strong contender for Join Us alongside "Repo Day", but was held off due to its similarity to other tracks and themes on the album. This song would instead be released exclusively on a 7” vinyl EP for members of the 2011 Instant Fan Club.
• Money For Dope - One of many songs recorded for Join Us that didn't make it to the album, but would later appear on Album Raises New And Troubling Questions. In an interview, Flansburgh mentioned that this song was removed due to it repeating themes of previous songs on the album.^[62]
• Name - Although the song was first released in 2007 around the same time as The Else, Flansburgh mentioned that the song was "lost in the long gestation period of Join Us".^[63]
• Read A Book - One of many songs recorded for Join Us that didn't make it to the album, but would later appear on Album Raises New And Troubling Questions.
• Repo Day - Mentioned by Flansburgh to be a strong contender for Join Us alongside "Cave Fish", but was held off due to its similarity to other tracks and themes on the album. This song would instead be released exclusively on a 7” vinyl EP for members of the 2011 Instant Fan Club.
• Tesla - Originating during the making of Here Comes Science, the song would be re-recorded with a rock arrangement with alternate chords and lyrics according to John Flansburgh,^[64] but the song would remain incomplete without a finished vocal.^[65] A solo guitar recording by Flansburgh was later released exclusively on a 7” vinyl EP for members of the 2011 Instant Fan Club, which would later evolve into the final version heard on Nanobots.

Nanobots (2013)

• Dawn Divine - Recorded during the album sessions with a feature from Mike Doughty but was abandoned after Hurricane Sandy cut down studio time. ^[66] According to Flansburgh, the song later became "Selectionist".^[67]
• Lucky You - Recorded alongside album tracks "You're On Fire" and "Hive Mind", it also featured Jon Graboff on mandolin.^[68] The song would not end up making it to the album and has not been mentioned elsewhere.
• Prepare - This song was tracked for Nanobots in 2012 alongside "Insect Hospital", "Black Ops" and "Too Tall Girl",^[69] but never made it onto the album. Would later appear in the 2015 iteration of Dial-A-Song and on the More Murdered Remains bonus disc.
• Stalker In Reverse - Mentioned in a 2012 Billboard article as being written by Flansburgh and as missing a third verse.^[70]

Glean (2015)

• I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar - Released on Week 8 of the Dial-A-Song 2015 project, it was mentioned by Flansburgh to have been left off the album to keep the album's focus on original material instead of covers.^[71]
• Starry Eyes - Recorded as part of a WFMU fundraiser compilation before Glean was released, it was left off the album to keep the album's focus on original material instead of covers.^[72]

I Like Fun (2018)

• Moonbeam Rays - Recorded in August 2017 alongside "This Microphone",^[73] it was shelved after the creation of "By The Time You Get This", whose lyrics repeated the former song's opening line.^[74] Would later be completed for release on BOOK.

My Murdered Remains (2018)

• I Am A Ring - Mentioned by Flansburgh to have been held off due to its rushed vocal and the amount of material already collected for the album.^[75]

BOOK (2021)

• Attention (partial title) - This song was given a one-word-only mention in a 2020 email for potential inclusion on BOOK, but was mentioned by Flansburgh as being "still in the works" around the time of BOOK's release.^[76]
• Buckle Down, Winsocki - Originally recorded and given a one-word-only mention in a 2020 email for potential inclusion on BOOK, it would instead appear on The Pamphlet EP.
• Killing - Recorded in 2019 with drum accompaniments alongside the BOOK track "Part Of You Wants To Believe Me",^[77] it was later described as being "in limbo" by Flansburgh around the time of BOOK's release.^[78]
• Tan Minivans - Recorded in 2019 with drum accompaniments alongside the BOOK track "Part Of You Wants To Believe Me",^[79] it was also given a one-word-only mention in a 2020 email for potential inclusion on BOOK. Flansburgh would later mention that the song still had to be mixed.^[80]
• There Will Be Sad - Recorded in 2019 alongside the BOOK track "Synopsis For Latecomers",^[81] but was held off and released on The Pamphlet EP.