Unknown Songs
From This Might Be A Wiki
Below is a list of songs written, performed, or recorded by They Might Be Giants that have remained unheard or unidentified by fans, and do not necessarily have enough relevant information to warrant a page. These should only be given pages if accompanied by substantial details.
It is possible that some of these songs are known by different names.
Contents
Mentioned by They Might Be Giants[edit]
These are songs that were once mentioned or teased by They Might Be Giants, typically as music due for an upcoming release.
| Title | Notes |
| Atlantic Ocean | Mentioned by John Linnell in a 2000 interview as being recorded around the time Indian Ocean was recorded.[1] |
| Attention (partial title) | Mentioned in a 2020 email as a word from the title of an upcoming song for potential inclusion on BOOK. As of November 2021, this song was "still in the works".[2] |
| Captain Crunch | Mentioned by Julie Kantner in an interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast as being an early song written by John Linnell with lyrics like, "You're not a man, you're not a captain either." |
| Completelier Blues | Recorded for the 2015 Dial-A-Song project[3]; lyrics were later cannibalized for "All Time What".[4] Flansburgh has stated that the song "was ditched"[5] and has no intention of releasing it.[6] |
| Dawn Divine | Featuring Mike Doughty; recorded during the Nanobots sessions but abandoned due to Hurricane Sandy interrupting studio time.[7][8] Eventually became Selectionist according to John Flansburgh.[9] |
| Delusion | Recorded in 2015 alongside Daylight and "I Will Haunt You"[10]; not known to have been released as part of the 2015 Dial-A-Song project |
| Giant Halloween Tonight | A reworked version of a theme song from John Linnell's high school band known as The Baggs, which was performed in TMBG's early live shows. The only known mention of the song was in a December 1985 issue of SPIN Magazine.[11] |
| Glug Glug Glug | Mentioned by John Flansburgh in a 1999 radio interview as an instrumental he was writing intended for No!; might be an early title for Wake Up Call. When asked about it, Flansburgh was unfamiliar with the title and speculated that it may have ended up as a Malcolm In The Middle track[12] |
| I Want You Back | A cover of the Jackson 5 song, recorded by John Flansburgh and Bill Krauss in 1981-82, before the formation of They Might Be Giants. Mentioned by Krauss in an interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast |
| I Wouldn't Be Mad | Appeared on an '80s setlist that John Flansburgh posted online in 2012. Also found in the song list on the 2001 Songs T-shirt, the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants, and the "TMB Songs" list |
| I'm Sorry Rosalyn | Mentioned in the description of Podcast 6B. When asked about it on Tumblr in 2024, Flansburgh said "I'm Sorry Rosalyn became something else, but I can't remember what it was!" |
| It's Not A Game | Mentioned in a press release for the Working Undercover For The Man EP. In a 2021 Tumblr response, Flansburgh said "I could be wrong, but I believe that was the working title for a piece of music we licensed rather than did as a work for-for-hire for Malcolm in the Middle, but I don’t know what song it later became." |
| Killing | Mentioned in a 2019 tweet about drum accompaniments being recorded[13], but appeared on neither BOOK nor The Pamphlet EP; described as "in limbo" in November 2021[14] |
| Lucky You | A collaboration between Dan Miller and John Flansburgh, recorded during the Nanobots sessions.[15] Miller wrote the music, Flansburgh wrote the lyrics.[16] Featured Jon Graboff on mandolin.[17] Flansburgh: "We tracked it but there was a bunch of lyrics left to be done so it got delayed."[18] |
| Memoirs Of An Amnesiac | Mentioned in a 2002 mailing list email as being an upcoming track on Dial-A-Song |
| My Father's Son | Mentioned in a 1988 newspaper interview as being one of the earliest They Might Be Giants songs, potentially circa 1981[19] |
| New York | Mentioned by John Linnell in a 1994 interview as a potential state song. It is unknown whether it was either written or recorded, as it has not been mentioned elsewhere. |
| Pacific Ocean | Mentioned by John Linnell in a 2000 interview as being recorded around the time Indian Ocean was recorded.[20] |
| Revolution While I'm Hot | Mentioned by Julie Kantner in an interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast as being an early song written by John Flansburgh. When asked about the song [in 2024 https://tmbgareok.tumblr.com/post/740238172196405248/hi-flans-theres-been-a-few-songs-mentioned-by] Flansburgh stated it was never released. |
| Rubber Guy | Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss; according to Bill, this song was an instrumental that was similar to Space Suit[21]; also listed on a setlist for a performance at the Dive in the '80s; described by Flansburgh as a Bo Diddley-esque song[22] |
| Self-Made Millionaire | Mentioned in a 1987 interview. Also listed on the 2001 Songs T-shirt and the liner notes of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants |
| Smiles | Appeared on an '80s setlist that John Flansburgh posted online in 2012, as well as the "TMB Songs" list |
| Stalker In Reverse | Unfinished Nanobots-era song written by John Flansburgh[23][24] |
| Swinging From Vine To Vine | Recorded in 2015; not released as part of the 2015 Dial-A-Song project[25][26] |
| Tan Minivans | Mentioned in a 2019 tweet about drum accompaniments being recorded[27], but appeared neither on BOOK nor The Pamphlet EP; also mentioned in a January 2020 email referencing songs to potentially be included on BOOK; in November 2021, the band said this song still "has to get mixed"[28] |
| Titanic Fog | Mentioned in a 2002 mailing list email as being an upcoming track on Dial-A-Song; in a 2023 Tumblr response, Flansburgh said "Titanic Fog was one of the “set aside” titles we had arranged with Fox TV for songs we wanted to contribute to Malcolm but expressed intentions in advance to use ourselves later, and thus we were allowed to hold on to the publishing. “Four Track Mind” which became “Clap Your Hands” is another example. Unfortunately I don’t remember what song became Titanic Fog… but I am pretty sure it got repurposed on a regular album." |
| Wild Card | Seen in a photo of the schedule for the 2015 iteration of Dial-A-Song; mentioned by Flansburgh as an unused instrumental track made for Dunkin' Donuts that was being worked into a new song.[29] |
| You Heart Your Bad Attitude | Mentioned by John Flansburgh in the 2022 They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giants marathon as a song that he needed to finish. Could also be a candidate for the upcoming 24th album. |
Found on lists[edit]
These are songs that were found on lists of the band's music: the 2001 Songs T-shirt, the liner notes of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants, Bill Krauss's "TMB Songs" list provided to the Don't Let's Start fan podcast, or TMBG's BMI repository.
| Title | Notes |
| 96 Tears Polka | Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss; according to John Flansburgh, the song could've possibly incorporated 96 Tears by ? and the Mysterians with a polka beat[30]; Darinka owner Gary Ray mentioned in an interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast that the song could have possibly been performed at an event called "The Foods From Around The World Party" in 1985.[31] |
| Boss Don't Like Me | Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss; Gary Ray remembered the song when it was mentioned[32] and said he believed TMBG played it at Darinka |
| Drumbeat | Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss and a setlist for a performance at the Dive in the '80s; mentioned by John Flansburgh to be "walk-on" music at early shows.[33] |
| Earwig | Appeared on a 1997 setlist alongside She Was A Hotel Detective and Unforgotten, labeled as "by the wayside temporarily". |
| Get Your Pepper Talkin' | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; later became McGyver according to John Flansburgh[34] |
| Steal This Book | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants |
| The Story Pt. 2 | Found in the song list on the 2001 Songs T-shirt; found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants |
| This Just In | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; mentioned by Flansburgh to be "news-sounding" music made for either Malcolm In The Middle or the Jon Stewart show.[35] |
| We Found You | Found in the song list on the 2001 Songs T-shirt and song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; mentioned by Flansburgh as an early "experimental" Dial-A-Song track.[36] |
| Yeah Yeah Yeah | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants and BMI around 2004; the song was mentioned by Flansburgh to have a "Beatlish" element.[37] |
Television incidental music[edit]
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (1999—2015)[edit]
These tracks are likely variations of the "Dog On Fire" theme that They Might Be Giants recorded for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
| Title | Notes |
| Beth Littleford | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants |
| Dog Rock Crispy | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants |
Malcolm in the Middle (2000—2006)[edit]
These are among many incidental music cues that They Might Be Giants recorded for Malcolm In The Middle, in addition to the show's theme song, "Boss Of Me".
| Title | Notes |
| Lois Vox | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI |
| Modern Girl | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI |
| Preacher Pad | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI |
| Sleazin' | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI |
| Wedgie Dance | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; assumed to be part of Malcolm in the Middle |
| Who Will It Be | Listed on BMI |
Misc. TV / film cues[edit]
These are miscellaneous tracks that They Might Be Giants has recorded for various television and film projects.
| Title | Notes |
| Dragonfly TV | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI |
| Jane Believe | Likely music for Disney's Return To Neverland which features a character named Jane, listed on BMI alongside "I'll Give You One Guess" |
| Nightline In Primetime | Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI |
