Interpretations:Dirt Bike

Third Reich

Considering the content of the song I think it's important to point out "Dirt Bike" rhymes with "Third Reich." --sheep 22:37, September 17, 2004

Holy crap, this works so well. It even explains the "sophomore jinx" line. --Smelao 17:38, October 2, 2007

This is genius.

Cults

I seem to recall an interview where Flans said the song was about cults. --VoVat 20:04, February 4, 2005

Band

Actually, I think the words "sophomore jinx" pretty clearly state that Dirt Bike is probably the name of a band. They probably started out real indie-like and became so popular it ruined their indie cred, like Green Day or others like that. And the song is sung by someone who remembers when they were still of the indie persuasion and is indie themselves. --kfarnstein 16:53, January 10, 2006

From Flansburgh

Here's what Flansburgh said about Dirt Bike in a 1994 interview from ABC: - 21:43, 18 Jan 2006 (EST)

It's kind of a song about a kid who's sitting in this town and there's this religious cult passing through the country, and he's just kind of thinking about getting swept up in the cult and what that's gonna be like.

Introducing the song in concert soon after John Henry came out, Flans said that the song is about "certain bands spreading their message of hate around the country", which seems to point to so-called grunge music. This was before Kurt Cobain killed himself. --Nehushtan 00:34, 18 Feb 2006 (CST)

Describing TMBG

The first verse and chorus would make sense describing TMBG, but I don't think Flans is so egotistic to write like that. --liam 12:09, April 12, 2006

Coveted possession

It's called "Dirt Bike" because, as a child, a dirt bike is one of your most coveted possessions. Either you have one and lord it over your friends, or you don't and desire one. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.131.248.233 (talk) 17:06, September 9, 2006

Flansburgh is confused

I think Mr. Flansburgh is even confused at the meaning of his own lyrics... (no offense to him though) --Lemita 01:17, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

The Child Buyer!

Has anyone ever read a book called The Child Buyer? About a odd man on a moped thingy who is going all over the U.S and somehow convincing parents to give up their prodigy children for money, fame, etc.. for the better of the government. Actually this album contains numerous songs that remind me of books I have read. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.102.104.181 (talk) 10:05, July 31, 2009

Dr. McNinja

This anticipates (is possibly inspiration for) the Dr. McNinja issue "Doc Gets Rad". That is all. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rafe (talk • contribs) 04:12, November 12, 2011

Timid kid learns to ride a bike

It's exactly what it says. The kid is worried about riding a bike, but eventually learns. Hooray! --Pittsburghmuggle (talk) 04:22, 15 January 2015 (EST)

Grunge brought the dirt in

I think the cult interpretation is clearly right, but specifically it fits the grunge movement. Every music genre spawns cults. For those of us old enough to have survived the earthiness of grunge rock--the aesthetics, fashion, and icons of which were "dirt"--we were all impacted by the mind-bending, soul-crushing, waxing and waning of it.