Drown the Clown
Drown the Clown: Unmasking Life's Distractions in They Might Be Giants' Anthem
Lyrics
turn that distraction down
Turn down the distracting noise.
time to play drown the clown
It's time to engage in the activity of drowning the clown.
here's the problem, the present job is
Identifying the issue: the current task is to drown the clown.
to drown the clown
Reiteration of the main task: drown the clown.
the weather woman's trying to tell us something
Suggests a distraction, possibly the weather woman's message.
turn that awful distraction down
Reduce the distracting noise, reiterating the need to drown the clown.
time to play drown the clown
Reiteration of the command to engage in drowning the clown.
drown drown drown the clown
Emphasis on the action: drown the clown.
drown the clown
Reiteration of the main directive: drown the clown.
someone's been celebrating too early or late
Suggests someone prematurely or belatedly celebrating.
someone hands you a note can't tell you are busy now
Receiving a note, unable to respond due to being busy.
your ears are ringing from this idiotic singing
Complaining about annoying singing, emphasizing that the listener was talking.
you were talking not them
Clarifying that the listener was the one talking, not the singer.
now where were you oh yeah
Pause to recall a thought or situation.
can't resist this rabbit hole
Expressing inability to resist a particular distraction (rabbit hole).
can't deny this troll
Acknowledging the presence of a troll or trouble.
the weather woman's yelling something at us
Reiterating the weather woman's attempt to convey a message.
maybe all this messing is window dressing
Suggesting that the ongoing chaos may just be superficial.
but that's the job
Accepting that dealing with chaos is part of the job, reinforcing the directive to drown the clown.
drown drown drown the clown
Emphasis on drowning the clown, repetition of the action.
drown the clown
Reiteration of the primary task: drown the clown.
everyone heard what the clown just called you
Others heard an insult from the clown directed at the listener.
they surround
People gather around the listener in response to the clown's insult.
you wonder who'll be the holder
Wondering who will intervene and take action, possibly holding a beer.
and hold the beer
Speculating about someone holding a beer, possibly preparing for a confrontation.
the weather woman's yelling something
Reiteration of the weather woman's attempt to convey a message.
go remind them
Encouragement to remind others that the listener was talking, not the disruptors.
you were talking not them
Reiterating that the listener was the one talking, emphasizing the need to redirect attention.
now where were you oh yeah
Pause to recall a thought or situation, echoing line 15.
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