Hide Away Folk Family: Exploring the Dark and Eerie side of They Might Be Giants
From ambiguous fear to backward accordion—how a song by TMBG became a one I can’t stop thinking about.
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"Hide Away Folk Family" is a haunting song. No way around it. In all honesty, it was never a favorite of mine. I know all the words, I enjoy it very much, and I’ll explain why in a second, but it’s had its fair share of skips. There’s something eerie about it—its ambiguous lyrics and unsettling undertones don’t really pull at the same heartstrings as the more existential verses of other They Might Be Giants songs. Yet, the upbeat music scratches an audible itch for me. This song is not without juxtaposition, if that’s your thing (and also a word you’ve now read twice in one paragraph, probably for the first time in your life).
Fear Lurking Around Every Corner
To me, "Hide Away Folk Family" has always felt like it’s about fear. Specifically, the kind of fear that grips rural families glued to the news on TV or listening to the radio, where everything outside their door is a looming threat. There’s always something out there, lurking, waiting to strike.
The lyrics capture this perfectly. There’s this image of the mother tip-toeing to the front door, maybe to lock it, because outside there’s a man with a long, long fuse. A stick of dynamite? An old-timey bomb? Or is it more of a metaphorical fuse? Like a danger that’s patiently waiting for the perfect moment to go off.
"And the one thing you can’t hide
Is all the fear you feel inside."
That line cuts deep. No matter how secure you make your surroundings, the real terror is internal. You can’t lock out your own fear, no matter how many precautions you take. What could be more terrifying than that?
The Astrology Report: An Ominous Shift
Somewhere in the middle of this song (I think it’s the bridge, but I’m no music scholar), the tone shifts dramatically. The acoustic plucking is interrupted by a heavy guitar that strikes like a hammer, and suddenly, a booming voice enters—like a local news anchor reading the apocalypse in the form of an astrology report.
Aquarius and Capricorn better beware: doom is coming for you.
It’s bizarre, unsettling, and perfectly in line with the eerie atmosphere the song builds. When the chorus returns, you hear the subtle sound of an accordion playing in reverse, coupled with strange backward-sounding singing. It’s that moment where it feels like the song itself is becoming haunted, like a spirit is trying to break through the speakers to pull you into its world.
Realizing I Love This Song
You know what? I take it back. I love this song. After writing part of this post and taking some time to listen to it on repeat with intentional ears, I found myself falling in love with the journey this track takes you on.
There’s something fascinating about how "Hide Away Folk Family" slowly turns into this backward-sounding, existential horror. The harmonies between the Johns are pure TMBG—a perfect blend of eerie and beautiful. It’s the kind of track that grows on you if you let yourself fall into its world. If Ari Aster (director of Hereditary and Midsommar) were to write and direct a song, I’m convinced it would sound something like this.
Final Thoughts and Open Questions
"Hide Away Folk Family" didn’t start off as a favorite, but now I see it for what it is: a brilliantly unsettling exploration of fear, both internal and external. I can’t stop thinking about it.
What does this song mean to you? Is it a favorite of yours, or do you skip it like I used to? Do you have any core memories tied to this track? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to talk more about this haunting piece of the TMBG universe.
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