Letterbox

Unlocking the Frenzied Genius of a TMBG Flood Anthem.

Fast-paced, suspicious, and sarcastic. ‘Letterbox’ is another perfect They Might Be Giants song. It’s track number 13 on the Flood album, and it’s one that I routinely have to revisit the lyrics for, as some verses are strung together too swiftly for my mortal ears to decipher.

Learning Guitar: A Musical Journey Tied to TMBG

I learned to play guitar on an acoustic with nylon strings that my uncle lent to me so that I could audition for a role in a play in the 9th grade. That guitar later became mine by default when he accepted his own invitation to exit this material plane.

My cousin Greg would later give me lessons on my first electric guitar, and I would often bring him TMBG songs to help me learn. Back then, there was not quite an internet to speak of, and there certainly weren’t any music books for my favorite band. Eventually, Greg bestowed upon me an invaluable skill that would help me learn ‘Letterbox’ in my bedroom all on my own. This was the first song I taught myself to play by first locating the root notes. (Uh oh, I feel a footnote coming—yep, here it is.)¹

Playing ‘Letterbox’: The Joy of Getting It Right

Immensely satisfying to play, ‘Letterbox’ is a fantastic song to dip your toes into playing guitar along to a TMBG tune. I didn’t have to stress about learning a solo (I never practiced my scales enough to handle any kind of solo—and still don’t). You can ride in the pocket of robust and fast-paced rhythmic strumming, and the most complicated chord you’ll likely deal with are some sharp/minor combos. I highly recommend trying it out.

Musically, one of the most interesting and satisfying parts for me is the sonically reversed drums that we get at the start around the bridge in the middle. I have no better way to describe it other than it’s just a very cool sound to hear.

Lyric Misinterpretation: The Perils of Miscommunication

Have you ever had that moment when you realize you've been singing the wrong lyrics to a song for years? It’s almost like discovering that you’ve been completely misunderstanding someone in a conversation—thinking you’re on the same page, only to find out you’ve been lost in your own version of events.

For me, "Letterbox" is a prime example. I’ve butchered these lyrics despite my best efforts for years, and in doing so, I’ve come to realize that it mirrors how easily miscommunications can occur in relationships - which this is song is sort of about. We often think we’re getting the message loud and clear, only to realize later that we’ve been missing crucial parts of the conversation.

Take this lyric, for example. I’ve always sort of mumbled my way through it, thinking I had the gist:

"If I had a pair of eyes on the back of my head for each time
You forgot to talk about all the things you forgot to talk about
When you took a bite out of my spine
I would have a lot of eyes on the other side, wouldn't I? Wouldn't that just be fine?"

So close. The real lyrics are:

"If I had a pair of eyes on the back of my head for each time
You forgot to take out all the things you forgot to talk about
When you took a bite out of my spine
I would have a lot of eyes on me by this time, wouldn't I? Wouldn't that just be fine?"

And it gets worse. For the record, I know the lyrics. I know what the right words are but my brain and mouth don’t get along on this song:

"Too late or soon to make nuts about nothing there’s no time for sorrow.
Come around and around with a hole in the ground till tomorrow."

But the actual lyric is:

"Too late or soon to make noise about love and there's no time for sorrow
Run around in the rain with a hole in the brain till tomorrow."

Here, YOU listen to it if you think they’re so easy to understand.

In much the same way I’ve struggled with getting these words right, I’ve found myself stumbling through conversations and relationships, thinking I understood the intention of what was being said, only to realize later that I was way off. Whether it’s assuming someone’s tone or misinterpreting their words, it’s easy for me to assume the worst context and most negative intent.

These lyrical blunders serve as a reminder that communication isn’t just about hearing words; it’s about understanding intentions. Just like I’ve had to slow down and really focus to get the lyrics right, I’ve learned that slowing down and asking for clarification in relationships can prevent a lot of unnecessary confusion and hurt feelings.

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The Deeper Connection

Not every song I share on this newsletter is going to have a significant lifelong impact with deep ties to the way I grew up and experienced life. In the case of "Letterbox," it was and remains a song that makes me think of someone who is suspicious of a significant other (maybe an ex or soon-to-be ex) that is spreading rumors or talking viciously about them behind their back.

Trust has broken down, and they see the destination of this journey ahead. They can’t trust the information that their partner tells them, but they assume the truth is bad.

I’ve related to this way of thinking my whole life and could easily write an entirely new post that dives deeper into this than I did with the guitar chords and messing up lyrics. The truth is, I’m an anxious person with a mental illness that has certain proclivities for paranoid and/or intrusive negative thoughts.

This is a song that makes me feel a little bit less alone in that way of thinking and feeling, but also serves as a reminder that there are healthier ways to communicate and exist in a relationship.

More Than Just a Song

In summary, "Letterbox" isn’t just a rhythmically solid song with happy music, a sonically reversed drum part, and a straightforward enough chord progression for my liking. It’s a microcosm of life’s complexities—where the joy of mastering something new meets the frustration of misunderstanding, whether in lyrics, relationships, or even in our internal thoughts.

For me, the song serves as a reminder to slow down, listen carefully, and communicate more clearly—both in music and in life.

But I’m curious: how do you experience music in your life? Does a song like "Letterbox" resonate with you in ways you didn’t expect? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

1. A root note is the foundation of a guitar chord or scale, and is usually the lowest note in the chord. It's the note that the chord or scale is built around, and gives the scale its name and key. For example, the root note of a C major scale is C, and the root note of an Eb minor scale is Eb.