Particle Man

Did Universe man have the first Apple Watch?

‘Particle Man’ was the first They Might Be Giants song I could pick up a guitar and play at any moment. Even today, that remains true. It’s a fun, feel-good tune and is the 7th track on the album ‘Flood’.

The Initial Discovery

I might have heard this song before ‘Istanbul’ on that fateful episode of Tiny Toons in the early 90s. However, it didn’t initially strike me as musically intriguing. It wasn’t until ‘Istanbul’ came on, and I realized it was by the same band, that I thought, ‘Well hang on. This is interesting and new.’

I remember being much younger (sometime in the mid-80s) and hearing a parody of the Popeye cartoon theme song:

🎵 Popeye the Sailor Man, Lives in a Garbage Can 🎵

When I heard the verse for ‘Person Man’ over a Tiny Toons wrestling match sketch, it reminded me of that childish parody, leading me to dismiss it initially.

Fast forward to me as a dad, singing this song as a lullaby to my kids, playing it on the guitar, and absolutely loving it.

This is the official version of the song from the album but stay tuned at the end of this for a few versions that I love very much.

Every sound in this song resonates with profound familiarity. Each bellow of the accordion, handclap, and strum of the guitar is part of my DNA at this point. Similar to most of the songs on this album, I’ve engaged with it so MANY times that it is very difficult for me to listen with fresh ears. Today, while I’m in my 4th week of being completely off my SSRI, I’m finding a new emotion rearing its head at me from behind a lyrical veil.

Existential Reflections and Intrusive Thoughts

Something I’ve struggled with for the past however long its been since I became cognitively aware of my own existence and the concept of dying, is irrational, intrusive negative thoughts and feelings surrounding my existence and the universe. The fact that I will die, everyone who loves me will miss me and I will no longer exist in the way I do today. The universe will continue on, indifferent to my existence in any way, FOREVER.

Sometimes, I’ll dissociate and just look at an object or person and see time pass as it changes and eventually crumbles into particles and becomes nothing again. Or becomes everything again. It leaves me with a general feeling of despair and a void in my - I don’t know, stomach?

As the last remnants of my SSRI fade out of my system, the all too familiar existential dread begins to flood my brain. This particular verse about Universe Man is making me feel that “time is passing quickly but also very slowly forever” feeling. Emphasis is mine:

Universe Man, Universe Man

Size of the entire universe, man

Usually kind to smaller man

Universe Man

He's got a watch with a minute hand

MILLENIUM hand

AND AN EON HAND

A Timeless - Banger?

After all this time, this many thousands of plays, I still can’t skip Particle Man. Would it be fair to call it a banger? I think so. Most of the live renditions I’ve heard are incredibly inventive and rocking. It’s just a damn good time (that’s a song for a different write up.) What are your memories of this song? Is it your first time hearing it? I’d be surprised if you follow this newsletter but have never even heard of this song before - but it could happed!

I contemplated sharing various theories about the meaning Particle Man. Early in my TMBG fandom, I came across either a video or article where some students were debating the deep hidden meanings about what Partible Man represented. It was really interesting, by all means go search it out. I tend to let songs mean whatever they mean for the listener. If a song is ambiguous and loosely defined, than that is easy to do. That also makes it easy to come up with some wild ideas.

It is what it is. A Perspective of Johns.

The John’s have said in a several interviews that this song is a prime example of one of their tunes being dissected for its true meaning but alas, it was written at face value. No hidden intentions or agenda. If you have some deep state level theories about this one, send them my way. Let’s talk about them!

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Bonus Stuff! Some of my favorite renditions of Particle Man:

From “Album Raises New and Troubling Questions. Performed by They Might Be Giants along with The Other Thing Brass Band.

Here’s an appearance where John Flansburgh plays electric guitar and occasionally an egg shaker for light percussion. John Linnell takes the vocals and swaps the accordion out for a tiny digital stylophone.

Last year, I witnessed an official live streamed show for their concert at the First Avenue stage. They performed a rendition of Particle Man with a very cool breakdown where the band inserts their cover of “Rocket Number Nine Take Off For The Planet Venus” by Sun Ra Arkestra. This is that fateful performance. After Person Man - it gets wild and fun.