The Day: A Quirky TMBG Ballad That’s Perfect for Sing-Alongs
From misheard lyrics to its perfect build-up, "The Day" by They Might Be Giants is a song that’s become a no-skip, sing-along favorite
The Day Marvin Gaye and Phil Ochs Got Married
"The Day Marvin Gaye and Phil Ochs got married,
the trees all waved their giant arms,
and happiness bled from every street corner,
and biplanes bombed with fluffy pillows."
— They Might Be Giants, lyrics from The Day
Lyrics That Stick Like Glue
For reasons I can’t fully explain, my brain has inexplicably clung to these lyrics during major milestones in my life. Big moments—important dates, medical diagnoses, and other life-altering events—seem to trigger this track in my head.
Even though I don’t hear it often—not even annually—if you put on "The Day" by They Might Be Giants, I will belt out every word from memory, without hesitation. I’ll admit, it’s not a huge feat considering there aren’t many words in the song. But still, it’s a song that’s etched into the deepest recesses of my mind.
"Phyllis" vs. "Phil Ochs"—My Ongoing Lyric Confusion
Full disclosure: for a long time, I was certain the lyrics were, “Marvin Gaye and Phyllis got married.” I didn’t know who Phil Ochs was. I’m not sure I even do now. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon a They Might Be Giants message board a few years ago that I realized I’d been singing it wrong for decades. So, to clarify: Phil Ochs, not Phyllis, gets married to Marvin Gaye in this song. Poor Phyllis, wherever you are, I hope you found love because Marvin Gaye isn’t your guy here.
A Song That Begs to Be Sung Out Loud
Despite my lyrical blunder, I absolutely love this song. It’s a brief but beautiful poem, sung like a ballad, with the first stanza repeating in full force. It’s one of those tracks that begs you to sing along with it, and I dare anyone to find something more enjoyable to unleash their inner vocalist to while driving than "The Day."
The most thrilling part for me? The brief pause between verses. The silence after “pillows” feels like the calm before a storm, which builds into this beautiful billowing of three accordion chords. Or as I like to call them, Acchordsians. (Let’s make that a thing.)
And then, of course, there’s the shout-singing of “and happiness bled”—it’s an instant serotonin boost every single time. If you haven’t heard this song yet, stop what you’re doing and go listen to it right now. I’ll wait.
Let's Discuss: The Day and Its Impact
Well? What did you think?
I’m willing to bet you wanted to sing along, and if you say otherwise, I’ll call you a liar (but I’ll still appreciate you staying subscribed). This song has such an infectious quality to it, doesn’t it? Whenever it plays, it feels like we’re nearing the end of The Pink Album, closing the chapter on their first release... but wait—there’s still one more track to come.
Fun Fact: TMBG’s Phil Ochs Connection
Interestingly, four years after this song’s release, They Might Be Giants covered Phil Ochs' song "One More Parade" for an Elektra compilation. I guess the marriage worked out for Marvin Gaye and Phil after all.
This song was even referred to as “Marvin Gaye” on early setlists, which, given my original misheard lyric, is a fun little nugget of irony.
Wrapping Up: Singing Along in the Car
"The Day" isn’t just a song; it’s a moment. A perfect little burst of surreal poetry mixed with catchy music that gets stuck in your head and makes you want to belt it out.
So, here’s my question to you: what’s your favorite song to sing while driving? Is there a track that just gets to you in the same way "The Day" gets to me? Let me know in the comments, or drop me an email. Let’s talk about our belt-it-out favorites.
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