They Might Be Giants - Jackie The Clipper Lyrics

truly excellent work on this song

Same artist from Mesopotamians?

Sounds a bit like skipper dan.

It feels like a tribute to the songwriting craft (both lyric and melodic arc) of the late Walter Becker.

Hopefully they make an escape team album

So. There's an element to this video/character I missed until today. The first line is "that's an old photo, but yes it's her." And if you look at the Escape Team calendar, which I didn't until today, you see what Jackie looks like now... and.... no spoilers but.... yeah. That's definitely an old photo in this video hhaha. I wonder why they didn't include any illustrations of how she "currently" looks in this.

Whenever I have this song running through my head, my brain replaces the title with 'Kenny The Cleaner' #NJPW

I have been listening to this song on loop pretty much since you released it. Great job as always!! <3

There seems to be a new level of inspiration in song writing for these guys in the same TMBG way. With a, "Lincoln" flavor with an REM affinity. Almost like an encouragement to REM. Great song! (Again)

Brilliant!

As creepy as many of these Dial-a-Song 2018 videos have been so far - I'm almost starting to dread what they'll do for Mrs Bluebeard.

ooh now I cant wait for that

I really like this one!

Now this needs to be mashed up with "The Ripper" by Judas Priest.

Thinkyouknowmusic on Twitter brought me here.

Classic.

After listening to this a few dozen times, there are parts of this that really remind me of Experimental Film.

I love the way the lyrics and music clash with each other so much. It's such a peppy, poppy, feel good song, but the lyrics paint the picture of someone who is emotionally exhausted and traumatized by having to relive the horrible events he's being questioned about. Only TMBG, man.

This song grabbed me instantly... maybe my favorite of this year so far.

Yes! I can comment now to say how great this song sounds! Reminds me of John Henry

yes !! can we please just talk about how great the dial a songs are so far??

I totally agree! When "Shapeshifters" ended the D-A-S in 2015, I was bummed. This is awesome they are back! And I am enjoying every one so far!

Is Jackie a descendant of the Mesopotamians?

Same illustrator.

Could it be about the current police situation?

Feminist Jack the ripper

KeelHaul Kovers maybe 'female' instead of feminist

A cheating ex?

I’m thinking she’s a female Sweeney Todd.

Its an instant TMBG hit !!!

is this song just about somebody who gives really bad haircuts?

More likely she's like Sweeney Todd, only female and without the making people into meat pies afterwards.

LOST FOSSIL maybe that's what makes her a villain

The bloody scissors at 0:35 says otherwise.

Ashley Evelyn strange the hair says it was an accident and she fucked up and killed someone giving them a hair cut

It would be very typical for tmbg

I really like this one. Keep it up!

The fuck. Kind of thought that these comic book -songs would be subpar to the real deal songs, like any commercial job usually are but hell. This song is awesome

What's it called in music, in writing lyrics, where the songwriter purposefully avoids the obvious rhyme? I mean, it's good writing, but I thought there was a term for it.

Linnelling

Man I must be an idiot. Since reading this comment, I've kept looking at the lyrics. I can't find the obvious rhyme. Can someone help me out?

Adam Grayson wait, whats the obvious rhyme being subverted???

Onomatosee-ya!

Lennon did it a lot

get a bad haircut from someone named jackie?

This is honestly my favourite song so far- a poppy murder investigation

Another catchy, creepy song! Great job.

This would've fit well on I Like Fun.

It probably was at one point but was cut

+Socko the God of Socks Well, this and Dr. Sy Fly were written specifically for David Cowles' Escape Team comic. Although, that doesn't mean that this song with different lyrics wasn't originally meant for I Like Fun.

Mister Apple can you recommend any songs by other since we both like They Might Be Giants im trying to expand my understanding and feel for music.

Check This Might Be a Wiki, "Other Bands you Might Like if you Like TMBG".

I literally jumped back in my chair when I saw where she was from...

jagenmount hold on what

Where is she from?

This is a really lovely one ❤️

Killing it!

Wow! Those are some interesting lyrics

I love this

I also dang

DANGIT why are these so good??? This Escape Team album is shaping up to be AMAZING.

Is this page run by TMBG or no? Because I just came from their concert and idk how they had time to upload this If so lol

It is. It's possible that this was uploaded a while ago, and they published it today.

It normally takes a while for a video to upload, even up to several hours.

I guess they pay a guy to upload these

The band has managers who do this stuff.

Best song so far.

A terrible tonsor!

This one has so much TMBG feeling to it.

Rockin!

A Jack the Ripper reference?

Geckoinsu Better ask David Cowles.

On the surface, it seems like Jackie is an amateur beautician, or just a barber and not a good one. Who knows with TMBG, it might somehow be about Jack The Ripper for all we know. I kinda doubt it though.

Note the blood stains on the scissors...

It's a character from the comic The Escape Team, made by the illustrator for TMBG's videos.

A new villainess for the Escape Team!?

Harley Rowan she's a member of the Escape Team

Harley Rowan What's that?

+KeelHaul Kovers A comic by David Cowles, with characters including Dr. Sy Fly, Jackie the Clipper, Chip the CHiP, et cetera. Each member of The Escape Team has a song by TMBG dedicated to them.

+razmin the raspberry fox and of course:
Re-Pete Offender
Corrupted Lyle
Hand Wich
Mr. Mischief Night
Hair Nef
Juan Postal
Flo Wheeler
Dunkin