Particle Man

They Might Be Giants

About Particle Man

"Particle Man" is a song by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, released and published in 1990. The song is the seventh track on the band's third album, Flood. It has become one of the band's most popular songs, despite never having been released as a single. John Linnell and John Flansburgh performed the song, backed by a metronome, for their 1990 Flood promotional video. Although it was released over a decade before the band began writing children's music, "Particle Man" is sometimes cited as a particularly youth-appropriate TMBG song, and a precursor to their first children's album, No!, which was not explicitly educational. The song is somewhat influenced by the theme of the Spider-Man (1967 TV series). They Might Be Giants' official YouTube account has the user name "ParticleMen", derived from the song title. 


Year:
1990
1:59
246 
#3

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Particle man, particle man
Doing the things a particle can
What's he like? It's not important
Particle man

Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
When he's underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, Particle man

Triangle man, Triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
They have a fight, Triangle wins
Triangle man

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,
Millennium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it's a happy land
Powerful man, universe man

Person man, person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can
Person man

Is he depressed or is he a mess?
Does he feel totally worthless?
Who came up with person man?
Degraded man, person man

Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man

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They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants (sometimes abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are Flansburgh, Linnell, Marty Beller, Dan Miller, and Danny Weinkauf. They are best known for an unconventional and experimental style of alternative music. Over their career, the group has found success on the modern rock and CMJ charts. More recently they have found success in children's music, and in theme music for several television programs and films. more »

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Written by: JOHN FLANSBURGH, JOHN LINNELL, JOHN C. FLANSBURGH, JOHN S. LINNELL

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Background
"Particle Man" is a song by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, featured on their 1990 album "Flood."
Genre
The song is generally classified under Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, and College Rock.
Song Structure
"Particle Man" has a unique structure, with its simple, repetitive, and catchy melody. Moreover, the song doesn't have a traditional chorus-verse-bridge structure, instead using a stanza-like structure similar to nursery rhymes.
Lyrics Interpretation
The lyrics of "Particle Man" are often interpreted as philosophical representations of the universe and mankind's place within it. However, the band was quoted saying the song "hasn't much specific meaning" and left its interpretation to listeners.
Pop Culture Exposure
"Particle Man" gained wider exposure when it was covered on the children's television show "Tiny Toons Adventures."
Musical Elements
The tune of "Particle Man" features a memorable accordion riff, a common instrument used by They Might Be Giants.
Concerts
During live performances of the song, band member John Flansburgh often plays the role of the antagonists (universe, triangle, and person man) as a dramatic joke.
Album Success
Despite its simplicity, "Particle Man" is one of the most well-known songs on the "Flood" album, which was certified platinum.
Track Number
"Particle Man" is the 14th track on the "Flood" album.
Satellite Remix
There's a version of the song called "Particle Moat" which changes the 'man' in the song to 'moat'. This is a remix from a fan-made tribute album, called "They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giants" and is available on Satellite Records.

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