Thursday, February 21, 2013

Barenaked Ladies "Brian Wilson"


All this week, words I learned because of songs.  Today's word is:  Pedagogue

I immediately got the reference to The Beach Boys when I first heard this Barenaked Ladies tune.  I knew about the sandbox, and the weight-gain and other parts of the Brian Wilson legend.

But it wasn't until years later that I learned a little about Wilson's relationship with Dr. Landy, and that made me want to understand further what Dr. Landy (in the song) tells the narrator.

ped·a·gogue 
Noun
A teacher, esp. a strict or pedantic one.

See the lyrics below


Hear the song on Youtube.

"Brian Wilson"

Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night,
just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

It's a matter of instinct, it's a matter of conditioning,
It's a matter of fact.
You can call me Pavlov's dog
Ring a bell and I'll salivate- how'd you like that?
Dr. Landy tell me you're not just a pedagogue,
cause right now I'm

[Chorus]
Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did
Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.

So I'm lying here, just staring at the ceiling tiles.
and I'm thinking about what to think about.
Just listening and relistening to Smiley Smile,
and I'm wondering if this is some kind of creative drought
because I am

[Chorus]
And if you want to find me I'll be out in the sandbox,
wondering where the hell all the love has gone.
Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun,
and singing "Fun, Fun, Fun."

[Chorus]
I had a dream that I was three hundred pounds
and though I was very heavy,
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me because I'm

[Chorus]
Drove downtown in the rain nine-thirty on a Tuesday night.
Just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
but when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

No comments:

Post a Comment