They Might Be Giants - I Broke My Own Rule (audio only)

I Broke My Own Rule is from TMBG's book+music project BOOK. Get BOOK as a download, a deluxe book+CD set, vinyl, CD, or cassette and get an instant download right now. Available as a deluxe book+CD set, 180 gr. vinyl, CD, cassette, wav and mp3.
everything’s wrecked, everything is wrecked
smashed up, destroyed, smashed up and destroyed
I broke my rule, I broke my own rule
now there’s no rules, no rules, there’s no rules anymore
this is as bad, as bad as it gets
I lost the high ground, lost the high ground
I broke my rule, I broke my own rule
I’ve got no one, no one else, no one else to blame
what happens when-happens when the-when the freedom-freedom you want-you want to have-to have comes at-comes at a cost-a cost you can’t-you can’t afford to pay
all is lost, all is lost, all is lost
not a shred of, not a shred of hope
I broke my rule, I broke my own rule
now I’m condemned to hell, now I’m condemned to hell
climb to the top of the statue of freedom from gravity
and you’re at liberty to
jump from the top of the absence of responsibility
and float into the emptiness
no leg on which to, on which to stand
abandoned by every, every friend
I broke my rule, I broke my own rule
I’ve got no one, no one else, no one else to blame
I’ll lay me down-down in the dark-the dark and sad-sad empty room-room at the end-the end of the-hallway the hall-way at the end-way at the end of time
everything’s wrecked, everything is wrecked
smashed up, destroyed, smashed up and destroyed
I broke my rule, I broke my own rule
now there’s no rules, no rules, there’s no rules anymore
now there’s no rules, no rules, there’s no rules anymore
now there’s no rules, no rules, there’s no, now there’s
no rules, no rules, there’s no rules anymore
This is the link to read all about it, and to pre-order now:
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Or stream the song on a continuous loop at your favorite streaming place
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Photo: Brian Karlsson

[@SpookyLuvCookie]

And the award for "Most Existential Band of All Time" goes to ...

[@benjamindimitriastudillone4643]

The best one

[@lynseyplays9078]

Linnell's voice is as great and strong as it was 30 years ago. Incredible.

[@Vileplume87]

I love how timeless their songs are compare this to something from Apollo 18 and his voice still sounds good as ever!!

[@adl6500]

Polyrhythms? Modality? Terrifyingly obscure lyrics? Be still my heart

[@aurusallos]

Wait what do the lyrics reference?

[@ananasasjenkins881]

It's about a guy who fucks something up and then freaks out about it. That's it

[@Adamisbored494]

This band still has it even 3 decades later and it amazes me. I love them so much.

[@dvdcopyofsharktaleVEVO]

Theyre like the Brothers Chaps of music, and its great and fitting because those two groups are friends

[@toastyotaku42]

This is one of my 2 favorite TMBG songs this week. The other is Pet Name. I never have a consistent favorite. It's their fault for having so many awesome songs and being the best band ever.

[@MisterAppleEsq]

There's some really great rhythmic stuff in this song, They've still got it.

[@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek]

They’ve still got it

[@NeapolitanDynamite99]

WEEN! And yes, they do :)

[@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek]

@@NeapolitanDynamite99 HAIL BOOGNISH!

[@Realwessharpe]

@@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek where TF is the new ween album

[@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek]

@@Realwessharpe We need it, la cucaracha would be too disappointing of a note to end on

[@vicfitz82]

Cheerful tunes about abandonment and ruin. That’s good stuff.

[@Lemon_sixteen]

This song really reminds me of my struggle with ocd

[@isaiahpetersen]

Love this song. Gives me John Henry vibes and I adore that.

[@eyegothpeelz7189]

A Masterpiece Album

[@Ben-ts1nq]

Still releasing bangers.

[@henseru]

word

[@Ringcaat]

This song speaks to me astutely. I do have certain types of rules for myself such that, if I ever knowingly broke one, it would smash a piece of my integrity and the whole system of rules would be lost. It evokes a kind of horror it's hard to evoke through fiction alone!

[@dvanderm101]

Finally a TMBG song about Anakin Skywalker.

[@x.x.7646]

..Climb to the top of the statue of freedom from gravity And you're at liberty to Jump from the top of the absence of responsibility And float into the emptiness... Poetry that speaks to me. Thanks

[@Axqu7227]

John and John... are you guys okay?

[@Kevin-on3qg]

His rule was to stop saying things twice

[@gelfling]

Best comment award! 🌠🏆 Indeed, Best comment award.

[@thadscheffel4258]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJrKkKKriL1pn68

[@gruntingskunk2237]

Good job! Awesome comment. This is worthy of a celebration 🎉. Congrats on the good comment! I love you.

[@Fuchsstrot]

It is quite possible they are of unnatural height

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

They're actual size, but they seem much bigger to me...

[@LukeHennisch]

they might be giants make very epic music

[@LukeHennisch]

I agree yes

[@usernotfound1191]

I know them and yea they do make fun music

[@darknesskingsized8996]

Fuck yeah! TMBG rules!!

[@recordcollector0665]

Luke it is really hard to find a TMBG video where you haven’t commented lol.

[@LukeHennisch]

@@recordcollector0665 it’s a legal contract I signed that I have to comment on every TMBG related video

[@julianneinumerable3289]

so good at making me cry there, john! so far my favorite!

[@SarahKaplanLaw]

What about Self Called Nowhere? Isn't that the most powerful in that department?

[@julianneinumerable3289]

@@SarahKaplanLaw that is a tragic one! I love JH to bits, but I'm talking about the tracks on Book! looking forward to There Will Be Sad ;)

[@AvAlanchian]

How can a new song bring back do many memories?

[@rockflageagle3870]

Released on my birthday! Best. Present. Ever.

[@rockflageagle3870]

@@TronGodManDam Happy Birthday to your dad!

[@tysparks598]

Saw these guys at Vanderbilt Uni in 1994, right by the stage, great show, been a fan since, & they’re just as good as they’ve ever been! Such a fun band, so creative, so unassuming. Another great track.

[@freesk8]

People feel like the wheels have come off the institutions of society. Government is on the edge of some kind of crisis. The economy might be about to tank, or already is tanking. We are worried. But things might be ok. We don't know. The ambiguity of the lyrics and the tune seem to capture this sense...

[@tobiaspain]

I, on the other hand , took this very personally. My ( very wrong) feelings of falling out of love and seeking divorce only to realize I was being selfish and cowardly. Having said I would never raise a child in a broken home as I was and then doing just that.I’ve broken many a personal rule and that was the last. I indeed live alone and lonely and try to take these days from hell to something better. All while having no more rules. TMBG fan from age 14 to now ( 48 ) thanks for reading.

[@Hiushisan]

My brain is telling me that the part 2/3rds of the way through where it has the chorus without the singing would sound great with him gargling the rhythm in a similar concept as weird al in Smells Like Nirvana. (I may be odd, but I truly believe it would sound good there.)

[@artbygarth]

I love the backward vocal echos!

[@donofdeaths]

Classic TMBG style, exciting stuff.

[@TheHWR]

John Flansburgh is really hot

[@ryannn39]

yeah

[@RQLAJI2]

True

[@tundalus542]

that bridge is so cool

[@NxDoyle]

Fkng hell John L. Amazing.

[@willlloyd7082]

I’ve had a rewarding great love of gargantuan bands, TMBGiants & Gentle Giant. Both ingenious, different, simply complex and big ideas.

[@curlyrae3380]

I'm always going to love John&John. I used to be in their fan club. Dial a song. Good times! TMBG 😍

[@GlorianaBanana]

*Bookmarks this song for my inevitable depression crash in a few years*

[@williamingling1899]

It's so over😢😢😢

[@kranzky]

What happens when, happens when the, when the freedom, freedom you want, you want to have, to have comes at, comes at a cost, a cost you can't, you can't afford to pay?

[@hank7898]

This kinda sounds like it was sung backwards then reversed

[@adeeta5701]

Would for sure not put that past them.

[@samkniffen4760]

Gotta be that reverse reverb

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

What you're hearing is reverse reverb, although they did do that in the song "Dinner Bell".

[@NuggetWarmer]

Are you guys okay?

[@thepigeonlady8913]

why does this sound like built to scale from rhythm heaven

[@bensirach3586]

That's what I was thinking of too!

[@thepigeonlady8913]

@@bensirach3586 I don't have the editing skills to do this myself, but if I did I would totally mash them up

[@TheWesCraft]

Been enjoying keeping up with your music. Can’t wait for the next songs

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

This kinda sounds like something out of Rhythm Heaven.

[@samuelhein8090]

Built to scale goes up 5 notes, this goes up 4 then drops down and goes up 5. This song would be perfect for a custom remix.

[@chiggenfinger7264]

I lovve yall you guys never make a bad song

[@PigeonFodder]

Dig the polyrhythms in this one :)!

[@aknyrtsz3293]

i relate to this song because i am both the president of the united states and an outlaw

[@MattMcIrvin]

only half a million peaches for you.

[@kittypat]

very pleasing to the ear as always thank u 🙏

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

Great chords, very interesting.

[@Olivia_Overkill]

Such a happy sounding sad song. Love it

[@johannpatzsch3644]

this song rules

[@mikebrandt2036]

Just by posting, I'm breaking my own rule. I had a lot of rules for myself. I've broke some and made new ones. New ones are harder to break, but I have to break my own rules to figure out my hypothesis about what I'm hearing. I hope there is not hell to pay.

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

Well, yea - every song is audio only.

[@Persun_McPersonson]

That's the joke :)

[@sithofdarkness8927]

I love the cephalophore image

[@daverife3118]

I don't see it, but to be fair they're all invisible to me except for one cephalophore.

[@Voetistasneua]

@@daverife3118 I was scrolling fancy-free and felt compelled stop and comment here.

[@leemason4024]

Can't get enough TMBG! Thank you gentlemen

[@CrescentX3]

I’m just waiting until someone makes a Built to Scale DS remix of this

[@Fern_Charlotte]

Exactly my thoughts!! Turns out scales sound like scales

[@purplepoint9357]

40 years of bangers!!

[@schrottirr4783]

astonishing great song

[@bloodyscalp94]

very TMBGish.

[@benjaminsmit781]

What is tmbg?

[@arigadatred5395]

@@benjaminsmit781 They Might be Giants

[@useo8]

This is a perfect example of why you're my favorite band! Huge thanks.

[@ivanterrible7362]

They Might Have Been SPARKS. Until I see them in the same place at the same time no one can convince me otherwise. Love them regardless.

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

Well....They're opening for Sparks this summer at the Hollywood Bowl.

[@darknesskingsized8996]

Oh, i love this one! I'm so excited for more!

[@jbeezie2049]

So far my favorite from BOOK

[@KZ1970]

Love the new song!!! See y’all on May 21, 2022 (the day after my birthday) in Houston!!!! 🤗🎉💖

[@darknesskingsized8996]

happy birthday, lucky punk! wish I could go to the show too!

[@goldenhog]

song reminds me of spiraling shape

[@stanley-allen]

Rick Beato needs to get the stems & break this one down. I can't tell if there's an ever-so-instant delay on the guitar

[@x.x.7646]

Another proof of grandiosity.

[@rykaro69]

am i crazy or does this sound like Built to Scale from rhythm heaven??

[@LicenseTo_Bill]

this comment makes me feel like im not alone in the universe

[@emeraldnickel]

Wait Hang On you're right

[@helix2331]

you know how you have to count to 5? that's because it's the first 5 notes of a scale, making a major 5th, which sounds nice. this uses the first 5 notes of a scale too

[@stoic_rose]

wait hold on. stop being right i cant unhear it

[@iamgoingtodeckyoutwo5966]

Anakin's Lament

[@HeyPuppetHead]

I love this!

[@bsedhs]

You really know how to hit the spot... thank you for all your entertainment.. it is incredible

[@soltreeii]

Fantastic as always

[@JH-jp9sv]

I like this song, this song is rad

[@starmaker75]

Doing a evil route in a video game be like

[@confuseatronica]

everythings triplets every thing is trip lets

[@ToastLogicJr]

honestly one of my favorites

[@Azamra18]

Breaking rules is the best

[@darknesskingsized8996]

hell yeah, brother! this song rules!

[@ianmichalski7997]

It's also fun to steal!

[@stevie2.040]

That was a pretty good one. Great job guys!

[@Tortel_]

I can't stand waiting an hour to listen to this song

[@timothyjfeeley]

I'm loving this song!

[@AshleyHoltgraver]

thank you for this

[@goldenfrogstudios]

Woh so cool guys, good job.

[@goldenhog]

fantastic song!

[@eliascotsis6449]

This is great let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thewolfmike2226]

This was great, can't wait for more!

[@TransCommieFromOuterSpace]

I'm pretty sure this song is (at least partially) about Anakins fall to the dark side and transformation to Darth Vader.

[@cardcaptorsylveon]

they might be ginats more like uhh good music yeah

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

gotem

[@Voetistasneua]

This could be about a condition of fatal imbalance created by errors in the realm of political power, or perhaps physical design troubles as exemplified by "the wriggles" described in Arthur C. Clarke's _The Wind from the Sun._ It could also be about violating a rule regarding balance in the popular music power spheres of Fidelity, Melody and Quantity. I really don't know. I do know with certainty that I enjoy the song very much.

[@bunkerhillstudios3382]

It's an OCD syllable/repetition rule

[@emptyoliveold1114]

It's way more personal than that my guy, it's about a person who is very hard on himself and creates "rules" for himself, presumably to keep himself "pure" in some way, but who is incapable of always following said rules and so he sets himself up for self-loathing and to not be taken seriously by his peers

[@Voetistasneua]

@@emptyoliveold1114 That makes sense to me.

[@bunkerhillstudios3382]

@@emptyoliveold1114 I have a much longer interpretation on this thread. I've already decoded most of the song. It's more complex than just 'an OCD syllable repetition rule' yes, my guy as you say, however I never said 'just' or inferred there isn't more, I left it open, as the 4 syllable rule bleeds thru this. I broke my rule (speaking in 4 syllables) I broke my own rule (breaks rule by adding 5th syllable to essentially the same statement) From this you can deduce that more than 4 syllables are more logical, less rule bound, and closer to ruin. Less than 4 is childish The piano tones back these concepts up.

[@Voetistasneua]

@@bunkerhillstudios3382 The type of analysis you demonstrated above is definitely not a strong suit of mine; it is quite interesting, however. Rock on!

[@cicadaenthusiast3954]

thanks fellas, pretty good song

[@soul0system]

i love this song very much

[@erikalise2256]

Sick bop

[@andymac1158]

Perfect.

[@Isaarch]

Awesome song!

[@meapactually]

Loving this rn ... good song@#!

[@danielgbgibson]

holy schitt

[@illiaminati2906]

indeed

[@bunkerhillstudios3382]

I broke my own rule Narrator has OCD. A repetition OCD. I think the rule is 4 syllable pauses. I thought It was just repetition rule, but I think it's more series of 4 syllables. The repetitions and overlaps seem like a coping for overstepping the rule, and the phrasing of the 3 syllables and some 5 syllables seem desperate (all is lost /3*3 repetitions (only triple repetition, very desperate), no leg on which to/5, not a shred of/5. 'i broke my OWN rule' is 5 syllables. Ev'ry'thing's wrecked /4 Ev'ry thing is wrecked/ 5 Smashed up destroyed/4 Smashed up and destroyed/5 The adherence to the rule wavers as the narrator is breaking from allowing their compulsive logic to be overtaken by emotion and true feeling. Unfortunately breaking the rules tends to dwindle into suicidal ideation. "What happens when/4 happens when the/4 when the freedom/4 Freedom you want/4 you want to have/4 To have comes at/4 comes at a cost/4 a cost you can't/4 You can't afford to pay/6" or 4/2 Sad but beautiful. The extra 2 words, TO PAY, is the cost of the burden of the affliction to the sufferer here. "Now I'm condemned to hell/6 Now I'm condemned to hell/6" Above range, but sticks to a prefect repetition, and exemplifies the way OCD suffererers internalize breaking their rules. I'm noting here that longer syllable bursts, like 5s and this (maybe) lonely 6, are more logical but still desperate, shorter phrases of 3 syllables are more emotionally desperate. But anything off the baseline of 4 is uncomfortable for the narrator. I'm sure I'm missing stuff but I'm almost positive the rule is 4 syllables. With a rider of repetition. With a rider of repetition. The piano tones seem to be representing the age of the thought process. Toy piano is more childish, The deep piano is very adult, and the lyrics seem to match. Also the adherence to the rule set lessens as the piano tones 'age'. Poor dear narrator. Let him have a good day John Linnell.

[@aknyrtsz3293]

woah!!

[@mistermaestersirthomas9164]

Let your powers be only used for good or the world would tremble.

[@bunkerhillstudios3382]

@@mistermaestersirthomas9164 What a powerful sentiment. Thank you.

[@snakes7303]

Narrator will never be happy, not as long as tmbg are here

[@geeko55]

This is some good reasoning! TMBG song narrators are usually creators of their own situations, like in I Should be Allowed to Think, though we should also consider that the narrator in this case is unreliable, exaggerating, or embellishing just how bad things are.

[@DConnollyReporter]

Good song! Distinctly John Linnell in lyrics, melody and arrangement.

[@reaganwiles_art]

Lincoln is a bona fide chef d'oeuvre

[@reaganwiles_art]

Not that Lincoln is their peak or pinnacle (although I think so) I enjoy many songs from the beginnings until a few years ago. I have not heard much from the last decade. They are remarkable w/o being influential. None else could do what only they can. One of the truly great bands of post-modern times. I cannot say it enough: they are a phenom whose likes will never be again heard, the Beatles of nouveau vague. The greatest "art band" of any time.

[@seansandhagen481]

Banger

[@Magroo42]

fuck yeah.

[@getzanel5473]

Omg, I Love This Song! 💖

[@merryschino]

tmbg

[@StereoTyp0]

Trip-a-let trip-a-let trip-a-let.

[@geromhy2593]

I love it

[@robinrobbielee]

wow very cool!!