They Might Be Giants - No One Knows My Plan

Live 1995 from the House of Blues

[@MurrayPearson]

Right around the time this video was made, I voted in the People magazine online poll in which John Linnell was crowned the ninth most beautiful person in America.

[@helix2331]

he does have good hair

[@zacharydetrick7428]

GOOD for you!!!!!! 😊

[@florence9978]

That’s awesome!!!

[@computerfighter2000]

based

[@ninjacker1497]

I mean his facial structure is just wow

[@lucase.2546]

that hair tho. that hair. that dance tho. that dance.

[@lyinsroar9637]

omg the little gestures and then the way he grabs his shirt, makes me wonder if 90s john linnell knew how wildly attractive he was

[@djhenyo]

He was starting to sweat and danced around a little with a shirt grab to get some air circulation going around his abdomen. You can see him looking up at the hot stage lights at that point.

[@mobius273]

The quality of the recording makes his teeth look extra bad though

[@dylannoah123]

he did not, sadly. after that People Magazine poll was released and he was crowned Ninth Most Beautiful Person of 1998, he wrote an op-ed piece basically saying "I don't understand why this happened, this must've been a miscalculation, or they must've been judging based on internal beauty" or something to that effect. he didn't know :(

[@snakes7303]

@@dylannoah123 Oh no

[@dylannoah123]

@@snakes7303 why do you always reply to me with Oh No

[@felixcroc]

Linnell's little dance at about 2 minutes in is quite possibly one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[@evegasse6999]

He announces it too, "here we go!". hahaha

[@splendidtorch7800]

wtf i think i used to be mutuals with you on twitter lmao

[@felixcroc]

@@splendidtorch7800 I don't recognize you, what was your name

[@splendidtorch7800]

@@felixcroc cheetahsweater lol

[@SerAbiotico]

1:56

[@Boojispud]

I love a song that can fit the word allegory into the lyrics.

[@Kyrubas]

I have to agree with what they said about their music not really being weird. When I first started listening to them I thought that their music was weird, but now it's all such a variety and an intellectual game in trying to figure out what many of their songs are about.

[@squarrot9355]

john linell my skrunkle

[@judgeyrself]

really love that the most replayed part of this video is JL's little boogie

[@ConnorAR]

I know right its great!

[@brought2ubyliz]

My lord, I am totally in love with John Linnell. like...a whole lot. too bad he's about 19 years older than me and has a wife and a kid, but that makes no difference! *cough* lord, I adore TMBG! John Henry wasn't really one of my favorites until this year, I'm rediscovering it. good. stuff.

[@thelump8519]

Understandable. I am more of a Flansburgh liker in that sense

[@MagicTurtle643]

This is an amazing video. Linell is so on key I didn't know he was such a good singer.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

I really don't know anyone who's singing like him. There's not a lot of vibrato, no falsetto at all, a lot of throat and nasal sound, but completely in tune and with a range from intriguing to powerful.

[@LukeHennisch]

HERE WE GO.

[@ensenada5757]

TRUE.

[@screwzerulesihavebux]

this video makes me practically in love with john linnell

[@hullygullys]

i love this period of TMBG. John Henry is vastly underrated, even now.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

It's their best sounding record, full of gems

[@h00liganismo1]

It's kind of cynical, thematically, perhaps even darker than Apollo 18, and I believe that's why it has stayed off the radar more. Songs like AKA Driver, Destination Moon and End of the Tour, though bangers, aren't exactly uplifting, but I have always loved this album!

[@user-bp3up4fg9u]

It's my favorite album

[@SteveBarton13]

Horn section.

[@Beffany06]

Man, Linnell was hot in 1995. TMBG = Awesome xD

[@arthurdent578]

starts barking

[@computerfighter2000]

true

[@lapinpuff]

Poor Linnell looks on the brink of collapse in this and yet he still delivers such a perfect performance. TwT I love the little dance (which he presumably improvised to adjust his shirt?)-super sweet!! ♡

[@JohnKingToadFields]

Great stuff! The whole "John Henry" album seems underrated and overlooked to me. It's always been one of my favorites. Linnell 4evr!

[@bd9299292]

Controversial opinion, but I think John Henry is their best album front-to-back.

[@BroForce426]

Love Linnell's 90s hair

[@sp1necutter]

im gay

[@mistikarecenzo]

I am too my dear

[@odinata]

TMBG got it for real with this horn section mixed with lyrics that knock you out of your shoes.

[@brokentoaster6389]

My man is drenched holy shit

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

Aye, I'm afraid we will have to admire him from afar, though the collective intelligence, attractiveness, kindness, and creative fount that is 'John' be ever tempting. =P No matter. I am content to dance in public, and drool in secret. xDD

[@ianilus4783]

What a cutie

[@gildedfryingpan]

My heart is breaking and melting at the same time, like and egg cracking.

[@torta31]

I think I would die for them

[@StealYourFace7731]

love 90s fashion, what a great song form the johns

[@RubySunrise1986]

Mannn, John Linnell's hair is so yummy!

[@eliascotsis6449]

cooking up the burning autumn leaves

[@jr4915]

this song is fantastic

[@mistikarecenzo]

Frfr

[@BrianJacko]

I don/'t really know this band. I heard this song from stepmania, and all i can say that this song and it's lyrics are truly brilliant. Good stuff.

[@Piearty]

I love those quirky little head jerks. It's what I imagine the dude in prison doing; dancing, shouting, you know.

[@10brokenradios]

here we go!

[@JohnKingToadFields]

Totally. He looks way cute in this video. The only hairstyle I haven't liked on Linnell was when it was longish during Apollo 18 stuff. (And even that wasn't SO bad.)

[@beaniepq]

lol, actually I say flans. but in general, i love both johns so...

[@caraelizabeth8098]

This song is what plays in my head during the scenes of Will Graham in prison at the beginning of S2 Hannibal.

[@FerHivore]

Nine years too late, but YES.

[@SelbySavidge]

Rippin' trombone solo.

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

Yeah, it's a little like 'the robot' dance. He seems to do it without thought at all, just kinda' relaxed with the music. ^_^ It's one of the things I love so much about this band. They aren't afraid to have fun! :D

[@trapadoored]

original theme music for Cartoon Planet! -still makes me cry whenever I hear it. ( The End of the Tour as well, because that was used as the end theme.) This reminds me of how much cooler than everyone else I was in the mid-90's.

[@FlansyLinny]

I love the little dance he did at 1:57! Wasn't that cute?

[@Lydasaurus]

I don't really think he was saying that "weird" is bad per say, as much as he was saying that what they do is not weird for weirdness sake. It's perpetually experimental, which is really pretty great when you think about it.

[@megen1996]

someone asks i say linnell then im like no flansy no linnell really hard for me to decide

[@AnemicChia]

Boy do I Love that Song!

[@sf49ersa8]

this song is so addicting

[@Limabeans1]

1:56 linnell's dancing wins.

[@NxDoyle]

I just love you. That love has lasted longer than a marriage and a bunch of serial monogamy.

[@liambf]

why thank you :o*

[@NxDoyle]

***** I love you too Liam.

[@CusterFlux]

These guys seem to always have kick-butt drummers: a dead give-away they're really good musicians.

[@QliffS]

First time I've heard this TMBG song. Awesome!

[@samcopeland3155]

Such a great song. It’s sad that it isn’t more well known. But it’s awesome that it exists at all.

[@Scurrow]

My favorite TMBG song! Finally, a live version. Thank you.

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

I agree with Linnell. It’s ‘weird’ how to most people on first listen, their music sounds ‘weird’, but after becoming familiar with it, the music is not about being ‘weird’ for the most part

[@Boojispud]

Ahhh, Good ol' TMBG. I like this song a lot!

[@thebleedingjeans]

he (linell) looks so young in this clip. I think it's the hair and the big t shirt.

[@ZS05]

Herd this song first in a DDR game. It shock and awed me so much. Its got that mellow beat to it that most songs today don't have. btw Anyone else think the head singer looks sort of like Shaggy, lol?

[@lalalovering]

AWESOME never seen or heard this live. thanks much!

[@AndStuff57]

Linnel looks like every best friend I had in grade school in this vid.

[@djphil5150]

Well, because Justin Bieber is brought to you by a corporation. Whereas TMBG is sent by God.

[@2n918]

These guys are sooooo cool! I love TMBG! Thanks for posting.

[@GodofTrombones]

Sweet bone solo!

[@felster]

one day ill see 'em live... one day...

[@djphil5150]

Wow. Thanks for the reach-out. I think you're right. I reserve the right to use your term, "perpetually experimental." Well put.

[@lil80schick]

There simply amazingly adorable

[@liambf]

No One Knows My Plan is clearly spoken from the point of view of somebody in jail. He references Plato's allegory, saying the people who reported him and got him arrested are like the people tied up in the cave; they don't see the real truth. No one understands his plan. It's thematically similar to the allegory of the cave, but not about it. I thin it's probably about a figure like Hitler. They sent him to jail early on and there he formulated an evil plan he thought would help out the world.

[@Tayl0NP]

Qne of very few good things that came from the 1990's.

[@RockSolidKaraoke]

Conga! Thanks for posting this, it's a great performance, with horns and all. I've seen them play this live before but at the time I was so excited and dancing and singing along that I didn't notice what they did for the horns part. I love the interview bits before the song too. Pretty much sums up TMBG right there.

[@moosedenied]

this is adorable!

[@jaygold9923]

Great! John and John rule!

[@screwzerulesihavebux]

not to mention his sweet dance moves :3

[@RubySunrise1986]

I think it's "Goldwasser". She was in the video for "The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" toward the end when all the random people are headbanging and playing guitars and such. She also made the puppets of John and John for the kid's stuff podcasts and does the puppetry (or at least some of it) for the Deeply Felt Puppet Theatre on the "Here Come the ABC's" DVD. Also: "Dr. Evil" from "Austin Powers".I suddenly realize how odd it is that I know all this random information about Flansy's wife.

[@TotallyNotMike]

here we go

[@kenziefied]

I love this song so much. I've seen them live so many times, but don't think I've seen them perform it.

[@mistikarecenzo]

I want his haircut so bad, it looks exquisite on him

[@odinata]

Thank you!

[@FerHivore]

“Here we go” here we go indeed 😏

[@oddikakthelonelyconundrum]

Music- have fun with it and create what you want! I really like what TMBG has done with music. It's good to be free and honest with yourself and find what you're really good at.

[@eXiLe824]

Look at John Linnell in his "'90s phase" with his locks of hair and baggy solid-color shirt. This a great song though and this rendition is perfect

[@Darkphantaria]

They look so young here! CANT WAIT TILL FRIDAY WOOO HOOOO!!!

[@aazxc159]

in the 90s a two volume bootleg was circulated that had this song. 4 hours of awesome live shit, like when they hosted 120 minutes.

LYRICS: In my prison cell I think these words I was careless I can see that now I must be silent Must contain my secret smile I want to tell you You my mirror You my iron bars When I made a shadow on my window shade They called the police and testified But they're like the people chained up in the cave In the allegory of the people in the cave by the Greek guy No one understands No one knows my plan Why the dancing, shouting Why the shrieks of pain The lovely music Why the smell of burning autumn leaves No one understands No one knows my plan Why the dancing, shouting Why the shrieks of pain The lovely music Why the smell of burning autumn leaves In my prison cell I bide my time Always thinking Always busy cooking up an angle Working on the tiny blueprint of the angle Sketching out the burning autumn leaves No one understands No one knows my plan I must be silent, must contain my secret smile I want to tell you You my mirror You my iron bars No one understands No one knows my plan

[@LighthousePromos]

Amen brother!!

[@crumberly]

"Here we go. *cue dancing*" That. Seriously. Justin Bieber? TMBG is the stuff!

[@Dabullizer]

Still golden...!

[@riftalope]

This is one of their songs (of many) I think of as good Halloween music. It sounds like it would be good for that musical episode of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

[@trapadoored]

@liambf see I , as a young teen obsessed with this song ( it was the theme to cartoon planet! ) always related to it. I was quiet and felt like a loser but always thought one day I may blossom into a real human being and be awesomer than everyone else-that happened by the way.

[@apostrophe.t]

To Robin Goldswatter (I may have butchered her name), who is also a singer, if I recall! She's appeared in a couple of TMBG tracks as a background singer.

[@Artemetra]

I dunno about being cool on account of liking TMBG but this is a great song and what an ending vocal by Linnell! You cry when you hear it cuz it's just such bomb stuff, I guess. +1 - I agree.

[@Lydasaurus]

Thank you. You have my full permission to do so.

[@Nojask]

what is that type of hair even called? it's perfect!

[@brenttaylor5553]

I believe it's called 90s hair.

[@Nojask]

Brent Taylor well I know that, but there's got to be a name for the style

[@brenttaylor5553]

Yeah, maybe... not sure. I didn't mean to be sarcastic at all. It's the best name I can think of. It was very popular back then.

[@Nojask]

Brent Taylor It's fine, I've been on the lookout for a while, can't find a name and the haircut looks cool

[@mobius273]

Floppë

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

( Not that it matters much. =P If all I wanted from a band was looks, I'd be at a backstreet concert. x.X Ugh. )

[@CaylaSchellin]

@blinxwang ikr, the johns own my heart

[@nickcaruso]

Look at them! They were Babies! (of course, so was I)

[@Havazik]

Amen. I don't understand how people can even stand what passes for "music" nowadays...

[@kroneland]

I agree.

[@RubySunrise1986]

I agree :)

[@ClueSign]

@Possecore Totally. Chills.

[@geraldspencer1956]

Hey! Where's the congo line! :-D

[@xxPunkoftheUSAxx]

John linnell sounds like the singer for 311 at the beginning

[@QliffS]

No problem!

[@KiplingInscore]

With a small amount of research (i.e. Google), I have found evidence to suggest that Big Robot Dinosaur is not by They Might Be Giants but by Darkest of the Hillside Thickets.

[@Havazik]

@eliades710 "Normal people suck." Beautifully true words...

[@Sacharias1]

notBowen took me here......the music kept me here