They Might Be Giants - Trouble Awful Devil Evil (official video)

From TMBG's album Phone Power. Support TMBG's work and get it directly from the band: bit.ly/TMBGpp. Or, get the album on Apple Music (geni.us/TMBGiPP) or Amazon (geni.us/TMBGPP)
This song was the week 37 post from TMBG's Dial-A-Song project. See the full archive at found.ee/dialAsong.
Are you a radio DJ or want to be part of DialASong? Get more info here: found.ee/Radio...
Video by Paul Sahre. Animation by Zak Tebbal.
Lyrics:
sweetly as I fall backwards in slow motion and sink into bliss
my unconscious face smiles for I am totally oblivious to all of the
trouble awful devil evil
trouble awful devil evil
bat wings flapping just over my bed
swooping whirling around overhead
the weight of my insensate body draws all the bedclothes down with it
unknowing ecstatically lowering into a bottomless pit surrounded by
trouble awful devil evil
trouble awful devil evil
bat wings flapping just over my bed
swooping whirling around overhead
shadows lengthen
darkness spreads across a cold benighted land
ten thousand years have passed and still I continue to descend
arms folded ‘cross my chest, I dream of happiness without end, unaware of the
trouble awful devil evil
trouble awful devil evil
bat wings flapping just over my bed
swooping whirling around overhead
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[@ShanePatSmith]

"What do you think that cloud looks like?" "Trouble, awful, devil, evil" "...Oh"

[@blakeshaw5526]

We won't know, it's where your eyes don't go.

[@thepyromancer1319]

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" "Trouble Awful Devil Evil" "oh"

[@weirdonameo]

I think the cloud looks like a tennis ball

[@TyTheRegularMan]

Never stop with the minor second harmonies. The dissonance is too good.

[@zoebailey]

I know! The oblique harmony is cool enough, but that leading tone though. Provides such an awesome resolution

[@claretblue70]

It is quite amazing that TMBG can still come up with songs that are unique to even their own sound after releasing so many songs over the years. Full respect to them.

[@tillbrainman6049]

I've got it. Death. Only in death can we dream all day. The songs about death and recognizing a sense of beauty in the separation between ecstatic, eternal (bottomless, ten thousand years) sleep and the ubiquitous evolutions of suffering (trouble, awful, devil, evil) which are experienced only while alive. I really love this song.

[@drummyt7166]

I thought it was a reimagining of a stereotypical vampire movie, from the perspective of the decrepit monster. I thought it was about a vampire laying himself down in his coffin (falling backwards in slowmotion, handscrossed over chest like the film Nosferatu) and the eternal, bottomless pit describes his eternal undead life, which is mostly spent in darkness and seclusion. Literally half his life is spent there. Watching the ages pass, his life is not wholly unhappy. He continues on, as those outside his seclusion call him trouble, awful, devil, evil. A mob with torches hunt for him like in the movie, but he abides. Eventually, they forget about him and, ages in to the future, everything outside is still war and famine but he doesn't have to participate, in all that trouble, awful, devil, evil. His seclusion, his persistence, his loneliness doesn't rob him of his dark refuge where he can experience happiness without end, unaware of the.... T, A, D, E. Vampires are sociopaths. They could care less about the misery outside. It's bliss.

[@jamesbermingham1194]

@@drummyt7166 nah i reckon it's more likely about xanax or someshit

[@drummyt7166]

@@jamesbermingham1194 ya know... or that :)

[@PeggyBrennan]

I intend to use this song as a rebuttal to DJTr*mp claiming a semblance of intelligence by claiming "person woman man camera". May I never have the chance.

[@catpetter]

​@@jamesbermingham1194maybe for you

[@tillbrainman6049]

the subject is never aware of the (trouble, awful, devil, evil).. in fact, he seems to be focused on bliss and happiness. there is a problem with disconnecting oneself from (trouble, awful, devil, evil). no matter how much one can focus on bliss and happiness, the fact of the existence of (trouble, awful, devil, evil) is inescapable. Who can dream all day?

[@Kenorbs]

Someone who is DEAD 😱😱😱

[@ytubeanon]

Another earworm I can't get out of my head. I know this sounds unique, but I can't figure out what exactly is unique about it.

[@Michael-yw1ey]

lo fi songs to peacefully decompose to

[@Flintknappingtips]

All the while I was waiting for the ascending melodic rocking chorus, which never happened and made the song better.

[@NuclearBubbleWrap]

Holy crap, that was beautiful

[@debandleigh836]

So is NuclearBubbleWrap I bet lookin' from the inside out.

[@NuclearBubbleWrap]

@@debandleigh836 We did end up doing a cover of this song, so there's that nuclearbubblewrap.bandcamp.com/album/trouble-awful-devil-evil-unforgotten

[@PogieJoe]

Best in a while. I love when you find a sound I've never quite heard before.

[@sammystank7174]

Exactly! I've never heard this kind of acoustic/electronic ballad before.

[@themist9269]

+PogieJoe I know right? They've done that several times this year. I feel like Sold My Mind to the Kremlin and What Did I Do To You? are both of a certain sound/style they've never quite done before (except maybe Dog Walker a little?). Music Jail and Velvet Ape as well, though a different style each, obviously.

[@sammystank7174]

+Electric Skeptic Yes! Or 'All The Lazy Boyfriends" and other songs. I love what they have been doing recently. It's very refreshing.

[@themist9269]

Tucker Lang Forgot about Lazy Boyfriends! Good call.

[@sammystank7174]

I mean They have been on a roll with this Dial a song thing.

[@FreedomDaveX]

This feels like the counterpart to Definition of Good.

[@firetarrasque4667]

Low key this is one of my favorite songs of theirs.

[@ParasiticDaemon]

Same! Crazy how almost 40 years later they're still pumping out pure gold.

[@TheClassicalSauce]

On a TMBG kick again. Heard this years ago on a whim. Glad I found it again. Remembered the clouds from the video. Great song.

[@Chahol17]

The name is in such contrast to lats week's, and the song has that wonderful glitchy sound to it.

[@ochodavidoconnell9147]

That clarinet tho!

[@themist9269]

REALLY excited for the other adult album this year. The kid's album is great so far, but this one is going to be so dark, scattered and bizarre. I love it!! Assuming it contains ECNALUBMA, What Did I Do To You?, Sold My Mind To the Kremlin and this one.

[@jackssprings5102]

Electric Skeptic You got your wish! Phone Power is amazing

[@jmferris1138]

Somehow, this song sounds like a counterpart to "Reprehensible" from TMBG's Long Tall Weekend.

[@amberchaney2339]

I've loved the songs the last few weeks, and this one is no exception. It's about time we hear another Flansong though.

[@melloang]

This is stunningly beautiful. The lyrics are so simple, but the song deals a haunting hit to the feels. My favorite DAS offering since ECNALUBMA. Well done, boys. xo

[@sammystank7174]

Not only is the song writing and music wonderful lately, but the production had been astoundingly brilliant. This is a great example. Wow.

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

I love the production and mixing in this song. Everything is so punchy and echoey. Great listen with headphones.

[@ollie3580]

this is honestly my favorite TMBG song

[@5ch3nk]

I agree with everything everyone else has already posted. Everything.

[@DeltreeZero]

Thank you very much TMBG for this beautiful art which enriches my life. This song hit me hard. The most honor I can pay you in this venue is to say: I get it. I totally understand. Thanks again.

[@jochenkaempf8327]

Such as positive song!!!!! The clarinet is cool, which reminds me of my mum...

[@Lwyte17]

This song = Perfect

[@MatthewOrres]

I can't stop listening to this song. So good! Even better with a great pair of earbuds/headphones

[@mariasergunina]

Very beautiful indeed! But what a scary lyric. %-)

[@meadbook999]

So damn catchy!

[@LicenseTo_Bill]

i'd like to pay for access to the full dial-a-song but i don't think the drip works anymore

[@kevyoung9848]

This is gorgeous, definitely one of the best of the year's new songs.

[@PinkiePyro2011]

The auto-tune and clarinet are a bit reminiscent of "Bastard Wants to Hit Me." I like that!

[@jcBurton2094]

I cavil at the choice of bassline in the second and third chorus... but all in all it's yet another joyful, artful, playful and tuneful ditty by John & John

[@AsterBodhran]

This song is beautiful.

[@benaaronmusic]

Good song, TMBG! Thanks for sharing this video. PEACE!

[@melodyjlustig]

This sounds like their kids stuff, and i love it

[@HSKCHER]

My favourite one so far! Great job guys, keep it up!

[@teknifix]

This song is awesome. Lovin' it! Thanks!

[@Rslb7.]

Came here from today's Dial-A-Song. Pretty good. 4/21/2024

[@phlangephace]

excellent

[@matthewhutton8275]

Feels like they heard Lisa Simpson ask "how can we sleep at night when there's so much suffering in the world" and wrote this.

[@anang9109]

Beautiful song!

[@motty32]

the best non-chorus chorus of all time

[@jobiy1999]

"I'm oblivious to the trouble awful devil evil". I think the cloud is meant to symbolize that. He doesn't see what's on the other side of the cloud blinding him to the horrors of the world. Just my two bits.

[@everythingmixedtogether1883]

And you can see something condensing in there, and you have no idea what it is but you just have to assume that it is something nice like what you been looking at. I'd have to say that this song is about assumptions and how they can hurt people.

[@jobiy1999]

everything mixed together beautiful

[@everythingmixedtogether1883]

jman Yeah I haven't really seen too many post-2001 meaningful songs from They Might Be Giants. They've just seemed random for the most part. When I saw someone commenting about their interpretation I had to put down my own.

[@ezrablock3218]

I find "Shadow Government", "Can't keep Johnny Down", "Erase", "All the Lazy Boyfriends", "Thunderbird", "Experimental Film", "Nine Secret Steps", "Old Pine Box", "You Probably Get That A Lot", "Sometimes A Lonely Way", "I'm Impressed", and "Upside Down Frown" to be meaningful, among others.

[@StrangestDangest]

the instrumental reminds me alot of portal

[@Outlaw88]

I really like this song.

[@thaliat8002]

So gorgeous!

[@wallyscreenshots]

Every time I come to listen to this song I want to press the like button again.

[@lincolnpervertproject1776]

TMBG is familiarly unique.

[@sundarmann6167]

Why the devil are TMBG so different!?

[@myshoesrule]

Beautiful

[@no_torrs]

greatness!

[@amelon1803]

Is anyone else experiencing a sort of ASMR from this song?

[@normanclatcher]

Wow, it's become rare to see that acronym used in a manner correct to its constituent words in a sentence.

[@alexcarter8807]

Ooh! Bass clarinet!

[@fallout3fan623]

2 am surprise, I love it.

[@fallout3fan623]

I remember 6 years ago when I heard this song and made this comment. I'd just finished playing fallout 4 for hours on end, and it was still too early for me to say it was that bad. I was terribly anxious about the future, horrified of what was going to happen next. Now I'm listening to it again after playing fallout 4 for hours on end, knowing that I don't like it, even more anxious about the future, and even more horrified about what's going to happen next

[@tibbins1220]

If you watch the vidio for "by the time you get this note" with this song it makes a great video???

[@thorspinky]

Why is this not on "Why?"?

[@TMBG1337]

looooove it

[@tomkitchen9457]

❤

[@dogdrovenorth]

Lots of great musical ideas in this song. Just needed a soaring melody over the second half of the chorus to make this song crush a million lesser songs.

[@mlmcinlastname6395]

looks like someone just found their new ringtone.... =D

[@shinjiholocron]

Love devil evil

[@nyarg33]

2015?? it sounds like this was written today...

[@IdiotAmigo]

Try 1.25 speed. Sounds classic, awesome, heavenly good.

[@johnnytimestamp8224]

Gotta fix these titles, this is certainly not an official video. Tons labeled wrong.

[@mopfautneddy7692]

Hey - Bats are cool.

[@dogdrovenorth]

compelling chorus chords F C Dm Am

[@thorspinky]

can anyone tell me where or when i can down load this?

[@Grayham4]

+Thors Pinky if you havn't figured it out by now, go to their website and "pay what you want" for the whole album

[@CMunkMunk]

The way you sing "awful" sounds much more like "offal".

[@Persun_McPersonson]

To be fair, most dialects drop the w in "aw", even if that usually doesn't apply to this word.

[@PTEC]

I can’t

[@slapslicks7531]

I want to die. This song makes death so appealing its probably not the healthiest thing to listen to. Soon I'll be unaware of the Trouble. Awful. Devil. Evil

[@matthewhutton8275]

I wonder if you're still here.

[@theabyss310]

You still here pal? Hope you're alright

[@Donut-Eater]

That is not a nice thing about Detroit...

[@EricMickelsen]

Great song. I don't want to be mean, but this could be the boringest video I've ever seen. It's just a shame there was no representation of the imagery in the song. Am I just not seeing something?

[@MidSoufMouf]

+Eric Mickelsen I think it stretches us to put ourselves in the head of the person who would see such scary stuff even looking at the stereotypical sunny, fluffy clouds... I t also made me think of The Day tmbw.net/wiki/Lyrics:The_Day

[@jessep3079]

eh..

[@sammystank7174]

What. How. Listen to it a few times, trust me.

[@jessep3079]

i dunno. i just like the other ones more.

[@sammystank7174]

+J-money P that's cool. This one stuck with me for some reason.

[@jessep3079]

Tucker Lang well, at least every song has fans

[@wesparsons5331]

I’ve found a few of my favourite songs of theirs are ones which at first I didn’t enjoy but after a second or third hearing they hooked me. 🤷‍♂️

[@PonderousEclectica4383]

they might be giants is dogshit