Will Wood - Tomcat Disposables (Official Video)

"In case I make it," now available to stream everywhere. Vinyls, CD's, & cassettes coming soon from Say-10.com.
Engineered, built, and animated by Ivan Fisher-Owen of Beyond the Bark
Written, directed, and edited by Will Wood & Ivan Fisher-Owen
Post FX & digital animation by Will Wood
Original illustrations by Spectoron
Composed & produced by Will Wood
recorded & engineered by Simon Ficken at Backroom Studios, NJ
Mixed & mastered by Kevin Antreassian at Backroom Studios, NJ
Saxophone & flute by Matt Berger
Bass by Vater Boris
Guitar by Mike Bottiglieri
Drums & percussion by Mario Conte
Strings by Yoed Nir
Baritone Ukulele, keys, & vox by Will Wood
Special thanks to:
Ivan Fisher-Owen & his family, say-10 records, adam Gecking, Symphonic Distro, Mike Bottiglieri, Mario Conte, matt Berger, Vater Boris, all tapeworms past and present, Jon Maisto, Kevin & Simon, yoed nir, Sarah Chu, matt Keiper, Juno Loaiza, Suzanne Torrison, Mike Abiuso, Chris Dunne, meeps, the mouse, the patreon folks past present and future especially VIPs, my friends family and other people I've connected with who didn't get involved directly but I still want to thank. if I missed anyone, blame my terrible brain and worse personality, you are not forgettable. maybe we left things off weird and I'm not sure if you'd be comfortable with me mentioning you idk.
Special thanks for the following Indiegogo Contributors:
Soph Kamm, Magnus Selin, Connor Treutle, Dimitar Dimitrov, David Haltom, Jason Ayers Raphael Kräker, Michael Linnert, Ezra Leonard, Diz Foster , Kellie Grimes, Niki Brown, Max Peia, Vesper Nichols, Temple Jenkins, Julie Taron, Aidan Truskowski, Sam Nee, Julie Taron, River Morgan, Nate Olson, Ev Usher, Dashiell Schaldenbrand-Igarashi, Flint Cole, Vance Barnhill, Wim Filemon, Peter Short, Vincent Cramer, Sebastian Wright, Daniel A. Hughes, Duncan Moore, Alexander Russon, Auguste Szołucha, Cameron Taranis, Max Barbosa, Evan Asche, Jason Storey, Andy Routhier, Lynn Stock, Selena Ahmed, Georgiana “Gio” Marone, Liru Færs, Something Graphic, Kali Forrest, Leah
McQuain, Kennady Ose, Galatea Kim, Devon Boswell, thicc murg, vondasl, Lily Mayle, Samantha Bourke, Joseph Olsson, Hollo the Raven, Rj is Okay, flittle606, Sahara Martin, Skyler Love, Donovan Giusti, Kara Krone, Claire Hammett, Jessica Holowicki, Nicholas Sundheimer, Michael Larsen, Liam Haines, Sean Barnett, ethan puchailo, Rachel Palme, Joseph J Weber, Noah Carter, Eamon Sherris-Watt, Alan Price Kristin Peers, Arturo Rosas, Grace Sullivan, Scout Francke, Aidan Forde, Christie Felker, Kaitlin Martinez, Skylar Marshall, Erkka Hiljanen, Kobe Bryant Angel, Kevin Mast, alistairtherondodd, Bobby connor, carly.stuber, Lillian Clardy, Rj is Okay Marco Jeske, Emrys van
Wonderen, Robert Del Presto, Andrew Snodgrass, Kristin Peers, Alexis Williams, Georgia Byrd, Amy Arin, Lex Mug, money33432. Emerson Lopes, Basil Polichar, Titus LaFrombois, hanhanheavn, Corey C, regalmortis, Mac Weaver, Jonathan Wienecke, Ana Ramona August, hdbroadwell, Dan Castillo, allison van cleve, kate watanabe, Skyler Boswell, Bryce Ungerbuehler, Len Korovessis, apanagakos01, Landers Markwick, Emily Murray.

[@nicolecann7840]

It's the innocence of the mouse that makes this song so devastating to me; "They must want to be friends!" and "What's the moon made of? Meet me there after I'm gone." are the bits that hit the hardest.

[@moss9642]

It truly is such a beautiful song, as well as the pure hope expressed when food is presented on the stove top again AGH it's so good

[@That_Goiky_Gowrl]

You explained it better than me

[@terabyteoftflipflopswitche6981]

The "why does it hurt" really dug into me

[@StraightestDakregor]

Something I just realized that made tear up, is that the little mouse never blames the person for poisoning them. They just know they were served a feast, but then something went wrong. The little mouse just waits for death, and they wish for "their friend" to meet them on the other side.

[@catinnasuit1597]

this one and the uthanasia one had me fucking crying

[@catinnasuit1597]

(they are related )

[@fancyoil216]

Reading this actually made me cry a little. You just made an already heartbreaking song so much worse for me, thank you

[@bananachi1]

Oh.

[@onlyjpg]

@@catinnasuit1597i dont think they are

[@duetsinatimeloop]

This feels like a campfire made from the door frame you once used to measure your height on growing up

[@PhantomObiWan]

thats a really good analogy

[@calico_moth7049]

op this hits so hard what the hell /pos

[@Idiotbrain]

how can you describe something so right and saddening at the same time

[@LucaTheStar]

Wow, you beat "baby shoes never worn" in the competition for saddest single sentence 😢

[@rebeccaarias.]

ow, dude.

[@kbglenn]

I tried to show this song to my boyfriend but before I played it I said it was really sad and he asked if I wanted to explain the backstory first (because I often do that with music I show him). And of course I said yes but then just BURST into tears for no apparent reason. He was very taken aback but waited till I got a hold of myself and I finally managed to say "so it's about a mouse . . ." Then I burst into tears again and he tried so hard not to laugh to no avail. God bless you, Will Wood.

[@darkacadpresenceinblood]

this is such a mood and honestly understandable, if i didn't have a literal inability to cry i would cry my eyes out to this poor little mouse :(((

[@riffraff2454]

I’m a pretty new fan but uhh there’s backstory to this video?

[@arminek.1310]

@@riffraff2454 it's about a mouse will tried to feed and befriend. he was told that the mouse carried a deadly disease though, so in the end he had to trap and kill the little guy. the name of the trap he used is "tomcat disposables"

[@riffraff2454]

@@arminek.1310 oh wow thank you

[@EndisBored]

this songs the good shit made me cry alot 10/10

[@clawcakes]

i'm a time traveler, this shit's a banger

[@clawcakes]

@@SmallAndInconvenient uhhh

[@clawcakes]

@@cuddleanimates no

[@PockettGirl]

You better not be lying.

[@aaronwebb9379]

He played it in ft. Worth. Shit is a banger

[@f4r3sss]

well, you werent wrong, and im not surprised one bit

[@eye_in_a_bottle]

Lyrics: I have mapped the cupboards and drawers Tracked the least-walked spots on the floor Happy to be home, safe and warm As shadows by their feet, the odd vanishing treat Quietly eating while they sleep So here’s where I’ll be raising my kids If I can find someone to start a family with Till then I dream of the day my odds and ends fit I’ll wake up, there’ll be food on the stove forever And never want for more Is there cheese in the great beyond? Rinds of parmesan, wine to water, night from dawn Life gets shorter, teeth grow long Mind me not and I’ll mind my own, and my mind’s Not one bite smaller or lesser than yours Do I belong in “right and wrong?” Nature, I guess. One night one flung light through this place So I run for cover, over under, left the rind out on the plate Little heart racing and praying “something keep me safe, I think it saw my face, okay, One hungry day is nothing, come what may.” But then winter came inside for three nights Left me grinding my teeth between my walls and gripping my dreams tight Curled up kept my head up and put up the fight I’ll make it through again. I have before. Come on now, what’s one more? Is there cheese in the great beyond? Rinds of parmesan, wine to water, night from dawn Life gets shorter, teeth grow long Mind me not and I’ll mind my own, and my mind’s Not one bite smaller or lesser than yours Do I belong in “right and wrong?” Nature, I guess. Spring bloomed in the kitchen again So I crawled out of the wall and squinting Saw hope on the stovetop just like I’d always imagined it More than I could eat, my dreams were finally reality My struggles had a happy ending, they must want to be friends! My stomach starts to turn, with thirst, why does it hurt? My just desert is served, dig in. And so I stumble back to bed Something’s not quite right. Guess I’ll just go rest my head Now as I lay me down to sleep I expect no dreams, and no sweet goodbye to me Flatline in the morning light. I held on so tight for so long It’s just not Right, let a sigh out as I close my eyes. Was that all there was to this? What’s for the best? Is there cheese in the great beyond? What’s the moon made of? Meet me there after I’m gone Life gets shorter, teeth grow long Mind me not and I’ll mind my own and my mind Held the same light as the one in your eyes. Do I belong in “right and wrong?” One dies alone? And why? Don’t know. Goodbye. So long. To mice in homes. Nature, I guess. Nature, I guess. Nature, I guess.

[@Mars-uf5tf]

TY

[@saltycracker4623]

thanks!! im going to translate the song now :))

[@pangalacticgargleblaster1369]

my saviour tysm

[@amoureux6502]

It's 10:22 AM and I'm crying for the mouse that this song is about

[@vampire_money99]

@@amoureux6502 youre not alone dude this is so fucking sas 😭

[@rubolph1954]

man this reminds me of a wasp that was building a nest on my porch last year. when we first noticed she was building a nest, we knocked it down (which i kinda feel bad for in retrospect) but i guess she was determined and came back and built another one. we figured, if we kept knocking them down, she would just keep building them, so we let her be this time. she stuck around, and i always watched her slowly progress on her nest. i'm normally terrified of wasps, but eventually i learned to be comfortable around her and her alone. (wasps can recognize individual humans, so i'm sure she had become familiar with me as well.) eventually i began to notice that she was hardly ever around anymore, and her nest was just sitting there abandoned. this went on for weeks, maybe even months, and we eventually came to terms with the fact that she probably met with some fate in the outside world and wouldn't be coming back. the fact that she most likely always knew i was there and yet continued working on her nest as if i wasn't there probably means that she knew me and she knew i wouldn't do anything to her. animals really are just little individuals. like the song says, "my mind's not one bite smaller or lesser than yours"

[@ThePotionMaster413]

The fact this song is about an actual mouse who Will tried to befriend but ultimately had to trap and kill because it carried diseases makes this whole song so much more tragic. Fantastic work: the addition of an orchestra and this stellar stop motion animation sells this whole piece. Absolutely stellar, Mr. Wood - cannot wait to hear the full album! Now excuse me as I wipe the tears from my eyes.

[@ashe9112]

Where can we hear about this story ;w;

[@julienlinconnu]

Are we sure that this song is about this? Does we have official confirmation? Because last time we thought that will had a daughter with better that the alternative but it was proven wrong

[@julienlinconnu]

@@audrey0919 Oh well that's poggers :0

[@necoarcofficial3598]

@Julien L'Inconnu well even if it has official confirmation it could be false lol, he literally lied about having a daughter just for funsies (which, like, tbh same)

[@korova.mp3321]

idk man, i heavily doubt he lied about that. he fucking loves mice and owns like 5

[@Subparanon]

Strange how different it sounds from his earlier music, and yet it still sounds like Will. Gave me Wes Anderson vibes.

[@vampire_money99]

the melody may change however it wants, but will wood's unique voice always shines through. pretty sick.

[@pixieskitty]

I felt like Radiohead and Danny Elfman had a beautiful baby >.>

[@tituslafrombois1164]

It's like the chaotic energy of this early music was restrained and put under much more deliberate control. Not doing "EVERYTHING" musically, only doing what you need to do.

[@FancyShrimpp]

It sounds like the gravity falls theme with the woodwinds in the beginning

[@thilsiktonix]

Agreed. Gives me Radiohead vibes, too. They do so much stuff, but Thom Yorke's voice always sounds distinct.

[@addisonm.8618]

this really reminds me of the poem we talked about in school. it’s about a mouse who works so hard to build a nest and when it finally finishes it gets ran over by a plow and the symbolism of how even if you work hard and stick to the plan something can completely ruin it for you

[@improbablytheguy]

Isnt that the one of mice and men was based off?

[@addisonm.8618]

@@improbablytheguy yeah

[@thelemondropgirl2140]

As in “the best laid plans of mice and men will often go awry”?

[@TheTinyDiamond]

It's _To a Mouse_ by Robert Burns, which as @improbablytheguy said, inspired the title of _Of Mice And Men._ And yeah, although it was written "...best-laid _schemes_ of mice and men...," as @thelemondropgirl2140 said, it's the source (afaik) of the expression "the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go awry."

[@plimbo751]

Someone sang this with their own ukulele today at my school's talent show. It was great, glad I learned about this song

[@TheMazZT]

hey that was me ! this song and the artist are amazing i'm glad you've found them

[@plimbo751]

@@TheMazZT I'm glad I found them too, but I wanted to say that your performance of the song was incredible. Your song trapped in a peninsula is also really good!

[@TheMazZT]

oooo thank you !! i very much appreciate you taking the time to check out my other stuff

[@sw00ferz]

hi plimbo

[@greatestyoutuber]

LISTEN TO MORE WILL WOOD I PROMISE IT WILL

[@shepdon]

i just now realized the shadow in the final contraption is not a fish but a dead rat on its back, welp now the video makes more sense to me

[@That_Goiky_Gowrl]

HELP😭😭💀💀

[@whydowehavehandlesnow]

Nothing can make me cry quite as hard as this song does. Mice just want to survive. They fight so hard. They didn't ask to be mice, but they're hated just for existing, even though they're adorable little things. They do their best to stay out of the way and not bother anyone. They're incredibly intelligent. How we dispose of their lives and efforts without a second thought is heartbreaking to think about :(

[@creacherfeacher8232]

I know this is an old comment, but this sort of thing makes me sad when it comes to "pests" in general. Maybe I don't want them in my home, but it's not their fault that my house - which is warm and has a steady source of food - seems like great shelter! They just want to live, like anyone else :(

[@maximodubs4189]

it's not fault of parasites to be parasites, they just want to survive

[@alik9783]

music is crazy. it can make you cry at the normally funny phrase "is there cheese in the great beyond?"

[@yourmomssweetbod]

You can’t eat cheese after death so is there any in the great beyond? I HOPE THERE IS THIS MOUSE DESERVES EVERYTHING EVERY RAT AND MOUSE DO

[@somedudethatlovesmemes6625]

It's funny because it's naive and childish, and sad for the same reason. You just know this mouse didn't deserve it... Fuck, this is the first song that made me genuinely cry

[@anonhikkastiy]

another thing that breaks me is that "is there cheese in the great beyond?" becomes less and less of a rhetorical question as time goes on. at first it's a sweet dream, full of hope for a greater future, it's an "if", an expectation of a warm embrace after all this uncertainty and struggle then it gets darker and more fragile, and now it's a different kind of hope - the one you're clinging tight to for the sake of getting through, a light you follow to not give in to the darkness and in the very end the mouse is already on the threshold of the great beyond, and it's a fearful question to the void and to the world it's just abandoned due to a cruel fate it didn't deserve. it's denial and a "didn't i deserve it? is there really nothing more?". i hope there is cheese after all, little one.

[@anonhikkastiy]

do you really think i'm over it 3 weeks later because i am not and sometimes it gets stuck in my head and i occasionally cry

[@TelevisionNTheatre]

​@@anonhikkastiy hi, I got here with some semblance of consciousness to process this song for the first time again, and am on the brink of crying as I relisten to the song for the fourth time since I clicked on this video today. Nice comment, you are feeding my conclusion and stance in how to view, and what to do with this song when it shall inevitably rattle around my head once more.

[@mint3465]

"Is there cheese in the great beyond? What's the moon made of? Meet me there after I'm gone" Chills

[@okapi_q]

I’ve had the “nature I guess” part from the little teaser stuck in my head all week, I’m so ready to hear the full thing (and cry a bunch)

[@vampire_money99]

me too, and now im crying for the poor little guy :(

[@tessaminick8745]

The line "Do I belong in right and wrong?" hits really hard for me. Before I heard this song I was in a dark place, thinking about how in nature, everything has a place, and yet I can't seem to find one. But this song, this line, given the context to the meaning of it.....sometimes things don't have a place. Sometimes a situation isn't moral or immoral. Sometimes life just is. And a lot of the time there is no higher purpose to anything, and a lot of the time the way things in nature and life fit into each other is far less romanticized, more mundane, and sometimes even tragic. Sometimes you don't get to figure out what your place is. It's humbling. Nature, I guess.

[@fledkill9928]

Nature, I guess.

[@Siyko]

Yeah. Little mouse did all the things he knew to do. Find a warm place, flee for safety from scary things, gather food, hold out when hunger strikes. His mood follows these events - happy, fear, hope, resilience - and in the end he puts it together and what does he get for all his troubles? Dead mouse. You can spend your last few moments terrified, or embracing the peace, or just feeling ill. The mouse is dead and will never get the result of those initial hopes for family and friendship. But that's just nature, I guess. The mouse can't fathom something else at play, or think about his role in the universe. Nature is unfair, and I'm dead, that's Nature I guess.

[@realuity3075]

as a lover of rodents and insects alike, this song and the story behind its creation breaks my heart. god it just hits everything I feel about the little guys, the alien yet familiar conscience behind black beads and the betrayal of death after hopes of survival. I hope will’s mouse friend got their rinds of parmesan up there.

[@fledkill9928]

nuff said

[@ohitsaqueerworldafterall]

This is the most gut-wrenching thing I’ve ever seen. He worked so hard and stayed optimistic only to fail anyway. My whole day is ruined. Thank you so much for this piece of art. I will never be the same again.

[@jazmindodds]

Your comment broke me man

[@mattatta]

Death's only temporary. In the long term, the mouse is okay.

[@improbablytheguy]

@@mattatta ?

[@mattatta]

@@improbablytheguy Just me being optimistic in a philosophical way, lol

[@thilsiktonix]

a real fella.

[@jmolsen8328]

My daughter turned me on to WW. I took her and friends to see him a few weeks ago and really loved everything about it. This song, this is so gorgeously dark and lovely; like a short story crafted tightly. So much meaning in such a small space. Breaks my heart and makes it melt all at once ❤

[@jmolsen8328]

I cant stop thinking about this song. It's haunting me.

[@Plorpoise]

It's the kind of song you think about after you listen to it, then you listen to it again, think more, and eventually decide it's time to get a little mouse friend to give them the life they deserve.

[@mothclaws8019]

man…. the imagery on the different puzzle pieces showing all the good things the mouse is looking for…… and it’s so hopeful because it should make the shape of a perfect life but it just ends with death…… beautiful. i’m now going to go sob

[@Acaigoeschrip]

how was the sobbing?

[@DJSilly9]

I'm gonna sob uncontrollably when this drops, aren't I? Can't wait Edit: yes yes i did poor mousey :(

[@bingusthegreat4659]

Most likely Lmao

[@uni8123]

you are so active in the fandom holy shit i recognize your pfp every time on insta and here

[@Lunar_Scapes]

I know that I did

[@ashe9112]

Yep

[@ocie_]

we all did

[@spaceslade]

The bright little piano arpeggios that start at the same as _spring bloomed in the kitchen again_ is SO heartbreaking. It sounds like the posion food is almost glittering, like there is a holy light shining down on it. I love the way the orchestra thins out and quiets at this part, this is all the mouse wanted, nothing else matters. And then the way it swells again when the mouse is eating the posion, simultaniously celebrating a victory while sealing his fate. Breathtaking song

[@spaghettayyyyyy]

My grandfather is in the hospital and is not gonna make it. This song is tragic but i think it’s honestly helping me get through this. It just hits like “everything was just starting to get good. and then - sudden tragedy” now i cry while singing this

[@spaghettayyyyyy]

He died about two hours after this comment. RIP Grandpa, may there be cheese in the great beyond.

[@earth2cody]

@@spaghettayyyyyy hey mate, im so sorry. How are you doing? Sending hugs your way.

[@tampapublicaccessvault6868]

The subtle brilliance of Tomcat Disposables - The chorus of song is a mere 10 words, and at first listen came off to me as just a throw-away: "Do I belong in right and wrong? Nature, I guess." It doesn't seem to say much. But listening to the story of this rodent, and his attempts to live in the world, make him relatable to our own human lives. Where this rodent has chosen to live does not work out. He frightens the owners of the house and they poison him. We are left to consider what this rodent ponders. Was he right in seeking food and shelter in human home? Was he wrong in scaring and taking the human's food? Were the humans right or wrong to kill him? He asks himself: "Do I belong in right and wrong?" and concludes "Nature, I guess." For wasn't it in his nature to seek food and shelter ? Isn't in human's nature to rid their house of vermin? Isn't it in a cat's nature to hunt and kill rodents even if they don't eat, and just dispose of them? (see song title) The choices we make can be seen as both right and wrong. Should these determine what may be in an afterlife? Do we belong in being right and wrong? Do we belong in this world?

[@t.m.gacutan5523]

absolutely in love with this new sound, it's so much more orchestral and floaty and the lyrics are so much more pared back. it feels so deceptively simple, and also so intentionally put together, especially in the instrumentation. super excited for the rest of this album, gonna be looping this

[@azarath5688]

Tes

[@azarath5688]

YYesS

[@ineffable_bungee_gum8251]

You took the words right out of my mouth! I love this sound, it’s so cool seeing Will evolve as an artist

[@witheredx6354]

"intentionally put together" is probably one of the best descriptions I've heard for Will Wood lyrics

[@transfixedtomography]

i was on the stream, and people were saying the song was okay. (they were from the discord, and this was before the premiere started.) i starkly disagree. this is a masterpiece, especially after watching will woods recent interview. understanding the lyrics make them hit harder, and the tapeworms did such a good job with the music. so well done, i am now samual’s #1 fan.

[@elvingearmasterirma7241]

I know art is subjective and music is art but _theyre wrong_

[@odditycat2716]

upon first listen I didn't like it purely because it wasn't what I had grown to expect from Will Wood. but I loved it every listen after that. this is seriously beautiful and so soothing,,

[@HolloTheRaven]

imo the pacing on some of the lyrics feels a little off and was kinda jarring on my first listen when i wasn't following along with the words. but ive listened to the song like at least 25 times now so clearly it wasnt a deal breaker lol overall id definitely agree that this is some of his best work yet. the instrumentation and mixing are fantastic, and the lyrics have a lot of nuance and thematic depth. congrats on becoming samual's #1 fan btw

[@claudiagomes1104]

It took me a few listens to fall in love with it but goddamn do I love it now

[@butasimpleidiotwizard]

@@odditycat2716 I genuinely find it amazing how different people think this is to the rest of his stuff because I have such a hard time seeing it, superficially yes it's quite different I suppose but the building blocks are all perfectly the same, it's still got the clear distinctive sound of a Will Wood song. I wonder if the album people first listened to has any bearing on how different they perceive this song compared to his other stuff, mine was Everything Is a Lot, specifically my favourites were Cover This Song and Skeleton Appreciation Day and those songs are a lot more like this one than say Dr Sunshine is Dead or I/Me/Myself. Idk I just find it strange

[@2smallbirds]

i remember hearing this in his early showcase livestream and just knowing that it was going to be my favorite song. the "is there cheese in the great beyond / rinds of parmesan" has never left my brain since i am So Happy that this has been released. i am at peace. there is in fact cheese here

[@truebobbian]

Oh same here. I was hoping to hear it again and I am so glad. This music video is so pretty.

[@2smallbirds]

@@truebobbian so glad it came out. I love the full version so much. def worth the wait since march '21

[@teamstryfe3592]

And if I did, you deserved it would've been cool to hear as a studio version

[@lyncaejunior3318]

Over a year later and I just realized when he says ‘my struggles had a happy ending, they must want to be friends’, he’s not personifying struggles, he’s talking about the person who lives in the house. That somehow made this song even more sad (even knowing the story behind it).

[@allquestionsnoanswers2726]

i had a serious, days long, emotional ethical and moral debate about setting mousetraps after listening to this. my week is ruined, i will never find a more beautiful song, this is the greatest thing ive ever listened to, and ive gotten rid of all the rattraps in my house and barn

[@Tulip_bip]

empathy sucks sometimes

[@ari638]

You could always use humane traps! Something that just keeps them in a box alive, so you can check the traps each day and release them someplace else far away if you catch any.

[@curlygurly2112]

this whole song was great, but I especially appreciate the use of the word "parmesan" as a rhyme for "great beyond"

[@prestonhusk9710]

I orginally thought this song was about a struggling artist, who manages to make it through everything, the unyeilding strength of the human spirit persevering. But then I actually listened closely to the lyrics and finally realized that its really a gut wrenching tale of the life and suffering of a poor innocent mouse. This song never fails to make me cry. This is a song of true tragedy and sadness.

[@thilsiktonix]

I just noticed this, but look at all the little symbols on the mouse's body. It looks like they mean something; for example, the heart on the chest, and the mice in the brain. It looks pretty clear that the mouse wants to meet another mouse and start a family. I think that's a touching little detail.

[@cl0wngutz859]

you know its good songwriting when you cry your eyes out every time you hear it but keep coming back to listen.

[@pennithemultifandomshipper9774]

I have tried not to listen to it for the past few days cause I know I'll lcry but it's been stuck on my mind. I finally cracked and yes I'm crying again

[@Things-with-wings]

“My stomach starts to turn with thirst, wait why does it hurt?” When a victim gets rabies, they become physically unable to drink water, to the point it physically hurts to try swallowing it.

[@bucketbuoyancy235]

I’m pretty sure the mouse didn’t have rabies, but I could be wrong. Lyrics didn’t say anything about it feeling painful to drink water. It’s also implied whatever illness he has came from the food his “friend” gave him. It would make little sense to poison a mouse with rabies instead of regular poison.

[@cosmotellurianTheory]

@@bucketbuoyancy235 it was poisoned food

[@bucketbuoyancy235]

@@cosmotellurianTheory Exactly.

[@lobsterexpert4558]

As the lobster expert, I can guarantee that this will be a banger

[@Hoonter]

Thank you for your expertise

[@IAmSneak]

as the lobster expert, do you recommend chewing lobsters before swallowing or, like rice, swallowing it without chewing?

[@lobsterexpert4558]

@@IAmSneak As the lobster expert, both is acceptable

[@IAmSneak]

@@lobsterexpert4558 very intelligent wisdom lobster expert. I will keep that in mind next time I meet a bluey

[@rat_mikey]

I'm so glad we have an expert here

[@ZweiForgot]

not sure if I've heard anything better than this in a long while.. i'm enjoying the shift in genre, Will great work.

[@jameshampton3102]

Will Wood had a genre?

[@athroneoflies8785]

@@fuyopon Can't really say that about Your Body, My Temple tho lol. That shit was kinda feral and very good

[@ZweiForgot]

@@jameshampton3102 It was kinda a chaotic jumble of a bunch of other stuff like Leonne said.

[@cractor6307]

@@athroneoflies8785 It was high energy, but nothing at the level of 2012 or EIAL. Where i think will speed up his own audio

[@ocj1313]

He's always had more slow songs like this (jimmy mushroom, Skeleton Appreciation day, sex drugs rock n roll, etc.) These were never the major feel for his music, but the origins are definitely there.

[@g0recr0w]

the context behind this song has me crying and throwing up on the floor. amazing job

[@jeremybingus6063]

Whats the context????????

[@g0recr0w]

@@averagechocomilkenjoyer basically, during the winter of the pandemic, will had made a little mouse friend that tried taking bits of parmesan rinds. unfortunately the mouse was a breed that is known to carry diseases and sadly had to set out traps for the little mouse, ultimately meeting his demise despite will not wanting to do it to the poor little rodent.

[@ourcade2626]

@@g0recr0w Man, this makes the fact some of his fans have been bringing him dead rodents in jars even more fucked up... :(

[@g0recr0w]

@@ourcade2626 someone showed will a vial of preserved rats at the show I went to while he was on tour... he was gonna play tomcat disposables too but didnt because of it :[

[@ourcade2626]

@@g0recr0w People are fucked up, man. In what fucking world would anyone think that's an okay thing to do? I feel so bad for Will.

[@Makrotaill]

I downloaded this song and went for a long walk to listen to it. At first I was thinking how I like the instruments but when I started processing the lyrics I literally burst into tears in front of people. This song is absolute masterpiece, but I feel like I need therapy

[@ranishoo5145]

I live in an area with a lot of rats and they tend to flock to my crawlspace to live, which god I wish I could let them but they destroy the insulation and leave feces all around the garage, outside area, etc, so this song really hits me hard. I hate that I can't just live in harmony with the rats in the crawlspace, I want to share the house with them but it's just not possible. they're unintentionally tearing apart the house, they're endangering my family and my dog if any of them are carrying diseases, it's just such a shitty hand the poor rats have been dealt :(

[@piercings1ren]

I like how the puzzle pieces kinda symbolize it getting closer to death with the first being moving into the house, the second getting caught which would eventually lead the home owner to place poison out, the third starving for days, the forth eating the poison, the fifth going to sleep, and the sixth being when the mouse dies completing the puzzle. I’m sure everyone already noticed this but I just find it neat.

[@kubagrotowski]

She Found Me Crying, She Crew Too, We Both Crode

[@Not_A_Big_Fan]

I can't believe Will managed to make me emotional over a song about a silly little mouse who ate poison

[@jragonwriter6316]

This video has the perfect balance of both Will and wood.

[@ConfettiCasket]

Will Wood's music style has changed so much over time and I love his newer stuff so much. I'm super excited for his new album!

[@river3604]

This is the first time Will is releasing something new ever since I found his music, I cant wait! :D Correction: I was here for the release of sex, drugs, rock n roll and everything that's been released since then, but I forgot (my memory is terrible) sorry for confusing those of you in the replies lmao

[@river3604]

@@yum_parmesan yeah, i found him in october 2021 if i remember correctly

[@eyemoisturizer]

camp here n there campfire songs edition came out earlier

[@river3604]

oh yeah i forgot about those lol

[@LegoCommanderCody]

I found him in September last year

[@ConfettiCasket]

I found him right after the release of Self-Ish and watching him improve his style is so cool

[@Agdune]

Just learned the lyrics. Having recently had to do something similar after much agonizing, it's got me tearing up. Can't yet sing the last verse without some tears happening and messing up my voice. I can make it to 'Flatline in the morning light', and no further, a little bit of a gag breaks through. What a bloody lovely lament for the little guys. Their mind’s not one bite smaller or lesser than ours, and... 'tis nature I guess... indeed. Lovely way to put it, and a lovely tribute to them. (also eeeey, there's my name in the Indigogo list!)

[@SM-cs2my]

i'll never ever get tired of this one i think i caught a livestream back in like august where chat asked for "the cheese song" and i was curious so i stuck around to hear him play it, but didn't catch the actual name of it so it's haunted me for months. i was just about to believe i'd never hear it again so i almost screamed when i realized which song this was. i can't listen to any other song currently

[@MattHerrema]

Sure, it's not "typical Will Wood," but does that really matter? It's a goddamn banger, and Will Wood shouldn't be expected to stick to a style.

[@ciape7547]

this song is so saaad i genuinely feel sick almost every time i listen to it

[@mth9267]

So good on so many kevels. The thoughts of a mouse,the basic need for all organisms for basic existence, are my solutions right ot will it finally catch up on me and crush me.

[@ohno9620]

i can't listen to this song with out sobbing. every. single. time.

[@MadsH5859]

ESPECIALLY AT, “They must want to be friends! :D,” “Goodbye, so long, to my same homes!” AND THE MOUSETRAP SNAP AT THE END. I SOB SO MUCH TOO

[@averiterrell3541]

I’m not gonna lie, I did more than tear up. I’m bawling actually. This means so much more to me than I can put into words. Thank you.

[@sapphiretruffle]

I like it. Will continues to explore his fascination with death (and rodents) from every possible angle.

[@Windy_Floof]

NONONONO BRING HIM BACK HE DIDNT DO ANYTHING WRONG STOP NOOO

[@Hardtopleeese]

I can almost imagine a man standing over the trap that finally worked with tears in his eyes and a feeling of emptiness that comes from putting something down. Good work Will. Neither of you deserved this but at least your friend is hurt no more and be remembered evermore.

[@charlesmieth2467]

Working tirelessly to piece together the secrets and truths of your terrifying, claustrophobic world, only to find that the only truth is that you are going to die. Fucking devastating, love it.

[@avivastudios2311]

It's so beautiful when he says "rinds of parmesan." This song is beautiful. Very creative writing.

[@majoraswrath6182]

The instant juxtaposition from "My struggles had a happy ending" To "My just dessert is served, dig in" Kills me every. Single. Time.

[@shadetherainwing7853]

this hit harder than it should have. the fact that the mouse worked so hard with getting all the pieces and solving the puzzle, and all it does is kill it it makes me feel of the fact that no matter what you do, no matter how good you are, no matter what, everyone has the same fate.

[@caitlinhsu9074]

I interviewed Will right before this song came out. I got to listen to it before the official release...and to be honest, it wasn't really my thing. I'd been hoping for more genre-bending, kooky sounds, or at least something with piano like SDRR. Instead I got a sad ukulele folk song about a mouse. Now, two months later, after talking to Will about his evolving music style and what that means for him, and seeing this music video, and digesting the lyrics (and being cuckolded from the live performance of this song by a Dead Rat Person at the Houston show), it's really hitting me. I don't know why. It just is. I really wish I'd asked him more about the lyrics/construction of the song -- but to be fair, the official lyrics hadn't been published yet and I'm really bad at understanding what people are singing without lyrics. Sorry Will.

[@_LoveLandFrog_]

This was one of the most visually beautiful music videos I’ve ever seen, I love this kind of wooden intricate puzzle style. And Maybe I’m wrong and it’s not my place to interpret art, but the mouse looks like it’s trying to find an answer to the puzzle with the light, without having an end goal other than solving it ,but when it shows the shadow of its death, it’s scared of the answer it’s given. It could be taken as a person seeking the meaning of life to find out there’s none, and scared that death might be all that it is when it ends. It also kinda reminds me of that mouse trap game, where the goal was to just trap the mouse with this complicated machine:) Thats just without meticulously picking apart the lyrics though. Anyways it was beautiful all around :]

[@butasimpleidiotwizard]

Thats such a beautiful analysis of the video tbh, I had felt that when I first watched it but I couldn't articulate it because I was too busy crying over it lol

[@butasimpleidiotwizard]

I also like it because it's like naturally curious about this thing and figuring out what it's purpose is and then the purpose is the death of the mouse, he goes through so much trying to piece this together and find answers, at first because he just wants to know but as it goes on he becomes invested because he's put so much into it, always hoping that at the end will be some worthy reward, and as he approaches the end he can see the signs come together and finally realises that he was working for nothing, the result of his life's work and hardship was his death. It's beautiful and tragic and pulls at something deep in the human soul tbh, we all run around working hard to achieve something always believing that the reward will be in the results, but ultimately the result will always be death. That's why it's important to find fulfilment where you can now, you can work within the system for the rest of your life but it's not a game you can win, you'll die at the end like we all do, find joy in the now, not the promise of the future.

[@danthemanonapaninacan2366]

"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard

[@justyourdailymate2272]

This song feels emotional which is why I love it. You may cry to this, you may not, but it can still bring a sad emotion out. Poor mice.

[@narrowbonemarrow5153]

Hello Mr. Will Robbin Wood( Your middle name is almost certainly not Robbin but if it is then it's pretty creepy that I know that) me, my bands guitarist, and our bassist held a listening party for this song and it immediately blew our heads off and I instantly said we should make a cover of this which was then shot down by our bassist saying " It makes Will Wood uncomfortable when people cover his songs." and then she explained that you feel weird with people yelling such introspective works to the world. But heres the thing, I still REALLY wanna do a cover because this song really Willy's my Wonka and I think we could make something pretty cool with this but I don't wanna hurt you in making a cover so I thought I would ask for your approval before making it.

[@WillWoodmusic]

Man, people have the weirdest ideas about me. I've never once said I don't like when people cover my songs. I actually really fuckin love it when people cover my songs. I literally have a song called "cover this song" on my first album. I don't know who made it up, but let it be known I've never once said that I'm against covers. Would love to hear your cover.

[@carythacker8049]

Ok but even besides the original notion being wrong this is so sweet? That you asked?

[@L0rdOfThePies]

Pls link the cover when you’re done, brother, i’d love to hear it

[@will_the_wise7048]

THIS WHOLE VIDEO IS SO GUT WRENCHING

[@cj777]

One thing Will Wood has always gotten perfectly is chord progressions that make you feel so much emotion; this song is a beautifully done example of this. The use of augmented chords, line clichés, secondary dominates and everything else done in this piece just comes together in such an amazing way. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of your album.

[@WeskersLapdog]

Oh em jee it's William Woodicus * happy *

[@MandyMiii]

My god I love this music video so much. That mouse happily collects all those little pieces of hope - only for them to be crushed in the end.

[@granola_con_miel]

This is the first song that made me cry... And cry a lot

[@andrewtheclown1907]

My pet cat just died recently, on 06/05/2024. He was a white cat with no other color on his fur, I call him Tuyết Mao, meaning White Cat (or Snow Cat). Some kind of wasting disease got to him and due to the country my family is in, he's basically got disposed of by being placed into trash bags. Which is treacherously horrible. Rest in peace sweet prince. 04-15-2021 -> 06-05-2024 🤍

[@Wispa03]

on my first few listens i never really paid attention to the lyrics, but damn once you realise then this song just becomes heartbreaking

[@m0thb4llzz]

My friend showed me this song earlier today and the bridge and the last two choruses have almost made me cry every time listening to the song I remember hearing the “Maybe they wanna be friends!!” Before the key swapped to a minor one and I went ‘oh no i don’t think they wanna be friends’

[@Herbentto]

After reading his recent interview and watching his live chat for this song I absolutely one hundered percent understand why he said what he said about his fanbase and why he wrote sex, drugs, and rock and roll. This song is a heartwrenching piece about trying to fit in and what it's like to fight so hard just to end up dead and alone, and all you see in the live chat is fucking memes and baby gays talking about how gay they are. Honestly annoying as hell. I'm glad to hear that the live shows irl are better though. I hope he finds true happiness one day.

[@AylaMarionSU]

i believe its mostly his under 18 audience. the shows are 18+ for a reason heh. glad they’re going well for him, though.

[@kiteacup]

what did he say? i listen to will wood but i don’t really follow him. i do think i understand what you said for what i’ve seen about his fanbase, but i got curious as to what happened

[@ConfettiCasket]

@@kiteacup From what I've seen alot of the kids in his fanbase insist he should make stuff like Self-Ish and Everything Is Alot again. And aren't letting him move on from it even though he was in a really bad place when he wrote that stuff. Alot of his fanbase is definitely younger than he would like too, considering his shows are usually 18+ so thats probably what its about. Im not 100% sure though.

[@daisy-lk1lt]

ive heard some pretty bad things from the live shows on reddit ( i live uk so cant go :( ), apparently people throwing stuff at the stage and talking/screaming over him etc... fans who have no respect for will are missing the point of most of his songs lol

[@Herbentto]

@@kiteacup he was talking about how socially inept they have become thanks to social media + the pandemic and how at one of his gigs he was being screamed at and disrespected on stage because of it. He said recently that the shows on his new tour have been good however.

[@waitsbian]

"they must want to be friends.." anyway i'm never going to emotionally recover from that

[@raliaid3355]

KZbin keeps on recommending this like "yes I'd like to cry again thank you"

[@w1llnt213]

The way the lil cog stopped turning at the end when it died oml-

[@TheMain__Character]

Word of advice: Don't listen to this while having a panic attack, It majes you cry even harder!

[@poopingisamishpropaganda]

i sob everytime i listen to this bro

[@That_Goiky_Gowrl]

Okay. But why did I cry

[@KitKatKenny]

I used to listen to this song and think about a mouse going through this and it made me so sad. my friend passed away a few months ago, so now i no longer think of a mouse when I listen to this song. I think of him. and that makes this song so much harder to listen to. I still love this song though

[@godisrealgoddamnit]

I think it's very cute and underappreciated . Sorry for your loss man hope everything gets better ❤‍🩹

[@EctoBabble]

As a rat owner who used to watch my grandma kill the mice I tried to befriend as a toddler, this made me sob. I still remember that little guy coming out from behind the dishwasher and I KNEW there was a snap trap in the cabinet. I set it off once to trick my grandma, ruined my finger. She did kill a couple despite my efforts and I could never get the image of the dead mice out of my head. I shouldn't have given them any food. I felt bad for them and wanted to make them happy but in hindsight, as an adult, I was just giving them incentive to come back.

[@LasagneAlForno8297]

first song in fuckin forever to genuinely invoke sorrow. eough.

[@Silliest-guy-the-ever]

yes, there is cheese in the great beyond

[@ImTired17]

I was listening to this while on a road trip with my mom, and I had to explain to her that I was crying because I listened to a very sad song about a rat. Guess what song came on my playlist after this? *Euthanasia.* 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@Dooodandy]

The infamous euthanasia jumpscare 😔

[@ardibuu]

i was listening to this without really paying attention to the lyrics and when i looked in the comments and saw what it was about i started CRYING. 10/10 rip samuals real world counterpart you will forever be in our hearts

[@ardibuu]

I JUST REALIZED THE LYRICS ARE WRITTEN FROM THE RATS POV NOOO

[@somewhatdubz]

This song is so gut wrenching. This song and Euthanasia both had me crying. Rest in peace, all the rats in Will’s life. Including the Wooden Mouse.

[@dronte_de]

I have so many thoughts and I'm not sure if I can put any of them into words... I love this, I really really love this. This song feels sincere. I'm a really big fan of the character work Will Wood did especially in Self-ish but I respect the hell out of not wanting to do that anymore, escaping this image of the scary piano man. And now this drops and I can't imagine anyone being angry about getting such a beautiful song... great work 💚

[@HolloTheRaven]

now he's the scary ukelele man

[@dronte_de]

@@HolloTheRaven noo thats not the point I was making 😅

[@blairebelarus]

@@HolloTheRaven what if studio cicada days is thermodynamic lawyer 2...

[@ConfettiCasket]

This has a similar aesthetic to Modest Mouse's "Float On" music video but with a Will Wood twist and i absolutely love it. I wanna find more stuff with that vibe because it looks great!

[@JacobSmith-eq5zc]

Man, losing my kitty the same day this drops, really hits differently. Mr. Woods best work yet!! Really top tier stuff.

[@slightlymorepotatoes6551]

Rest in peace Mr Boy. He will live in our hearts forever 💛

[@mediocreclementine7649]

For some abysmal reason, every time anything happens regarding Will Wood, in my mind I hear that one moment from monster factory's spore episode where griffin and Justin McElroy frantically and furiously shout, "WILL?! GET IN YOUR BOX WILL." I hope that reading this has inconvenienced and mildly annoyed you have a wonderful day

[@kk.mazzeds]

This made me cry so badly, i think this is the only song i have ever cried for, i literally burst into tears the first time i have ever heard it, but still, this song is so good, i love it!

[@alluviumboar]

what, wood in a Will Wood video? impossible.

[@raybanned897]

As someone who is part of the younger fan base (even tho I am almost 18) it was SUCH a ride to mature along with Will’s new styles. Like wow. I’m sorry that his new fans don’t respect him because they’re arrogant tweens discovering themselves. If they took a second to actually appreciate the new music they would see how utterly genius it is, just like the rest of Will’s work. This song broke my heart, thank you for this masterpiece ❤️

[@kumeij4042]

Как же я этого жду :} Столько прекрасных песен было написано. Буду продолжать следить за вашим творчеством.

[@hippiemetalhead]

О,привет!Не думал,что встречу тут русских фанатов Уилла(и The Tapeworms,конечно же),а нас оказалось очень даже много!Действительно,было написано очень много прекрасных песен,Уилл просто лучший!😃😍

[@3hourstime]

@@hippiemetalhead согл

[@Everettalla]

Yes!

[@TheNewMichiganRepublic]

Это дерьмо - огонь!

[@dasay233]

ДА ДА ДА, УИЛЛ ВУД ПРОСТО ЛУЧШИЙ

[@lizcat3767]

I've been relistening to this song over and over the past week, the catharsis just hits different.

[@nicolassoto8077]

Man this song is so devastating and so perfect I love will wood

[@Jervenshmine]

This song never fails to bring me to tears. Even when i first heard it, when my friend played it without the video. Its just... idk.i love it so much, but its also sad