Particle Man
They Might Be Giants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doing the things a particle can
What's he like? It's not important
Particle man
Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
When he's underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, Particle man
Triangle man, Triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
They have a fight, Triangle wins
Triangle man
Universe man, Universe man
Size of the entire universe man
Usually kind to smaller man
Universe man
He's got a watch with a minute hand,
Millennium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it's a happy land
Powerful man, universe man
Person man, person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can
Person man
Is he depressed or is he a mess?
Does he feel totally worthless?
Who came up with person man?
Degraded man, person man
Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man
"They Might Be Giants's" song, "Particle Man," seems like a simple composition, with straightforward rhyming schemes, yet on a closer look, it presents perplexing existential questions. The song begins with the titular character Particle Man, setting the scene for what follows. Particle Man's identity is ambiguous, with the lyrics questioning whether he is a dot or speck, indicating that he is a figurative particle rather than a literal one. Moreover, the song cites his other characteristics, such as his behavior and personality, as unimportant. The song's structure mocks a hypothetical person's futility since we know only what we can observe, and the universe is vast beyond human comprehension.
Later on in the song, we encounter Triangle Man, famously known to hate Particle Man. Triangle Man is a symbol of conflict and competition between individuals in the world. It highlights the idea of humans' inability to coexist peacefully and how, when forced to take sides, one "man" will naturally overpower the other. Moreover, Particle Man and Triangle Man's associated shapes reflect the role humans play within a universe of geometries and shapes, with each man existing within its unique geometry despite its predictable outcomes.
Line by Line Meaning
Particle man, particle man
Introducing Particle man
Doing the things a particle can
Describing Particle man's abilities as a subatomic particle
What's he like? It's not important
Suggesting that Particle man's personality is irrelevant
Particle man
Reiterating Particle man's name for emphasis
Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
Wondering if Particle man is a small or smaller particle
When he's underwater does he get wet?
Asking if Particle man interacts with water in the same way as larger objects
Or does the water get him instead?
Proposing that Particle man may be absorbed by water instead of getting wet
Nobody knows, Particle man
Concluding that Particle man is a mystery
Triangle man, Triangle man
Introducing Triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
Revealing that Triangle man has animosity toward Particle man
They have a fight, Triangle wins
Narrating a conflict between Triangle man and Particle man, in which Triangle man prevails
Triangle man
Reiterating Triangle man's name for emphasis
Universe man, Universe man
Introducing Universe man
Size of the entire universe man
Describing Universe man's massive size
Usually kind to smaller man
Positing that Universe man is benevolent to entities smaller than himself
Universe man
Reiterating Universe man's name for emphasis
He's got a watch with a minute hand,
Revealing one of Universe man's possessions
Millennium hand and an eon hand
Describing the timekeeping abilities of Universe man's watch
When they meet it's a happy land
Implying that when the watch hands align, good things happen
Powerful man, universe man
Emphasizing the immense power and size of Universe man
Person man, person man
Introducing Person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Narrating a traumatic event in Person man's life
Lives his life in a garbage can
Describing Person man's unfortunate living situation
Is he depressed or is he a mess?
Speculating about the current state of Person man's mental health
Does he feel totally worthless?
Asking if Person man believes he has no value
Who came up with person man?
Pondering the origin of Person man's existence
Degraded man, person man
Suggesting that Person man is of lower status or quality
Triangle man, triangle man
Reintroducing Triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
Reiterating Triangle man's disdain for Person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Repeating the outcome of the previous conflict between Triangle man and Person man
Triangle man
Stressing Triangle man's dominance in the song's conflicts
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN FLANSBURGH, JOHN LINNELL, JOHN C. FLANSBURGH, JOHN S. LINNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind