Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Don't Call Me Uncle
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't leave me in dismay
Hold up the original feeling that wipes away all shame
That's very nice to be constructive like an old man in a young man's game
It's coming out the other end with effectual conclusion and disdain
Don't call me chester cheetah
Don't call me uncle sam
Then go into another station my dear and find a girl that fits inside
Who comes rumblin down the canyon just proud enough to be my lemon bride
Don't call me mr well read
Don't call me professor tom
You know i've paid the consequence for all i have done wrong
But that's alright in the assembly of the evening in the olive branch
When you reemerge in the nighttime you'll explore that hollow feeling at a trance
Don't call me wooden shoe guy
Don't call me wooden man
Don't call me mr scarecrow, i have a master plan
But i don't know what is egyptian
I don't know what is a western thought
I don't know what is a mystery to all or which has already been taught
The eagle sure has landed and it made me really sad
Just go away in back of me and call uncle dad
You're my daughter in a sense and i get nervous when you go outside
To the bedrooms of the aliens, just love could make a grown girl die
In Adam Green's song, "Don't Call Me Uncle," the artist seems to be rejecting various labels and societal expectations placed on him. In the first stanza, he declares "don't call me Uncle Elroy" and begs the listener to hold onto the original feeling that wipes away shame. It's possible that Elroy represents a specific type of person or behavior that Green doesn't want to be associated with. He also rejects the label of "Chester Cheetah" and "Uncle Sam," instead asking to be played like an orchestra that can help a boy become a man. Perhaps he's saying that he doesn't want to be a symbol of American consumerism or patriotism, but rather a mentor who can guide someone towards true adulthood.
In the second stanza, Green rejects labels like "Mr. Well Read" and "Professor Tom," acknowledging that he's made mistakes but claiming that he's paid the price. He seems to find solace in the idea of an "assembly of the evening in the olive branch," perhaps suggesting that there's a time and a place for criticism and discussion, but that we should strive to find peace and reconciliation when possible. Finally, he rejects the labels of "Wooden Shoe Guy," "Wooden Man," and "Mr. Scarecrow," insisting that he has a master plan but doesn't know everything. The song ends on a somewhat ambiguous note with mention of an eagle landing and a daughter going off to the bedrooms of aliens, suggesting that Green is grappling with feelings of sadness, protectiveness, and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't call me uncle elroy
Please do not address me as Uncle Elroy
Don't leave me in dismay
Please do not abandon or disappoint me
Hold up the original feeling that wipes away all shame
Retain the initial emotion that erases feelings of guilt
That's very nice to be constructive like an old man in a young man's game
It is good to be productive just like an elderly person in a youthful field
It's coming out the other end with effectual conclusion and disdain
The outcome is now emerging with a practical decision and contempt
Don't call me chester cheetah
I prefer you not to address me as Chester Cheetah
Don't call me uncle sam
Please do not refer to me as Uncle Sam
Just play me like an orchestra that makes a boy your man
Treat me like an orchestra that alters a boy to manhood
Then go into another station my dear and find a girl that fits inside
Please move on to another stop, my dear, and locate a suitable partner
Who comes rumblin down the canyon just proud enough to be my lemon bride
One who arrives in exuberance, happy to be my bride
Don't call me mr well read
Please refrain from using Mr. Well Read to address me
Don't call me professor tom
Please don't call me Professor Tom
You know i've paid the consequence for all i have done wrong
I have suffered the consequences of my wrongdoings
But that's alright in the assembly of the evening in the olive branch
It's okay to reconcile in the gathering during the peace offering
When you reemerge in the nighttime you'll explore that hollow feeling at a trance
When you resurface at night, you will examine that empty feeling in a daze
Don't call me wooden shoe guy
Please do not refer to me as Wooden Shoe Guy
Don't call me wooden man
I prefer you not to address me as Wooden Man
Don't call me mr scarecrow, i have a master plan
Please do not call me Mr. Scarecrow, as I have a detailed plan
But i don't know what is egyptian
But I do not know what is Egyptian
I don't know what is a western thought
I am clueless about what is considered a Western thought
I don't know what is a mystery to all or which has already been taught
I am unaware of any secret knowledge or what has already been taught
The eagle sure has landed and it made me really sad
The eagle has certainly arrived, and it has made me very unhappy
Just go away in back of me and call uncle dad
Please leave quietly and address someone else as Uncle Dad
You're my daughter in a sense and i get nervous when you go outside
In a way, you are like my daughter, and I feel anxious when you leave
To the bedrooms of the aliens, just love could make a grown girl die
Love could be fatal for a mature woman in the bedrooms of extraterrestrial beings
Contributed by Madelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.