Barnes & Barnes formed in 1970. Robert Haimer (died 2023) and Bill Mumy were childhood friends who occasionally jammed together on their musical instruments. Around 1968, they would shoot short films with a Super 8 motion picture camera, dubbed "Art Films". The two began calling each other "Art", and thus, their alter egos were born. Their surname, "Barnes" was taken from a Bill Cosby comedy routine called "Revenge", in which a character called Junior Barnes throws a snowball at Cosby as a child. Originally, both Haimer and Mumy were named "Art Barnes", but Haimer's alter ego was publicly renamed "Artie" in 1979 to differentiate between them. To each other, however, they both still remain "Art". They first received airplay on The Dr. Demento Show in 1978 with their songs "Boogie Woogie Amputee" and "Fish Heads." The latter tune was released as a single on their own Lumania Records in 1979 and remains their best-known song, and the most requested song in the history of The Dr. Demento Show. The song was often mis-attributed to The Chipmunks for its processed high-pitched chorus:
Fish heads, fish heads
Rolly-polly fish heads
Fish heads, fish heads
Eat them up, yum!
Barnes and Barnes have produced two albums for Wild Man Fischer, and one album for Crispin Hellion Glover.
De Pumped Out Blues
Barnes & Barnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pumping gas total frustration
Fillin' tanks with oil and water
Soakin' up grease like a fool ink blotter
But I ain't stupid tonite I'm quittin'
I got de no pumped de pumped out
De pumped out blues
My baby loves lovin' like there's no tomorrow
Wringin' me out like an old sponge
She rolls and hugs and bites my buns
But I ain't Superman tonite I'm quittin'
I got de no pumped de pumped out
De pumped out blues
Pumpin' 'cross the USA yeah
Pumpin' all night and all day yeah
Down on de boulevard they're pumpin'
They're pumpin' in Lumania too
Pumpin' pumpin' pumpin' pumpin' pumpin'
I got de no pumped de pumped out
De pumped out blues
I can't pump no more
I'm sick of working this gasoline station
All I get is aggravation
Do this do that check that too
Well I got better things to do
I ain't stupid tonite I'm quittin'
I got de no pumped de pumped out
De pumped out blues
Yeah.
sallysally@usa.net
The song "De Pumped Out Blues" by Barnes & Barnes expresses a deep feeling of frustration and exhaustion that the singer is experiencing from their job at a gas station. They are tired of pumping gas, filling tanks with oil and water, and soaking up the grease like an "old fool ink blotter". The repetition of the phrase "De pumped out blues" emphasizes the feeling of being completely drained and exhausted. The singer then shifts their focus to their personal life, particularly their relationship with their partner, who they claim "loves lovin' like there's no tomorrow". They are also tired of being wrung out like an old sponge, and their partner biting their buns.
The repetition of "pumpin'" throughout the song is likely a reference to the monotony of the singer's job, as well as alluding to the sexual act they describe with their partner. The lyrics suggest that the singer may have better things to do than work at the gas station or engage in excessive sex. They are tired of being told what to do and are finally quitting their job because they are not stupid. Essentially, the singer is ready for a change in their life and refuses to continue to be used and drained of their energy.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sick of working this gasoline station
I am tired of doing the same job in a gasoline station.
Pumping gas total frustration
Dispensing gasoline fills me with utter frustration.
Fillin' tanks with oil and water
I spend my time putting oil and water into cars.
Soakin' up grease like a fool ink blotter
I am constantly absorbing grease like a blotter, which makes me feel foolish.
But I ain't stupid tonite I'm quittin'
I am not a fool, and tonight I will quit this job.
I got de no pumped de pumped out
I am feeling drained and exhausted.
My baby loves lovin' like there's no tomorrow
My partner loves intimacy without any limits or rules.
Ten times through and she still wants more
She desires more after we have already been intimate ten times.
Wringin' me out like an old sponge
She is exhausting me physically and emotionally.
She rolls and hugs and bites my buns
She embraces me tightly and bites my buttocks playfully.
But I ain't Superman tonite I'm quittin'
Although I have stamina, tonight, I am giving up or tapping out.
I got de no pumped de pumped out
I am devoid of energy.
Pumpin' 'cross the USA yeah
Pumping fuel across the United States of America.
Pumpin' all night and all day yeah
Working tirelessly around the clock to pump gasoline.
Down on de boulevard they're pumpin'
On the street, other people are pumping gasoline.
They're pumpin' in Lumania too
Even in the fictional country Lumania, gasoline is being pumped.
Pumpin' pumpin' pumpin' pumpin' pumpin'
There is continuous pumping of gasoline.
I got de no pumped de pumped out
I am completely depleted of energy and motivation to continue pumping.
I can't pump no more
I am physically and emotionally unable to continue dispensing gasoline.
All I get is aggravation
The only thing I feel from this job is irritation.
Do this do that check that too
I am constantly given instructions to do this or check that, further increasing my frustration.
Well I got better things to do
I have more fulfilling things to do with my time.
I ain't stupid tonite I'm quittin'
I am not foolish, and I am quitting tonight.
I got de no pumped de pumped out
I am completely exhausted and emotionally drained.
Yeah.
An expression of agreement or approval.
Contributed by Christian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.