Barnes & Barnes, consisting of fictional twin brothers Art and Artie Barnes… Read Full Bio ↴Barnes & Barnes, consisting of fictional twin brothers Art and Artie Barnes, was an American "novelty rock" duo based in Lumania, a fictional mythological civilization (similar to Lemuria or Atlantis). The "novelty rock" genre is named as such because most of their music is standard rock or pop music with heavy comedy elements. Their real-life alter egos, Robert Haimer (died 2023) and Bill Mumy, are based in Los Angeles, California, USA. Mumy is also well known for playing Will Robinson in the TV series Lost in Space and Lennier in "Babylon 5."

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.

When You Die
Barnes & Barnes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah yeah, let me tell you all about it
I've been thinkin about you night and day
Sure been restless since you went away
You took something from me against my will
Touched a nerve in me that's tingling still
You just snuck up behind me
When my resistance was low
And nows a hell of a time to find I can't let you go

Got your first letter just the other day
Since I got it I can't put it away
I just sit and read it over and over and over again
As if the words that you wrote could bring this hurt to and end

Well you just left me here waiting
Left a wound that won't heal
God your so far away you don't know how I feel
So say you'll take a chance on this heart of mine
Don't make me the one that you left behind
And I'm not saying anybody's wrong or right
Just know I'd die to be with you tonight

I count the hours each time till your gone
I don't have to let you leave me
It makes no sense at all
If I have to follow you all around the world
I'd be willing to do anything to get to you girl

You just left me here waitin
Left a wound that won't heal
God your so far away you don't know how I feel
So say you'll take a chance on this heart of mine
Don't make me the one that you left behind
And I'm not saying anybody's wrong or right
Just know I'd die to be with you tonight
Ah yeah
So say you'll take a chance on this heart of mine
Don't make me the one that you left behind
I'm not saying anybody's wrong or right
Just know I'd die to be with you tonight
Oh
I'd die to be with you tonight
Ah ha ha ha
I'd die to be with you tonight

I count the hours each time that your gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Barnes & Barnes' song "When You Die" tells the story of a person who is deeply in love with someone who is far away from them. They are expressing their feelings of being restless and longing for the other person, who caused something to tingle inside the singer that they cannot let go of. The singer is consumed by the other person's presence, and finds it difficult to move on since they left a wound that won't heal. The singer makes it clear that they are willing to do anything to be with the object of their affection.

The repetition of the line "I'd die to be with you tonight" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's strong desire to be with the other person. The lyrics convey a raw emotion and a deep longing for someone who is not physically present but is always on the singer's mind. The overall tone of the song is melancholic, yet upbeat, which creates a sense of hope that the singer's desire will someday be fulfilled.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah yeah, let me tell you all about it
The singer is about to share their emotions regarding a relationship with someone who has left them.

I've been thinkin about you night and day
The singer is unable to stop thinking about the person who left them.

Sure been restless since you went away
The singer is having trouble sleeping and relaxing since the person they care for has left them.

You took something from me against my will
The person who left the artist took something important from them without their consent, possibly their heart or trust.

Touched a nerve in me that's tingling still
The person who left the artist touched them deeply, and the artist still feels the emotional effects of their departure.

You just snuck up behind me
The person who left the singer left without warning or explanation, potentially hurting the singer more.

When my resistance was low
The singer was vulnerable and not emotionally prepared for the person to leave them.

And nows a hell of a time to find I can't let you go
The artist is struggling to move on from the person who left them, and it's especially difficult now.

Got your first letter just the other day
The artist recently received a letter from the person who left them.

Since I got it I can't put it away
The artist is fixated on the letter and can't stop thinking about it.

I just sit and read it over and over and over again
The singer is rereading the letter multiple times, trying to find meaning in the words.

As if the words that you wrote could bring this hurt to an end
The artist is hoping that the letter will provide closure or ease the pain caused by the person's departure.

Well you just left me here waiting
The person left the singer waiting and alone, without explanation or warning.

Left a wound that won't heal
The person's departure has left the singer emotionally damaged, and they are struggling to recover.

God your so far away you don't know how I feel
The person who left the singer is physically distant, and the singer believes they can't understand the emotional pain they are in.

So say you'll take a chance on this heart of mine
The artist is hoping the person will give their relationship another chance.

Don't make me the one that you left behind
The artist doesn't want to be left alone and forgotten again.

And I'm not saying anybody's wrong or right
The singer is not blaming anyone for the situation, but expressing their desire to be with the person who left them.

Just know I'd die to be with you tonight
The singer is expressing their strong desire to be with the person who left them, even if it means sacrificing everything.

I count the hours each time till your gone
The artist is aware of the time that passes while the person is away, longing for their return.

I don't have to let you leave me
The artist believes they have control over whether or not the person leaves them again.

It makes no sense at all
The artist acknowledges that their feelings may not make logical sense, but they still long for the person who left them.

If I have to follow you all around the world
The singer is willing to make any effort to be with the person who left them, even if it means following them around constantly.

I'd be willing to do anything to get to you girl
The artist is expressing their devotion and willingness to do whatever it takes to be with the person who left them.

Ah ha ha ha
An expression of the singer's emotional state, possibly one of desperation or nervousness.

I'd die to be with you tonight
The singer is willing to give up everything, including their own life, to be with the person who left them.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAS SANDFORD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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