Discography :
- East River Park (1989)
- Point of Memory (1990)
- I Used to Be Kid Colgate (1991)
- Shining Hours in a Can (1994)
- Poor Fricky (1995)
- Mel (1996)
- The Gasoline Age (1999)
- Garbageheads on Endless Stun (2003)
- What Are You On? (2006)
- We Live In Rented Rooms (2011)
What Does T.S. Eliot Know About You?
East River Pipe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He knows nothing in particular
But you talk and talk as if he do
You bought that April stuff
Just like an innocent pup
But all those months are equally cruel
When I rip off the mask
Smoke bong hits by a heated pool
What does T.S. Eliot know about you?
He knows nothing in particular
But you talk and talk as if he do
Yeah, you read half a book
Then you say, "take a look
T.S. is my new best friend"
You just want showbiz kisses
From Hollywood bitches
Not visits from the hollow men
He knows nothing 'bout you
Nothing 'bout you
What does T.S. Eliot know about you?
He knows nothing in particular
But you talk and talk as if he do
He knows nothing in particular
This song is a witty commentary on the pretentiousness of name-dropping literary figures, specifically T.S. Eliot. The singer is addressing someone who is trying to impress others by dropping Eliot's name into conversations, but in reality, they have a shallow understanding of Eliot's work and are using Eliot as a way to elevate their own image.
The first stanza sets the tone, questioning what T.S. Eliot could possibly know about the person being referenced. The second stanza describes the person's attempts to be taken seriously as an intellectual, by buying books and paraphernalia related to Eliot, but they are really just playing a part. The singer notes that all the months of the year can be equally "cruel," suggesting that there may be no easy way to attain knowledge or intellectualism. The third stanza reinforces the idea that the person is only pretending to know about Eliot by calling them out on only reading half of a book and wanting to hang out with a rock star instead.
Line by Line Meaning
What does T.S. Eliot know about you?
What specific knowledge does T.S. Eliot possess about you?
He knows nothing in particular
T.S. Eliot has no specific knowledge about you.
But you talk and talk as if he do
Despite his lack of knowledge about you, you speak as if he does.
You bought that April stuff
You believed the naive and romanticized perspective of the month of April.
Just like an innocent pup
Just like a young, naive and gullible animal.
But all those months are equally cruel
All months can be harsh and unforgiving.
When I rip off the mask
When I reveal the truth behind your facade or mask.
You wanna hang with Slash
You desire to spend time with the rock musician Slash.
Smoke bong hits by a heated pool
Engage in smoking illegal drugs by a warm swimming pool.
Yeah, you read half a book
You have only read a portion of a book.
Then you say, 'take a look
After reading only half the book, you recommend that others read it.
T.S. is my new best friend'
You idealize T.S. Eliot as if he was your closest confidant.
You just want showbiz kisses
You desire the superficial attention and affection of Hollywood celebrities.
From Hollywood bitches
From the derogatory term to describe female Hollywood celebrities who are thought of as shallow and self-centered.
Not visits from the hollow men
You do not want to spend time with individuals who seem empty or emotionless.
He knows nothing 'bout you
T.S. Eliot is unaware and not knowledgeable of your personality, interests or experiences.
Nothing 'bout you
T.S. Eliot does not possess any intimate knowledge about you.
But you talk and talk as if he do
Even though T.S. Eliot has no intimate knowledge about you, you talk as if he does.
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.