The band has released four records, Folk the World Tour; a self-titled album, Flight of the Conchords; an EP, The Distant Future, which won a 2007 Grammy for Best Comedy Album, and a sophomore effort for Sub Pop, I Told You I was Freaky released October 20, 2009.
In 2002 they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time. Returning in 2003, with a new show, they were nominated for the prestigious Perrier Award. They also performed there in 2004.
In 2005, BBC Radio 2 broadcast their first radio series. Largely improvised, it features Rob Brydon as their narrator, Rhys Darby as their manager and Jimmy Carr as a devoted fan called Kipper. Also in 2005, HBO gave the group a special on their Friday night half-hour stand-up comedy series One Night Stand.
Jemaine Clement has appeared in 2006 television commercials for Outback Steakhouse in the U.S. This advertising campaign was launched during Superbowl XL. He also narrates the world famous in New Zealand television commercials for L&P.
The duo currently stars in their award winning television series, also entitled "Flight of the Conchords", which began on the American television channel HBO in June 2007. Its first season had 12 episodes and the second and final season - which began in January 2009 had ten episodes. The show features Rhys Darby as their manager Murray, Kristen Schaal as obsessive fan Mel, Arj Barker as their friend Dave and Eugene Mirman as their landlord.
You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute
Flight of the Conchords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a cold night
Beneath the street lights
There's a man whose pants are too tight
Oh no, his pants are too tight
(My pants are too tight)
He stands there
Trying to make enough money for his cab fare home
He'll have to walk home tonight
(Don't have enough for the ride)
The streets are cruel
He tries to act cool
He goes to work with only his work tool
You can put away your tool, Jermaine
You don't have to be a Prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a man-ho
A male gigalow
You don't have to be a Prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a night-looker, a boy-hooker a rent-boy bro-ho
He cannot see his way out
(I cannot my way out)
He can't see his way out
(Male prostitution seems to be my only option)
He can't see his way out
(I cannot see my way out)
He can't see his way out
No no no no no
He's selling cheap thrills
To pay expensive bills
But check your resume
You must have some other skills
Do you have any other skills
Like typing?
They see him, wanting to please them
Wanting to play him, but they don't even pay him
Oh no no
They don't think he's worth it at all
Though they are no one
He tries to bring them home
Maybe it'd be OK if he lived alone
Ooh you have a roommate, Jermaine
Don't bring them home
You don't have to be a prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a man-ho
A male gigalo
You don't have to be a prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a night-looker,
A boy-hooker a rent-boy bro-pro
Flight of the Conchords's song "You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute" is a comedic take on the difficult decisions individuals may face when struggling to make ends meet. The song tells the story of a man standing beneath the street lights on a cold night with his pants too tight, trying to make enough money for his cab fare home. He turns to male prostitution as a means of paying his expensive bills but feels trapped as he cannot see another way out.
The lyrics are a commentary on the desperation that can occur when individuals feel like they have no other options to make ends meet. While prostitution is still a controversial topic, the song encourages people to seek other means of income rather than resorting to sex work.
The song's catchy chorus emphasizes that individuals have a choice when it comes to their profession and need to be reminded of it. Regardless of how dire their plight may be, they don't have to resort to prostitution as a means of income.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh oh
The situation is not looking good
It's a cold night
The weather is not helping the situation
Beneath the street lights
The setting adds to the gloomy atmosphere
There's a man whose pants are too tight
The man is uncomfortable and possibly desperate
Oh no, his pants are too tight
The tight pants are a real issue
He stands there
He is idle and waiting
An empty stare
He is devoid of hope
Trying to make enough money for his cab fare home
He needs money to leave the situation and get home
He'll have to walk home tonight
Walking home is the only option he has
The streets are cruel
The world can be harsh and unforgiving
He tries to act cool
He is putting on a facade to make money
He goes to work with only his work tool
He has nothing else to offer besides his body
You can put away your tool, Jermaine
You don't have to resort to prostitution, Jermaine
You don't have to be a Prostitute
Prostitution is not the only way to make money
No no no no no
This is a clear message
You can say no to being a man-ho
You can refuse to be a male prostitute
A male gigalow
The same message, but in slang
You don't have to be a Prostitute
Prostitution is not a career path
You can say no to being a night-looker, a boy-hooker a rent-boy bro-ho
You can refuse to be a male prostitute using various slangs.
He cannot see his way out
He is blinded by desperation
(I cannot my way out)
He is trapped in this situation
(Male prostitution seems to be my only option)
He believes he has no other choice but to be a male prostitute
He can't see his way out
He is still stuck in this mindset
(I cannot see my way out)
He reinforces his own belief
No no no no no
The chorus repeats the clear message
He's selling cheap thrills
He is selling his body for very little gain
To pay expensive bills
He is doing it out of necessity
But check your resume
Consider other options and skills you have
You must have some other skills
There are always alternative to prostitution
Like typing?
Possibly a reference to office work, which could be a better alternative
They see him, wanting to please them
The people he is selling to want to use him for their own pleasure
Wanting to play him, but they don't even pay him
The clients do not value his services
They don't think he's worth it at all
This perpetuates the idea that prostitution is not a viable career option
Though they are no one
The people who buy him are nothing special
He tries to bring them home
He is looking for someone to belong to
Maybe it'd be OK if he lived alone
It may be better for him to be alone than to continue selling his body
Ooh you have a roommate, Jermaine
A humorous reminder of his situation
Don't bring them home
Don't continue prostituting yourself, even if you are feeling lonely
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clemfandango7052
One of the best and most meaningful songs ever. Truly inspiring. I gave up prostitution because of this.
@leegibbs5317
I became a prostitute because of this song.
@alka1ine
Yes, we hear you Clem Fandango
@zozsoy
pants were too tight.
@kellyann9347
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@lune78
The way they use influences from other bands in their songs is just genius. Loving the homage to The Police's Roxanne.
@CFox.7
maybe im a genius but as a musician i thought it was the obvious thing to do
@jamesthomas453
If they had tried to be a conventional band I think they would have been huge. Immense talent and feel for a good beat, tune, and melody.
@FatGouf
I mean with a manager like Murray? 😆
@marsneedstowels
Just like Bad Lip Reading.