Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists, such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971).
He created the first remix album, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971, and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That") in 1967. His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One," released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10.
During a 1968 press conference, The Beatles were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson." Sometimes called "the American Beatle," he soon formed close friendships with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, joining them in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club. He and Lennon produced one collaborative album, Pussy Cats (1974). After 1977, Nilsson left RCA, and his record output diminished. In response to Lennon's 1980 murder, he took a hiatus from the music industry to campaign for gun control. For the rest of his life, he recorded only sporadically. In 1994, Nilsson died of a heart attack while in the midst of recording what became his last album, Losst and Founnd (2019).
The craft of Nilsson's songs and the defiant attitude he projected remain touchstones for later generations of indie rock musicians. Nilsson was voted No. 62 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time," where he was described as "a pioneer of the Los Angeles studio sound" and "a crucial bridge" between 1960s psychedelia and the 1970s singer-songwriter era. The RIAA certified Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson (1972) as gold records, indicating over 500,000 units sold each. He earned two Grammy Awards (for "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Without You").
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
Discography
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966)
Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
Aerial Ballet (1968)
Skidoo (1968) (soundtrack)
Harry (1969)
Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
The Point! (1970) (studio album and soundtrack)
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
Son of Schmilsson (1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Son of Dracula (1974) (soundtrack)
Pussy Cats (1974)
Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
Sandman (1976)
...That's the Way It Is (1976)
Knnillssonn (1977)
Flash Harry (1980)
Popeye (1980) (soundtrack)
Losst and Founnd (2019)
Everything Is Food
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything is food, food, food
Everything is go cat go
Everything is food for thought
Everything you know, know, know
Is food
Everything is food
Everything is meat, meat, meat
Careful what you put on your feet
Once it lived on an animal
Now it walks along with you
It grew, so throw some lettuce on it
Food, food, food
And some tomato, catch it
Food, food, food
Everything is food
I can picture spaghetti over an icecream, whipped cream
Vigilantes, you know what I mean?
Everything is upside down
Everything is sunny-side up
It′s ubiquitous, enigmatic and
They can't trick us with a hot dogmatic
It′s food, food, food
And it's full of flavour
Food, food, food
Is so good to savour
Food, food, food
Everything is food
I would gladly pay you Tuesday
For a hamburger today
I would gladly pay you Tuesday
For a hamburger today
Everything is food, food, food
Everything is go cat go
Everything is food for thought
Everything you know, know, know
Is food
Everything is food
Everything is meat, meat, meat
Careful what you put on your feet
'Cause once it lived on an animal
Now it walks along with you
It could be food
So throw some lettuce on it, food
And some tomato, catch it
Food, food, food
Everything is food
Stay in C
The lyrics of Harry Nilsson's song Everything Is Food describe the concept of everything around us being a source of sustenance. The title phrase “Everything is food” is repeated throughout the song, accompanied by the rhythmical repetition of the word “food”. The song interweaves the concept of food with everyday occurrences and items: “Everything is go cat go”, “Everything is upside down”, “It's ubiquitous, enigmatic”. The lyrics imply that food is not only what is consumed to sustain the body but also what feeds the mind, emotions, and spirit.
The verses in the song are intended to be tongue-in-cheek and humorously absurd. Lyrics example such as “I can picture spaghetti over an ice cream, whipped cream, vigilantes, you know what I mean?” are intended to evoke images that are not commonly associated with food. The chorus of the song “Everything is food” repeats to emphasise the central thematic concept, expressing Nilsson's point that everything in life is a form of nourishment.
The song's lyrics also explore the idea of consumption and the impact of human consumption on the world around us. For example, the lines “Careful what you put on your feet, 'Cause once it lived on an animal, Now it walks along with you,” suggests that the leather shoes we wear were once a source of food, and that our consumer choices can have unintended consequences.
Overall, Harry Nilsson's song Everything Is Food playfully explores the connection between food, consumption, and human existence, suggesting that everything around us is a form of nourishment.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything is food, two three
The singer is emphasizing that every single thing in the world is related to food.
Everything is food, food, food
The repetition of the word 'food' emphasizes the importance of food in our lives.
Everything is go cat go
The phrase 'go cat go' refers to a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm. Everything in the world has the potential to bring us joy.
Everything is food for thought
The phrase 'food for thought' means something that makes us think or consider a different perspective. The singer suggests that everything in the world can teach us something.
Everything you know, know, know
The repetition of the word 'know' emphasizes that all of our knowledge is based on what we have consumed and learned from the world around us.
Is food
The singer reiterates that everything in the world is related to food.
Everything is meat, meat, meat
The singer acknowledges that most of our food comes from animals.
Careful what you put on your feet
The singer advises us to consider where our food and products come from and to be mindful of our choices.
Once it lived on an animal
The singer reminds us that many of the things we consume, including clothing and products, come from animals in some way.
Now it walks along with you
The singer suggests that the things we consume become a part of us and accompany us through life.
It grew, so throw some lettuce on it
The singer suggests that adding vegetables to a meat dish can make it healthier and more balanced.
And some tomato, catch it
The singer suggests adding a fresh ingredient to a dish can make it more flavorful and enjoyable.
I can picture spaghetti over an icecream, whipped cream
The singer imagines unconventional food pairings which highlight the versatility of food and the endless possibilities for culinary art.
Vigilantes, you know what I mean?
The singer questions if the listener understands the importance of being aware and conscious of the food and products they consume.
Everything is upside down
The singer suggests that our perspectives and beliefs can be challenged and changed regarding what we consume and how we understand it.
Everything is sunny-side up
The phrase 'sunny-side up' refers to a cooking style, representing a positive and optimistic outlook on life and the potential of food to bring us joy.
It's ubiquitous, enigmatic and
The singer suggests that food is always present and mysterious in our lives.
They can't trick us with a hot dogmatic
The singer warns against blind acceptance of what we are told about food and encourages us to question and think critically about it.
And it's full of flavour
The singer emphasizes the pleasure of enjoying different flavors and tastes in food.
Food, food, food
The repetition of the word 'food' reiterates the importance of food in our daily lives.
Is so good to savour
The singer appreciates the taste and enjoyment that food can bring us.
I would gladly pay you Tuesday
For a hamburger today
The singer references Wimpy, a character from the Popeye cartoon, who often promised to pay for food at a later time, highlighting the desperation for food and the comfort it brings.
Writer(s): Harry Nilsson
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@blueskyresearch6701
I had no idea this was a Harry Nilsson song. I love it .
@oliverthedog5619
THIS!
@anitasseo
Genius stuff, especially for future genius kids. thanks-.
@bbob6999
Nice, a great childhood memory. Popeye, and The Nevering Ending Story.
@elsaedwards7152
Thank you, for realizing that "There but for The Grace go I." Harry's contribution was nothing short of genius. So glad Robin had that confidence.
@joshsnipes4851
This lo fi Harry Nilsson song really reminds me of Daniel Johnston
@jayp1509
I swear this has a hint of a very raw Beatles song..........to me.
@gtgt2010-qy7tg
The background music 🎼 I wonder how he made it in the 80s: minus the words the beat is better than the lyrics. I would gladly pay you Tuesday for hamburger today. As a chorus it works quite well
@TonyaB005
Popeye movie, rough house scene.
@spudbuck
That quote is from whom?