Dirty Cartoons
Menomena Lyrics


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Go home, I'd like to
Stumble to bed and lay beside you
Until we're even or romantically bored,
Whichever comes first

Go home, I'm trying
But I've been misled by dirty cartoons
You'll keep me honest for old time's sake
I'm begging of you, go home, go home

(I'd like to) go home

I've mined the graveyard of unpublished poems
You should be so lucky
Considers the meaning and shrug it right off
You'll only encourage me

(I'd like to) go home





I like to go home

Overall Meaning

The song "Dirty Cartoons" by Menomena is a melancholy meditation on loneliness and self-deception. The verses are addressed to an unnamed listener, whom the singer implores to leave so he can finally go home and be alone with his thoughts. He admits to being "misled by dirty cartoons," perhaps a metaphor for the way our obsessions and temptations distract us from achieving our goals. Yet he also acknowledges the comfort and intimacy of having someone beside him: "Until we're even or romantically bored, / Whichever comes first."


The chorus ("Go home, go home") can be read in several different ways: as a command to the listener, as a message to himself, or as a plea for both parties to escape their sense of futility and start fresh. The refrain "I'd like to go home" takes on a haunting quality, repeating over and over like a mantra or a desperate wish. The bridge hints at a creative frustration, with the singer admitting to having "mined the graveyard of unpublished poems." He craves validation but also wishes to be left alone to pursue his ideas. Overall, "Dirty Cartoons" is a poignant and introspective song about the complexities of human connection and creativity.


Line by Line Meaning

Go home, I'd like to
I want to go home and be with you


Stumble to bed and lay beside you
I want to crawl into bed beside you


Until we're even or romantically bored,
Until we're both satisfied or feel like it's enough


Whichever comes first
Whatever happens first


Go home, I'm trying
I'm trying to go home


But I've been misled by dirty cartoons
But I got distracted by watching pornographic cartoons


You'll keep me honest for old time's sake
To keep me truthful like you always have done


I'm begging of you, go home, go home
I'm pleading with you to leave so I can go home


(I'd like to) go home
I want to go home


I've mined the graveyard of unpublished poems
I've looked through all my old unpublished writings


You should be so lucky
You should count yourself fortunate


Considers the meaning and shrug it right off
I acknowledge the significance but dismiss it quickly


You'll only encourage me
You will inspire and support me




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brent Knopf, Daniel Frederic Seim, Justin Andrew Harris

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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