2002-present

Say Hi To Your Mom (presently Say Hi) is a … Read Full Bio ↴2002-present

Say Hi To Your Mom (presently Say Hi) is a Seattle-based, indie-pop/lo-fi rock group. Formed by Eric Elbogen in Brooklyn 2002, Say Hi's albums are mostly recorded at Elbogen's home, with him playing a majority of the instruments and providing vocals.

On tour, friends accompany Elbogen as his backing band.

Their fourth release, Impeccable Blahs, was written almost entirely about vampires, though Star Trek is also mentioned. The song "Angels and Darlas" is a reference to Angel and Darla from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel both created by Joss Whedon.

With the release of their fifth album The Wishes and the Glitch, the band shortened their name to "Say Hi".This was done because the earlier name reflected an aesthetic that no longer matched the band's tastes.

Elbogen's lyrics are noted as being one of the band's strengths.

The Fritz
Say Hi To Your Mom Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The computer is on the fritz
I got a million hits, yeah
Somebody aimed for the door
Somebody called for the whore

Until the mainframe breaks again
And the good guys get the better
And take the pill if and only when

Well, the missions coming to its end

Don't anybody sneeze
Their guns filled with bees
We better make up and foot static
Cause it will get us to where we need to go

Until the mainframe breaks again
And the good guys get the better
And take the pill if and only when
Well, the missions coming to its end

Look out now

Overall Meaning

"The Fritz" by Say Hi To Your Mom is a song that is interestingly cryptic and leaves a lot up to interpretation but it is clear that it is dealing with the theme of technology and its consequences. The first verse seems to be a commentary on the power and potential downfalls of the internet. The line "The computer is on the fritz" suggests that something has gone wrong with the technology, but rather than being concerned or frustrated, the singer is excited by the "million hits" they are receiving. This may be seen as a metaphor for the internet's transformative power in society, but those same changes can bring negative effects. The following lines "Somebody aimed for the door, somebody called for the whore" are possibly alluding to the darker corners of the internet where people can anonymously indulge in harmful activities or the exploitation of vulnerable people.

The chorus of the song repeats the line "Until the mainframe breaks again" which suggests the idea that despite improvements and advances in technology, there will always be flaws and setbacks. The singer of the song is almost rooting for the downfall of the computer system, suggesting that it'll be a victory for the "good guys", but at the same time the lyrics of the chorus tell people to take the pill only when necessary, which could represent the idea of people being over reliant on technology or needing medication to deal with the negative effects of it.

The second verse of the song appears to be a warning of the increasingly militaristic capabilities of technology. The line "Their guns filled with bees" suggests that the instruments of warfare are becoming almost unnecessarily intense, amplifying the danger and potential for harm. The last line of the verse "we better make up and foot static cause it will get us to where we need to go" implies that despite the risks and negative elements that come with technology, it is still the best way to achieve their goal. The song ends with the phrase "look out now", giving the impression that the singer or band is taking an ironic approach to the situation, aware of what is coming and whether or not society is ready for it.

Line by Line Meaning

The computer is on the fritz
The computer is malfunctioning and not working properly

I got a million hits, yeah
I received many views or attention

Somebody aimed for the door
Someone shot or targeted the door

Somebody called for the whore
Someone yelled for the prostitute

Until the mainframe breaks again
Until the computer system fails again

And the good guys get the better
When the heroes are victorious

And take the pill if and only when
And only take the medication when necessary

Well, the missions coming to its end
The mission is nearly complete

Don't anybody sneeze
Don't anybody make a sound or disturbance

Their guns filled with bees
Their weapons have ammunition that is made of bees

We better make up and foot static
We should resolve our issues and move forward