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.

They Write Books About This Sort of Thing
Say Hi To Your Mom Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Her pretty noises
Can you turn them down
I think that I'm dying
Do you want to go out?

Because we can play some pac-man
Or go to the library
We can order some pat thai

Without the MSG

And they write books about this sort of thing
And they write books about this sort of thing
Yeah, they write books about this sort of thing

Closed captioned heartbeats
Spell thump five letters long
I think she's gone to Nashville
She don't care for my songs

And if my heart hadn't withered
Then perhaps I'd track her down
But I've got a lot to stew on
So I guess I'll hang around

And they write books about this sort of thing

And they write books about this sort of thing
Yeah, they write books about this sort of thing

Overall Meaning

The song "They Write Books About This Sort of Thing" by Say Hi To Your Mom explores the feeling of being lost or disconnected in a relationship. The verse "Her pretty noises, can you turn them down, I think that I'm dying, do you want to go out?" depicts the singer's discomfort with his partner's actions or behavior, and his desire to leave the situation. The following lines suggest several options for escape, such as playing Pac-Man or going to the library, indicating a lack of direction or purpose in the relationship. The chorus, "And they write books about this sort of thing, and they write books about this sort of thing," emphasizes the universality of this emotion and the common human experience of feeling lost in love.

The second verse continues to explore the singer's sense of isolation, with the line "Closed captioned heartbeats, spell thump five letters long" suggesting a disconnect between the heart and the mind. The following lines reveal that the singer's partner has left him and gone to Nashville, indicating a lack of connection between the two individuals. Despite this, the singer remains unsure of whether he wants to track her down, as he still has "a lot to stew on." The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the enduring, cyclical nature of this feeling, and the sense that it is a universal part of the human experience.

Overall, "They Write Books About This Sort of Thing" is a poignant meditation on the complexities and ambiguities of love and relationships. The song captures the uncertainty and confusion that can accompany romantic feelings, while also highlighting the beauty and universality of this experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Her pretty noises
Referring to the sound of the woman's voice, which is attractive to the singer

Can you turn them down
Asking to lower the volume of the woman's voice, possibly due to overwhelming emotions

I think that I'm dying
Expressing the feeling of being overwhelmed or intensely emotional

Do you want to go out?
Asking to leave the current environment

Because we can play some pac-man
Offering to engage in a nostalgic activity to distract from intense emotions

Or go to the library
Offering to engage in a quiet activity to distract from intense emotions

We can order some pat thai
Offering to share a meal together, possibly as a comfort or distraction from intense emotions

Without the MSG
Expressing a preference for a healthier or more natural option

And they write books about this sort of thing
Reflecting on how common and universal intense emotions, heartbreak, and distractions are

Closed captioned heartbeats
Describing the artist's intense emotions as visible or audible to others

Spell thump five letters long
Metaphorically describing the sound and feeling of heartbreak or intense emotions

I think she's gone to Nashville
Reflecting on the woman's absence or emotional distance

She don't care for my songs
Acknowledging a lack of mutual feelings or interests

And if my heart hadn't withered
Imagining a different outcome or expressing regret

Then perhaps I'd track her down
Considering taking action to pursue the woman, if circumstances were different

But I've got a lot to stew on
Acknowledging a need for personal reflection and emotional processing

So I guess I'll hang around
Choosing to stay in the current environment, but with a sense of uncertainty or dissatisfaction

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric Elbogen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Gregory Watson

4y↑4

there's something about this song that's just so.... human. somewhere in the liminal space between happiness and sadness. and such is life. beautiful.

Say Hi

Thank you! Nice of you to say!

Sal O.

6y↑2

My favorite song of the 21st century!
Thanks for all the work you put into these YouTube uploads. They sound great! (Also, I really appreciate the lyrics!)
Love your music and I can't say thanks enough.