Premiering in 1969, this educational television show aimed at preschoolers … Read Full Bio ↴Premiering in 1969, this educational television show aimed at preschoolers has charmed generations of youngsters ever since. The show - featuring a lovable cast of characters including Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo, Snuffy, Grover and many others - has delighted and educated children and adults alike, with its collection of songs, skits, and celebrity guest appearances.

I Love Trash
Sesame Street Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I have here a sneaker that's tattered and worn
It's all full of holes and the laces are torn
A gift from my mother the day I was born

I love it because it's trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I have here some newspaper thirteen months old
I wrapped fish inside it; it's smelly and cold
But I wouldn't trade it for a big pot o' gold!
I love it because it's trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash

I've a clock that won't work
And an old telephone
A broken umbrella, a rusty trombone
And I am delighted to call them my own!
I love them because they're trash

Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty

Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love, I love, I love trash!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "I Love Trash" by Sesame Street are all about finding the beauty in things that are usually thrown away or considered useless. The singer is declaring their love for all things dirty, dingy, dusty, ragged, rotten, or rusty, which are typically characteristics of objects that would be tossed aside. The singer then goes on to give examples of objects that they love purely because of their trashy state.

The first example the singer gives is a tattered and worn sneaker that was gifted to them by their mother on the day they were born. The sneaker is full of holes and the laces are torn, but the singer loves it anyway. This example showcases the sentimental value that people can place on objects, even if they are no longer functional.

The singer goes on to talk about a newspaper that is 13 months old and smells like fish, which is again not something that most people would consider valuable. But to the singer, this newspaper is valuable because it was used to wrap fish and has now become trash. The singer wouldn't trade it for a big pot of gold, which is a nod to the idea that one person's trash is another person's treasure.

The last verse mentions a clock that doesn't work, an old telephone, a broken umbrella, and a rusty trombone. Again, these are not items that most people would want to own, but the singer is delighted to call them their own simply because they are trash. This song celebrates the idea of finding value in the things that society has deemed worthless and encourages listeners to embrace their love for all things trash.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I love trash!
I have a deep affection for items that are typically considered to be worthless or unwanted.

Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
I don't discriminate based on the level of filth or damage an object has incurred.

Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
I find beauty in things that are worn out, decaying, or showing signs of neglect.

Yes, I love trash
I am unapologetically proud of my appreciation for trash and the special value it holds in my life.

I have here a sneaker that's tattered and worn
I possess a shoe that has experienced a great deal of use and is very damaged.

It's all full of holes and the laces are torn
The shoe is in poor condition, with many parts suffering from damage or disrepair.

A gift from my mother the day I was born
This sentimental item was given to me by my mother, commemorating my birth.

I love it because it's trash
Despite its poor condition, I have grown to love this object because of its sentimental importance and status as trash.

I have here some newspaper thirteen months old
In my possession is a newspaper that is over a year old.

I wrapped fish inside it; it's smelly and cold
I used the newspaper to wrap up a fish, causing it to become dirty and unpleasant smelling.

But I wouldn't trade it for a big pot o' gold!
Despite its unpleasantness, I value this newspaper so highly that I would not exchange it for a large sum of money.

I love it because it's trash
Once again, my love for an item is based on its worthlessness and unique character as trash.

I've a clock that won't work
Another one of my cherished possessions is a clock that is not functional.

And an old telephone
I also have an outdated telephone that can no longer be used for communication.

A broken umbrella, a rusty trombone
In addition to these items, I also treasure a broken umbrella and a trombone covered in rust.

And I am delighted to call them my own!
I am extremely happy to own these trash items, as they bring me a unique sense of joy and fulfillment.

I love them because they're trash
As with all of my cherished items, the fact that they are considered to be trash is the main reason why I love them so much.

Oh, I love, I love, I love trash!
Once again, I enthusiastically express my love and appreciation for all things trashy.

Lyrics © FESTIVAL ATTRACTIONS INC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEFF MOSS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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