The band tour the U.S. frequently in a renovated vintage Green Tortoise bus, and their live performances have featured puppet shows, pseudo-scientific scholarly presentations, and performances by members of the Butoh group inkBoat. SGM's music has been categorized as anything from avant-prog to art rock to experimental metal to RIO (Rock In Opposition). Many reviewers have remarked that the group is altogether unclassifiable.
The band uses many homemade devices as instruments, such as the viking row-boat and the spring-nail guitar. Rathbun plays a stringed bass instrument of his own construction called The Log which uses piano strings and is perhaps 7 feet long; it is played with two sticks: one in the left hand generally used as a fret, another in the right hand striking the strings. Mellender's percussion instruments consist of restaurant kitchen equipment, trash can lids, and other "found" metal objects, in addition to traditional percussion instruments.
They've announced their imminent end, as their last concerts will be held early April around California. But 2011 will still see a new album, a movie and a live DVD.
Baby Doctor
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thank you Thank you Babydoctor
Babydoctor Thank you
And you count out the years you have been here in this foreign land
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Fourteen years Here Jalal Jalal Babydoctor
And you count out the years you've been deprived of your hand
Thirteen years Stroke
Staggering walker it takes you two lights to cross the street
Traffic is backed-up here at the place where the cars and people meet
The very fast and the very slow
Beg for a ride and choke out a stream of words as I drive
A mantra of thanks and counting out years that buries me alive
In the light of your humble and proud handful of mispronounced words
And I fall to my knees in the shade of a tree and cry Thank you
I look into the sun until it blinds me
I look into the sun until I go blind
I am raped by the light of the light until I am the son of the sun
I am replaced
Hail and praise the all-seeing eye of Pelton & Crane
I open my mouth to the all-seeing eye of Pelton & Crane
Pelton & Crane I am replaced
Thank you
The song "Baby Doctor" by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is a tribute to a doctor, referred to as "Babydoctor," who has been working in a foreign land for fourteen years. The lyrics highlight the doctor's dedication to his work and his perseverance in the face of physical challenges. The counting of years he has spent in this foreign land and the years he has been deprived of his hand due to a stroke emphasizes his long-standing commitment to his profession.
The song also references the physical hardships the doctor faces on a daily basis, such as using a staggering walker to cross the street and the struggles of navigating through traffic. The repetition of "Thank you" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's appreciation for the doctor's efforts and sacrifices. The repetition also underlines the importance of expressing gratitude and recognizing the contributions of those who help others.
The final lines of the song take on a more surreal and ambiguous meaning with the mention of staring at the sun until one goes blind and being "raped by the light of the light." The reference to Pelton & Crane, a company that specializes in dental equipment, adds to the surreal nature of the lyrics. The ultimate message seems to be a commentary on the transformative power of dedicating oneself to a profession or a cause, even if it means facing physical and emotional challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank you Thank you Babydoctor
Expressing gratitude to the Babydoctor
Babydoctor Thank you
Further expression of gratitude to the Babydoctor
And you count out the years you have been here in this foreign land
The Babydoctor is counting the number of years spent in this unfamiliar location
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Actual counting of years, up to thirteen years
Fourteen years Here Jalal Jalal Babydoctor
Fourteen total years spent here, and the name Jalal is mentioned
And you count out the years you've been deprived of your hand
The Babydoctor is now counting the number of years spent without the use of their hand
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Actual counting of years, up to twelve years
Thirteen years Stroke
13 years spent without use of hand due to a stroke
Staggering walker it takes you two lights to cross the street
The Babydoctor walks unsteadily and requires two sets of traffic signals to cross the street
Traffic is backed-up here at the place where the cars and people meet
Heavy congestion at the intersection of cars and pedestrians
The very fast and the very slow
Both fast and slow-moving individuals present
Beg for a ride and choke out a stream of words as I drive
People asking for a ride and talking nonstop as the singer drives
A mantra of thanks and counting out years that buries me alive
The constant repetition of gratitude and time counting is overwhelming the singer
In the light of your humble and proud handful of mispronounced words
Despite mispronunciations, the Babydoctor speaks with both humility and pride
And I fall to my knees in the shade of a tree and cry Thank you
The singer becomes emotional and expresses gratitude while in the shade of a tree
I look into the sun until it blinds me
The singer gazes at the sun until it causes temporary blindness
I look into the sun until I go blind
Repeating the previous line
I am raped by the light of the light until I am the son of the sun
Metaphoric language describing the intense and overwhelming nature of the sun's light
I am replaced
The singer feels replaced or transformed by the sun
Hail and praise the all-seeing eye of Pelton & Crane
Calling attention to the all-seeing aspect of a dental equipment manufacturer
I open my mouth to the all-seeing eye of Pelton & Crane
The singer is open to the equipment and its capabilities
Pelton & Crane I am replaced
The singer feels transformed or replaced by the equipment
Thank you
Closing gratitude expression
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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