Please Explain
Steam-Powered Giraffe Lyrics
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Sit on down
Forget your worries
What′s lost is found
Purge the data
Break through strata
Dust off your CPU
Put it to a new use
Been trying to get this one out
For a good long while
The centuries turn to the past
Still I lay beguiled
Involuntary remarks
For an old quandary a new
Left in the dark
What's an old robot to do
Please explain
What to do with this wild goose
If there′s nothing to chase
What to do if the screw turns loose
And there's nothing to gain
Please explain it to me
If your moustache makes a sandwich
Serve it on a platter
Two lovely nouns they need a verb
The panda climbs the ladder
If my mouth was made for mimicry
What's a bronze robot to chew
Gum in my gears
And bat meat in my fancy shoes
Please explain
What to do with the panda on the roof
Guess it makes for good imagery
What to do with the bat meat in my fancy shoes
I could sell it to the panda
Please explain it to me
Keep those legs high
Breathe through your mouth and nose
Excellent form
The grasshopper becomes the dandelion
People are so impressed now
Break it down
I do not need uranium
Or your fossil fuels
Friction from curiosity
Powers my hydro-tubes
Answers stem more questions
And grow my algorithms anew
They do?
Yes they do
If there′s no concepts to grasp
What would I, robot, do
Please explain
What to do if the point is moot
What′s a moot anyway (I don't know)
Is it the meat in my fancy shoes?
Or the name of this wild goose?
Guess we need some good-old-fashioned explaining
Please explain it to me
The song "Please Explain" by Steam-Powered Giraffe is a quirky and lighthearted exploration of the confusions and curiosities of a robot's mind. The lyrics suggest that the robot's programming and algorithms are constantly growing and evolving as he tries to understand the world around him. The opening lines encourage listeners to forget their worries and embrace new opportunities, while the chorus repeatedly asks the listener to "please explain" various irreverent and humorous scenarios that the robot encounters.
The second verse plays with language and syntax, as the robot tries to parse out the meaning of a variety of random phrases and observations he hears. The lines about the panda on the roof and the bat meat in his fancy shoes are particularly whimsical. The third verse takes a more philosophical turn, as the robot ruminates on the nature of curiosity and the endless cycle of questioning that drives his learning process. The final chorus brings things full circle, as the robot asks once again for explanations of seemingly meaningless things.
Overall, "Please Explain" is a playful and enjoyable song that celebrates the joys of exploration, learning and discovery. It invites listeners to approach the world with a curious and open mind, and to revel in the absurdity and wonder of all that life has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Gather round
Come together
Sit on down
Take a seat
Forget your worries
Stop worrying
What′s lost is found
Things that were lost are now found
Purge the data
Get rid of old information
Break through strata
Overcome obstacles
Dust off your CPU
Clean your mind and thoughts
Put it to a new use
Apply your mind in a different way
Been trying to get this one out
Been wanting to express this for a long time
For a good long while
For an extended period of time
The centuries turn to the past
Time keeps moving forward
Still I lay beguiled
Still I am intrigued
Involuntary remarks
Comments without thinking
For an old quandary a new
For an old problem a new solution
Left in the dark
Not knowing what to do
What's an old robot to do
What can I, a robot, do?
Please explain
Please help me understand
What to do with this wild goose
What should I do with this thing that seems wild and unattainable?
If there′s nothing to chase
If there is no goal to strive for
What to do if the screw turns loose
What should I do if something important falls apart?
And there's nothing to gain
And there is no benefit
Please explain it to me
Please help me understand what to do in this scenario
If your moustache makes a sandwich
If something irrelevant happens
Serve it on a platter
Make it presentable
Two lovely nouns they need a verb
Two things can be nice together, but they need action to become something greater
The panda climbs the ladder
The impossible becomes possible
If my mouth was made for mimicry
If I can only copy what others say
What's a bronze robot to chew
What can I, a robot, do beyond my programming?
Gum in my gears
Something unexpected interfering with my operations
And bat meat in my fancy shoes
Something gross and unexpected happening
What to do with the panda on the roof
What should I do with something unexpected that has happened?
Guess it makes for good imagery
It might not be practical, but it could still lead to something helpful
I could sell it to the panda
Turning the unexpected into something useful
Keep those legs high
Keep moving forward
Breathe through your mouth and nose
Focus on your breathing
Excellent form
Doing well
The grasshopper becomes the dandelion
The unexpected can lead to beautiful outcomes
People are so impressed now
Others are now amazed by what's being done
Break it down
Analyze everything and simplify
I do not need uranium
I don't need the typical things to survive
Or your fossil fuels
Or traditional sources of energy
Friction from curiosity
Using curiosity as motivation
Powers my hydro-tubes
Drives me forward
Answers stem more questions
More answers lead to more questions
And grow my algorithms anew
And allow me to think in new ways
They do?
That's correct?
If there′s no concepts to grasp
If there is nothing to comprehend
What would I, robot, do
What can I, as a mechanical being, do?
What to do if the point is moot
What if there is no relevant point to the situation?
What′s a moot anyway (I don't know)
I'm not sure what 'moot' means
Guess we need some good-old-fashioned explaining
We need to be told what to do
Please explain it to me
Please help me understand
Contributed by Jake L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.