The Tape-beatles (aka Public Works) are a multi-media group from Iowa City,… Read Full Bio ↴The Tape-beatles (aka Public Works) are a multi-media group from Iowa City, IO[/placeformed that formed in December 1986. Its members include [artist]Lloyd Dunn, John Heck, Paul Neff, and Ralph Johnson. Beginning with analog tape recorders, and later expanding to include digital technology and film media, the group has used collage techniques to create works that challenge the notion of intellectual property. Their works make extensive use of materials appropriated from various sources through a process they call "Plagiarism®". The Tape-beatles’ body of work consists mainly of music and audio art recordings, ‘expanded' and 'performed' cinema performances, videos, printed publications, and works in other media. They work under the umbrella organization called Public Works Productions.

Members of the Tape-beatles currently include as of this writing Lloyd Dunn and John Heck. Former or occasional members of the group include Linda Morgan Brown, Chuck Hollister, Ralph Johnson, and Paul Neff.

The group's initial focus was to create music that made use of techniques borrowed from musique concrète, but applied to a popular music context. To this end, they eschewed conventional musical instruments, instead contending that tape recording and the recording studio itself was their 'instrument'.

The Tape-beatles, who then consisted of Dunn, Heck and Johnson, put out their first major work, A subtle buoyancy of pulse, in 1988. In keeping with the tape aesthetic, the work was available only on cassette (until being reissued 10 years later on CD by Staalplaat, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). Public response was sufficiently favorable that the group began immediate work on a new album, adding two new members along the way: Paul Neff and Linda Morgan Brown.

Sing Sing Sing
The Tape-beatles Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell me that you've got everything you want
And your bird can sing
But you don't get me
You don't get me

You say you've seen seven wonders
And you bird is green
But you can't see me

You can't see me

When your prized possessions
Start to weigh you down
Look in my direction
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round

When your bird is broken
Will it bring you down?
You may be awoken
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round

You tell me that you've heard every sound there is
And your bird can swing

But you can't hear me
You can't hear me

Overall Meaning

The Tape-beatles's song Sing sing sing is a beautifully crafted song that speaks to the hearts of those who have been underestimated, misunderstood or overlooked. The song speaks about the situation where the singer is feeling neglected by the one they love. The singer seems to be upset that the one they are interested in has everything they want, including a beautiful bird that can sing. The singer then says, "But you don't get me, you don't get me." This line speaks to the idea that the singer is feeling misunderstood or overlooked by the one they love.

The singer then goes on to speak about how the person they are interested in has seen seven wonders and has a bird that is green. This could speak to the fact that the singer is dealing with someone who has seen the world, has worldly possessions and worldly wealth, but does not seem to see or understand the singer, which is what the singer really wants. The singer says, "But you can't see me, you can't see me."

In the chorus, the singer speaks to the fact that when the person they are interested in is weighed down by their possessions, they can look in the singer's direction because they will be around. However, when the person's bird is broken, which could represent something that is very important to them, the person may be awoken, but the singer will still be around.

The singer concludes by saying that the person they are interested in tells them that they have heard every sound there is and that their bird can swing, but the person cannot hear the singer. This is a metaphorical way of saying that although the person has worldly possessions and seems to have everything they could want, they cannot hear or understand what the singer is saying or feeling.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me that you've got everything you want
Ask me to believe that you've achieved all your desires

And your bird can sing
You have a perfect life and everything is going well for you

But you don't get me
You don't understand me and my struggles

You don't get me
You don't understand my viewpoint and challenges

You say you've seen seven wonders
You claim to have witnessed marvels of the world

And you bird is green
Your life is peaceful and harmonious

But you can't see me
You are shortsighted and unaware of my presence

You can't see me
You neglect me, you don't pay attention to me

When your prized possessions
When your valuable possessions

Start to weigh you down
Become a burden on you

Look in my direction
Seek my help and guidance