Re: Your Brains
The Whiffenpoofs Lyrics


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Heya Tom, it's Bob,
From the office down the hall.
Good to see you buddy,
How've ya been?
Things have been okay for me,
Except that I'm a zombie now.
Really wish that you would let us in.
I think I speak for all of us when I say I understand
Why you folks might hesitate to submit to our demands,
But here's an FYI - you're all gonna die, screaming.

All we wanna do is eat your brains
We're not unreasonable,
I mean no-one's gonna eat your eyes
All we wanna do is eat your brains
We're at an impasse here,
Maybe we should compromise.
if you open up the doors,
We'll all come inside and eat your brains.

I don't wanna nitpick Tom, but is this really your plan -
Spend your whole life locked inside a mall?
Maybe that's okay for now,
But someday you'll be out of food and guns,
And you'll have to make the call.
I'm not surprised to see you haven't thought it through enough -
You never had the head for all that 'bigger picture' stuff.
But Tom, that's what I do,
And I plan on eating you, slowly.

All we wanna do is eat your brains
We're not unreasonable,
I mean no-one's gonna eat your eyes
All we wanna do is eat your brains
We're at an impasse here
Maybe we should compromise
if you Open up the doors,
We'll all come inside and eat your brains

I'd like to help you Tom,
In any way I can.
I sure appreciate the way you're working with me.
I'm not a monster Tom - well, technically I am... I guess I am...

I've got another meeting Tom;
Maybe we could wrap it up.
I know we'll get to common ground somehow.
Meanwhile I'll report back to my colleagues,
Who are chewing on the doors.
I guess we'll table this for now.
I'm glad to see you take constructive criticism well
Thank you for your time, I know we're all busy as hell.
And we'll put this thing to bed,
When I bash your head open.

All we wanna do is eat your brains
All we wanna do is eat your brains
All we wanna do is eat your brains




We're not unreasonable,
I mean no-one's gonna eat your eyes

Overall Meaning

The Whiffenpoofs's song "Re: Your Brains" is a clever and humorous take on the zombie apocalypse. The song is a conversation between two former colleagues, Tom and Bob, with Bob revealing that he has turned into a zombie and is part of a group of zombies that want to eat Tom's brains. Bob tries to reason with Tom, assuring him that they are not unreasonable and only want to eat his brains. The song plays with the classic horror trope of the undead craving brains while also poking fun at office culture and corporate jargon.


The song's upbeat and catchy melody and witty lyrics make it a crowd-pleaser, and it has gained a cult following, particularly among fans of zombie stories and pop-culture. Interestingly, the song was originally written by Jonathan Coulton, a musician, game designer, and internet personality known for his satirical and geeky songs. Coulton wrote the song for the video game Left 4 Dead 2 and later released it on his album "Thing a Week Three," where it became an instant hit. The Whiffenpoofs, an a cappella group made up of Yale University students, later covered the song and performed it at various events and concerts.


Line by Line Meaning

Heya Tom, it's Bob, From the office down the hall.
Bob greets Tom, who is in a different office down the hall.


Good to see you buddy, How've ya been?
Bob is happy to see Tom and wants to know how he is doing.


Things have been okay for me, Except that I'm a zombie now.
Bob explains that he has turned into a zombie, which is the only problem he has.


Really wish that you would let us in.
Bob wants Tom to let the other zombies in the office building.


I think I speak for all of us when I say I understand Why you folks might hesitate to submit to our demands,
Bob acknowledges that Tom and others might be afraid to let them in due to their zombie status and demands.


But here's an FYI - you're all gonna die, screaming.
Bob warns Tom and others that they will die a horrible death if they refuse to let them in.


All we wanna do is eat your brains We're not unreasonable, I mean no-one's gonna eat your eyes
Bob clarifies that they only want to eat their brains, not their eyes and they are not being unreasonable.


We're at an impasse here, Maybe we should compromise. if you open up the doors, We'll all come inside and eat your brains.
Since they cannot reach an agreement, Bob suggests compromising and coming in to eat their brains once they have opened the doors.


I don't wanna nitpick Tom, but is this really your plan - Spend your whole life locked inside a mall?
Bob questions Tom's plan of living inside a mall indefinitely.


Maybe that's okay for now, But someday you'll be out of food and guns, And you'll have to make the call.
Bob points out that while living inside a mall might be a temporary solution, they will eventually run out of resources and have to leave.


I'm not surprised to see you haven't thought it through enough - You never had the head for all that 'bigger picture' stuff.
Bob is not surprised that Tom has not figured out a long-term solution as he is not good with thinking about bigger picture stuff.


But Tom, that's what I do, And I plan on eating you, slowly.
Bob reveals that he excels at thinking about bigger picture stuff and he plans on eating Tom slowly.


I'd like to help you Tom, In any way I can.
Bob offers to help Tom in any way possible.


I sure appreciate the way you're working with me.
Bob appreciates Tom's willingness to work with him.


I'm not a monster Tom - well, technically I am... I guess I am...
Bob tries to convince Tom that he is not a monster, but ultimately admits that he is a zombie and, in a way, a monster.


I've got another meeting Tom; Maybe we could wrap it up.
Bob has to attend another meeting and suggests wrapping up the conversation with Tom.


I know we'll get to common ground somehow. Meanwhile I'll report back to my colleagues, Who are chewing on the doors.
Bob is confident they will reach a mutual understanding eventually but has to report back to his colleagues who are currently trying to get in by chewing on the doors.


I guess we'll table this for now. I'm glad to see you take constructive criticism well Thank you for your time, I know we're all busy as hell. And we'll put this thing to bed, When I bash your head open.
Bob decides to postpone the conversation for now and thanks Tom for taking the criticism well. However, he threatens to kill Tom by bashing his head open later.


All we wanna do is eat your brains
Bob reiterates that the main goal of zombies is to eat brains.




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