Meet James Ensor
They Might Be Giants Lyrics
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Belgium's famous painter
Dig him up and shake his hand
Appreciate the man
Before there were junk stores
Before there was junk
He lived with his mother and the torments of ChristThe world was transformed
A crowd gathered round
Pressed against his window so they could be the first
To meet James Ensor
Belgium's famous painter
Raise a glass and sit and stare
Understand the man
He lost all his friends
He didn't need his friends
He lived with his mother and repeated himself
The world has forgotten
The world moved along
The crowd at his window went back to their homes
Meet James Ensor
Meet James Ensor
Belgium's famous painter
Dig him up and shake his hand
Appreciate the man
The song "Meet James Ensor" by They Might Be Giants is an homage to the Belgian painter James Ensor, who is known for his satirical and fantastical works. The first verse of the song urges the listener to "dig him up and shake his hand / Appreciate the man", emphasizing Ensor's importance as an artist and cultural figure. The second verse describes Ensor's life before he became famous, living with his mother and the "torments of Christ". The third verse alludes to Ensor's moment of fame, when "the world was transformed" and a crowd gathered to see his work, before moving on and forgetting him.
The chorus is a repeated invitation to "meet James Ensor / Belgium's famous painter", emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating his legacy. The final verse describes Ensor's later years, when he lost his friends and retreated back into his private world of repeating himself and living with his mother. In this way, the song explores the highs and lows of Ensor's life and how his art has been received over time.
Overall, "Meet James Ensor" is a celebration of the unique and visionary artistry of James Ensor, and a reminder of the importance of recognizing and appreciating cultural figures of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Meet James Ensor
Let's talk about James Ensor
Belgium's famous painter
He's a well-known artist from Belgium
Dig him up and shake his hand
Appreciate him even though he's dead and gone
Appreciate the man
Respect and admire the person he was
Before there were junk stores
In a time when thrift stores and antique shops didn't exist
Before there was junk
When people didn't collect and repurpose discarded items
He lived with his mother and the torments of Christ
He resided with his mother and the religious struggles he faced
The world was transformed
The world changed after he made his unique art
A crowd gathered round
People gathered around to see his creations
Pressed against his window so they could be the first
Eagerly waiting and pushing to be the first to see what he had made
Raise a glass and sit and stare
Cheers and take a moment to admire him
Understand the man
Take a deeper look at the person behind the art to appreciate it more fully
He lost all his friends
He became estranged from all his acquaintances
He didn't need his friends
He focused on his art, which was more important to him than having friends
He lived with his mother and repeated himself
He stayed with his mother and kept creating works in a repetitive way
The world has forgotten
People don't remember him and his work anymore
The world moved along
Time passed and people's interests changed
The crowd at his window went back to their homes
People stopped gathering outside his house and went about their daily lives
Meet James Ensor
Let's continue to talk about him
Meet James Ensor
Let's keep appreciating him
Belgium's famous painter
Remember he's an esteemed artist from Belgium
Dig him up and shake his hand
Continue to give him the respect he deserves
Appreciate the man
Remember and honor the person he was
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN FLANSBURGH, JOHN LINNELL, JOHN C. FLANSBURGH, JOHN S. LINNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind