He was most famous for his rendition of Tip-toe Thru The Tulips With Me a No. 17 chart hit in 1968 that was delivered in his distinctive high falsetto. He became well known via numerous and highly rated appearances on television including Johnny Carson and Laugh-In. On December 17, 1969, 45 million viewers watched Tiny Tim get married on NBC TV via an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show program. He was widely known, but generally thought of as a novelty act, and was not taken very seriously, although his records displayed a wide and serious forensic knowledge of early American stage songs.
Growing up with the squeaky clean entertainment choices of the 1930's and 40's, Herbert preferred the romantic crooners of the late- 19th and early-20th centuries and cinematic singers like Bing Crosby and Rudy Valee were amongst his early favorites.
After stints in the Greenwich Village folkscene of the 1950's and 60's billed as Vern Castle, Larry Love, Darry Dover and Emmett Swink, Khaury eventually settled on the name Tiny Tim. He doffed white facial powder makeup, and utilized a ukulele and songs that only a true American musical archivist would know. Despite some amateur demo acetates, his first professional recordings were with producer Richard Perry for the Blue Cat in 1966. Refusing to be deterred despite many years of setbacks in the notoriously tough New York show biz world, Tiny Tim earned a regular gig at a hip club called The Scene, and was soon signed by Mo Ostin to Warner Brothers subsidiary Reprise, then also the home of Frank Sinatra, and his daughter Nancy.
His 1970's label VicTim failed as a business venture, and he once told an interviewer that his next label Toilet Records was so-named "because that's where my career went." By 1978, the public's taste had soured on his act and Johnny Carson refused to book Tiny Tim anymore. However bleak the financial picture appeared, Tiny Tim refused to relent whatever spotlite remained for him, and toured constantly. through the 80's and 90's appearing at punk rock and gay nightclubs, making numerous solo recordings and some with the Texas-based polka band Brave Combo.
He died on November 30, 1996, after a heart attack while performing onstage at a benefit for the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. He was buried with his ukulele.
The Other Side
Tiny Tim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the other is brown
I am a fish
I swim around
You say I'm lost
I disagree
The map has changed
and with it, me
Gliding through the seaweed
what strange things I see below
Cars are waiting
windshields wiping
Nowhere left to go!
Oh…
The ice caps are melting
Oh, ho, ho ho
All the world is drowning
Ho, ho ho, ho ho
The ice caps are melting
the tide is rushing in
All the world is drowning
to wash away the sin
The seagull flies
in search of land
The children hide
beneath the sand
As golden toys
come floating down
I play the fish
I swim around
Gliding through the seaweed
what strange things I see below
Cars are waiting
windshields wiping
Nowhere left to go!
Oh…
The ice caps are melting
Oh, ho, ho ho
All the world is drowning
Ho, ho ho, ho ho
The ice caps are melting
the tide is rushing in
All the world is drowning
to wash away the sin
Now everybody sing!
I tell you, my dear friend…
Oh how wonderful it is!
Know that whoever you are
we can all be happy and singing!
No matter if you're out there parked to that car along the highway
Or whether you're at home, sitting by the radio
Or whether you're having them good meals
Or whether you're by the TV set
Let everyone sing about those melting ice caps
how they're coming down into the sea
and let us all have a swimming time, as we sing;
The ice caps are melting
Oh, ho, ho ho
All the world is drowning
Ho, ho ho, ho ho
The ice caps are melting
the tide is rushing in
All the world is drowning
to wash away the sin
The lyrics of Tiny Tim's song The Other Side are a poetic and somewhat cryptic commentary on the state of the world and the impending environmental crisis. The first verses seem to portray a fish swimming in the ocean, but the lyrics suggest a metaphor for the feeling of being lost and out of place in a changing world. The fish disagrees with the idea of being lost, claiming that the map has changed, and with it, its place, highlighting the underlying theme of change and adaptation.
The following verses portray a surreal scene of underwater cars with windshields wiping, symbolizing the absurdity of human progress that has led to environmental destruction. The fish observes and glides through the seaweed, witnessing the destruction of the world. In the chorus, Tiny Tim explicitly addresses the environmental crisis as he sings about the melting ice caps and the rising tide that threatens to wash away the sin of humanity.
The last verse seems to be a call for hope and optimism, with Tiny Tim encouraging everyone to sing and be happy, irrespective of their circumstances. The song's lyrics are a subtle and poetic commentary on the current state of the world and the need for change and action to bring about a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
One nigh is brown
One night is just like any other and seems unremarkable
the other is brown
Another night is also unremarkable and indistinguishable from the first
I am a fish
The singer feels at home or at ease in water
I swim around
The artist is exploring their surroundings or simply enjoying themselves
You say I'm lost
Someone is questioning the artist's purpose or direction
I disagree
The singer has confidence in their own path or purpose
The map has changed
The world or situation has shifted, altering the path or purpose of the singer
and with it, me
The artist has been forced to adapt or change along with their circumstances
Gliding through the seaweed
The artist is still happily exploring their surroundings
what strange things I see below
The artist encounters surprising or unexpected sights
Cars are waiting
The singer sees cars submerged in water, likely due to rising sea levels
windshields wiping
The cars are still partially visible, as their wipers continue to move
Nowhere left to go!
The cars are trapped and cannot find higher ground
The ice caps are melting
The song shifts from the singer's personal observations to a global perspective on climate change
Oh, ho, ho ho
A repetitive refrain used to emphasize the dire nature of the situation
All the world is drowning
As sea levels rise, entire regions are at risk of flooding
to wash away the sin
A metaphorical interpretation of washing away the damage humans have done to the environment
The seagull flies
Nature's creatures are also affected by climate change
in search of land
The seagull is looking for a place to roost or rest, but finds less and less dry land available
The children hide
Even younger generations understand the danger posed by environmental damage
beneath the sand
Children are using creativity and imagination to cope with a frightening problem
As golden toys
A bittersweet image of carefree play in the face of a larger disaster
come floating down
The toys are casualties of the rising waters
Let everyone sing about those melting ice caps
The song encourages everyone to pay attention to the issues facing our planet
how they're coming down into the sea
The song relies on clear, straightforward language to convey its themes
and let us all have a swimming time, as we sing;
Even in the face of disaster, the song seeks to maintain a spirit of playfulness and joy
I tell you, my dear friend…
The song takes on a preachy or exhortative tone at times
Oh how wonderful it is!
The song ultimately aims to inspire hope and optimism for the future
Know that whoever you are
The song is inclusive and speaks to people of all backgrounds and identities
we can all be happy and singing!
By raising awareness of climate change and its potential effects, the song hopes to inspire positive change
Contributed by Kaitlyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ana T.G
One nigh is brown
the other is brown
I am a fish
I swim around
You say I'm lost
I disagree
The map has changed
and with it, me
Gliding through the seaweed
what strange things I see below
Cars are waiting
windshields wiping
Nowhere left to go!
Oh…
The ice caps are melting
Oh, ho, ho ho
All the world is drowning
Ho, ho ho, ho ho
The ice caps are melting
the tide is rushing in
All the world is drowning
to wash away the sin
The seagull flies
in search of land
The children hide
beneath the sand
As golden toys
come floating down
I play the fish
I swim around
Gliding through the seaweed
what strange things I see below
Cars are waiting
windshields wiping
Nowhere left to go!
Oh…
The ice caps are melting
Oh, ho, ho ho
All the world is drowning
Ho, ho ho, ho ho
The ice caps are melting
the tide is rushing in
All the world is drowning
to wash away the sin
Now everybody sing!
I tell you, my dear friend…
Oh how wonderful it is!
Know that whoever you are
we can all be happy and singing!
No matter if you're out there parked to that car along the highway
Or whether you're at home, sitting by the radio
Or whether you're having them good meals
Or whether you're by the TV set
Let everyone sing about those melting ice caps
how they're coming down into the sea
and let us all have a swimming time, as we sing;
The ice caps are melting
Oh, ho, ho ho
All the world is drowning
Ho, ho ho, ho ho
The ice caps are melting
the tide is rushing in
All the world is drowning
to wash away the sin
Paul Bridgemans
I absolutely love Tiny Tim, why don't we encourage eccentricity and individuality anymore! So entertaining and so vulnerable, just lovely a one off. God Bless Tiny TIm! RIP Sweety
Doctor Feinstone
Paul Bridgemans because conformity is what everyone seems to want
Don Z Dryver
Individuality is coming back now in 2019!
HarryJones345
True and his voice is different cause all musicians have the same voice these days
Mohammed Al Musawi
@Don Z Dryver where
Jesse Hummel
This is a good song. The way how Tiny Tim kicks in at the end. Genious
Rice Bean
IKR!
Edward Winters
People don't know this but this man was Brilliant.
Don Z Dryver
I have this album on vinyl and it is really out there. God bless Tiny Tim indeed!
Kirk Bingham
I had this album around 1970; Tim might have been weird but his music was not far off. I loved this album.