Best known for his wry humor, Snider has been a fixture on the Americana, alt-country, and folk scene since his debut on MCA, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, named for the bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", a folk song about the early '90's grunge scene, featuring a band that "refused to play", and "Alright Guy", which later became the title cut of Gary Allan's 2001 album.
He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite, the latter often sparking colorful debate amongst fans for its comparisons to Tom Petty. He moved to John Prine's Oh Boy Records where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, and East Nashville Skyline. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 was released on the Hip-O label in August 2005.
Todd Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked Snider's return to a major label, as he is now recording for New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records.
The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a No. 33 ranking in Rolling Stone magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a No. 25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and No. 14 by Blender magazine.
Snider's songs "Late Last Night" and "I Believe You" have been recorded by the Oklahoma country-rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram.
Snider's new album, Peace Queer, is set to be released on October 14th, 2008, and will be available as a free download from Oct. 11 to Oct. 31 at http://www.toddsnider.net/store/product/1/Peace-Queer .
Is This Thing On?
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this thing on?
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Anywhere USA
There was a bully pickin' on a different kid
It seemed like every day
A pack of back slapping buddies
Laughing, backing him all the way
His screaming girlfriend
Makin' believe in everything he'd say
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
And then one day some kid
That he'd beat up a couple times before
Realized, to even his surprise
That he probably could indeed take more
And with that he hatched the evil plan
To make that devil pay
He walked up to him, in the middle of the gym
Found the nerve to say
You gonna hit somebody, today?
Gonna hit me, too
In fact, you're gonna hit me every day
'Cause now I'm picking on you
And as crazy as that might sound right now
I'm ain't stopping until I'm through
It's too late to beg for mercy
And now there's nothing you can do
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Well, that bully just laughed and laughed
Of course, and so did all of his friends
And he beat that kid unmercifully
For days and days on end
Only less and less impressively
To that girl and all his friends
Who would eventually, secretly
Start hoping, the kid might win
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Monday, they rolled around in dirt
Tuesday, they rolled in grass
Wednesday, they actually both got hurt
Throwing each other across
Thursday the mail, it was out by the dumpster
Friday study hard
A day in and out, year after year
Without ever letting up at all
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
Is this thing working?
Is this thing on?
And now you'll never hear him say this 'cause
He thinks people still don't know
But winning the battle every day
Cost our bully the war a long time ago
And of all the scars he's got to show
For every blow that kid sneaks in
The worst one's knowing
That tomorrow he's going to have to get up
And fight that kid again
The song "Is This Thing On?” by Todd Snider narrates a story about a bully and a different kid in an American High school. The bully, backed by his pack of back slapping buddies, picked on the different kid day-in and day-out. He even had a screaming girlfriend who believed every lie he said. However, one day, the different kid realized that he could take more and decided to stand up to the bully, telling him he would be picking on him every day. The bully, initially laughing and thinking it was a joke, was surprised when the different kid kept coming back, battling daily with each other.
The song appears to be about standing up to bullies and fighting for yourself. Although it may seem like you're losing, if you continue to fight, you might eventually win. It also highlights the importance of not backing down in the face of adversity and not allowing bullies to dominate you. The last verse suggests that while the bully appeared to be winning, he was losing the war, such that years later, he's left with scars that will never heal fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this thing working?
Questioning the functionality of a particular object
Is this thing on?
Asking if there is an active communication between two parties
In the hallway of a high school
Describing the location of the scene
Anywhere USA
Emphasizing the universality of the situation
There was a bully pickin' on a different kid
Describing the situation of bullying
It seemed like every day
Indicating the regularity of the bullying
A pack of back slapping buddies
Describing the bully's supportive friends
Laughing, backing him all the way
Demonstrating the encouragement of the bully's friends
His screaming girlfriend
Pointing out the bully's romantic partner
Makin' believe in everything he'd say
Emphasizing the blind faith of the bully's girlfriend
And then one day some kid
Introducing a new character
That he'd beat up a couple times before
Revealing the past experience of the new character with the bully
Realized, to even his surprise
Indicating the unexpected epiphany of the new character
That he probably could indeed take more
Realizing that he is stronger than he thought
And with that he hatched the evil plan
Forming a malicious strategy
To make that devil pay
Deciding to exact revenge
He walked up to him, in the middle of the gym
Describing the location where the confrontation will take place
Found the nerve to say
Summoning the courage to speak up
You gonna hit somebody, today?
Provoking the bully to fight
Gonna hit me, too
Offering to fight the bully as well
In fact, you're gonna hit me every day
Challenging the bully to a daily fight
'Cause now I'm picking on you
Admitting to intentionally picking on the bully
And as crazy as that might sound right now
Acknowledging the audacity of the plan
I'm ain't stopping until I'm through
Committing to pursue the plan relentlessly
It's too late to beg for mercy
Declaring that the bully cannot back out of the fight
And now there's nothing you can do
Asserting that the bully is powerless
Well, that bully just laughed and laughed
Indicating the bully's initial reaction to the challenge
Of course, and so did all of his friends
Demonstrating the support of the bully's friends
And he beat that kid unmercifully
Describing the outcome of the first fight
For days and days on end
Showing the length and intensity of the subsequent fights
Only less and less impressively
Suggesting that the bully's dominance is fading
To that girl and all his friends
Pointing out the reaction of the bully's supporters
Who would eventually, secretly
Implying that the bully's supporters are starting to have doubts
Start hoping, the kid might win
Wishing for the new character's success
Monday, they rolled around in dirt
Describing the violent nature of the fights
Tuesday, they rolled in grass
Indicating the repetitive nature of the fights
Wednesday, they actually both got hurt
Revealing the physical consequences of the fights
Throwing each other across
Showing the violence of the fights
Thursday the mail, it was out by the dumpster
Highlighting a seemingly unremarkable detail
Friday, study hard
Implying that schoolwork is not a priority
A day in and out, year after year
Placing the fights within a long timeline
Without ever letting up at all
Reinforcing the intensity of the fights
And now you'll never hear him say this 'cause
Revealing that the bully would never admit to the following
He thinks people still don't know
Believing that his secret is safe
But winning the battle every day
Asserting that the bully is still fighting
Cost our bully the war a long time ago
Insinuating that the bully is actually losing
And of all the scars he's got to show
Referring to the physical and emotional scars of the fights
For every blow that kid sneaks in
Acknowledging that the new character is managing to hurt the bully
The worst one's knowing
Stating the most painful consequence of the fights
That tomorrow he's going to have to get up
Reinforcing the perpetuity of the fights
And fight that kid again
Ending with the bleak reality of the bully's existence
Contributed by Penelope S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.