… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four performers who record under the name Tom Smith.
1. The only recording artist to appear on both NPR's Sound and Spirit and The Dr. Demento Show, Tom Smith is the quintessential geek rocker, combining high-energy folk rock, SF/fantasy, popular culture, progressive politics, cartoon voices, unbelievably bad puns, and the occasional recipe into a show you will not forget. He has won thirteen Pegasus Awards for Excellence in Filking and a spot in the Filk Hall of Fame. His most recent projects include iTom, releasing a free song every week, and The Funny Music Project.
2. Tom Smith http://www.TomSmithMusic.com, also known as "The Kitchen Musician" is a collector and performer of traditional folk songs on banjo, harmonica, limberjack and mouth-harp. He has issued a CD Peace on Peabody Hill and has performed at the New England Folk Festival (NEFFA Festival) and at the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough NH. Some of his musical performances support TuneFoolery (http://www.tunefoolery.org/)
3. Tom Smith, the lead vocalist for the English band Editors.
4. Tom Smith who was the drummer for Celebrity Chimp 2008/2009(?)
5. see: To Live And Shave In L.A.
Operation: Desert Storm
Tom Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My gut is churning but you won't see fear in my eyes.
Nothing to lose as I climb in and look to the roads,
Then light the fuse of the cannon, which promptly explodes.
The blast sends me skyward and into free fall,
With one final thought as I head towards the wall:
I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do.
If Murphy's Laws are religion, I must be a saint.
What else explains semis bursting from tunnels I paint?
A thousand Rube Goldberg nightmares lie smashed in my garage --
How many falling pianos can that damn bird dodge?
From magnetic birdseed to dynamite darts,
I could buy General Mills with what I spend on parts,
But I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do.
I should forget it, he's not big enough for a stew.
My line of credit with Acme is ten years past due.
Got no insurance, I can't sign for claims with my paws.
In vile durance for breaking most EPA laws.
But my super genius will deal with that dunce,
Remember that I have to win only once,
And I'll get him someday -- perhaps I should try something new.
My canyon compactor was perfect to echo my screams.
My backpack reactor worked fine, until I crossed the beams.
My bomb extender snapped back with the lit TNT.
My flying blender was just a tad quicker than me.
But I'm smarter, I'm stronger, and he's only fast,
Let's hear him "beep beep" with his head up his ass,
And I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do!
(spoken)
.... Eureka! That's it!
EARTHQUAKE PILLS!!
The song "Operation: Desert Storm" by Tom Smith is inspired by the cartoon character Wile E. Coyote from the popular Road Runner series. The lyrics reflect Wile E. Coyote's never-ending quest to catch the Road Runner with various contraptions and invincible determination. The first verse describes the desert landscape and the Coyote's relentless pursuit of his prey, despite the odds stacked against him. The second verse describes the many failures and misfires of his inventions, but he remains undeterred in his mission.
The third and final verse brings a hopeful twist as Wile E. Coyote has a eureka moment and comes up with an idea to finally catch the Road Runner - earthquake pills. The song captures the essence of Wile E. Coyote's character and his resilience in the face of failure. It also satirizes the idea of blindly chasing a goal with a single-minded focus, even when it seems impossible.
Overall, the lyrics of "Operation: Desert Storm" are humorous and entertaining. They convey the absurdity of Wile E. Coyote's endless chase, while also commenting on the futility of chasing a goal without considering alternative strategies or giving up when it's necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
The land is burning and dry under hot desert skies.
The environment is hostile and dangerous for me to operate in.
My gut is churning but you won't see fear in my eyes.
Although I'm afraid, I will stay focused on my mission and not show my fear.
Nothing to lose as I climb in and look to the roads,
My situation is so dire that risking my life is worth the possibility of success.
Then light the fuse of the cannon, which promptly explodes.
I take action and set off a powerful weapon to accomplish my goal.
The blast sends me skyward and into free fall,
The weapon I used has unintended consequences and I find myself in danger.
With one final thought as I head towards the wall:
As I careen towards certain harm, I have a moment of clarity about my motivations.
I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do.
My singular focus is to achieve my ultimate goal.
If Murphy's Laws are religion, I must be a saint.
Despite everything going wrong, I keep going and am unstoppable in my pursuit.
What else explains semis bursting from tunnels I paint?
Even though my plans seem impossible, my ingenuity can make them work.
A thousand Rube Goldberg nightmares lie smashed in my garage --
I've tried countless bizarre schemes that failed miserably.
How many falling pianos can that damn bird dodge?
I question the Road-Runner's lucky escapes and wonder if he's truly unbeatable.
From magnetic birdseed to dynamite darts,
I have an arsenal of unconventional weapons in my pursuit of the Road-Runner.
I could buy General Mills with what I spend on parts,
I invest heavily in my equipment and would be a wealthy man if I wasn't so obsessed with my goal.
But I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do.
My fixation on succeeding against the Road-Runner will not be deterred.
I should forget it, he's not big enough for a stew.
I question whether it's worth it to continue chasing the Road-Runner and contemplate ending the quest.
My line of credit with Acme is ten years past due.
My rampant spending has led to significant debt with my supplier, Acme.
Got no insurance, I can't sign for claims with my paws.
My reckless behavior has left me without recourse for any damage done to myself or others.
In vile durance for breaking most EPA laws.
I am being held legally liable for the destruction I've caused and am serving time in jail for violating environmental laws.
But my super genius will deal with that dunce,
Despite all of my setbacks, I remain confident in my intellect and ability to outsmart the Road-Runner.
Remember that I have to win only once,
I am motivated by the idea that all of my losses will be worth it when I achieve victory just one time.
And I'll get him someday -- perhaps I should try something new.
I continue to plan and consider new tactics in order to finally beat the Road-Runner.
My canyon compactor was perfect to echo my screams.
One of my previous schemes seemed to have promise, but ultimately failed.
My backpack reactor worked fine, until I crossed the beams.
Another idea I had almost worked, but still wasn't enough to win.
My bomb extender snapped back with the lit TNT.
My techniques are often dangerous and frequently malfunction, putting myself and others in harm's way.
My flying blender was just a tad quicker than me.
Sometimes the equipment I design surpasses my ability to control it, leading to more problems.
But I'm smarter, I'm stronger, and he's only fast,
Despite all of my failures and shortcomings, I remain steadfast in my belief that my intelligence and determination will lead me to victory.
Let's hear him "beep beep" with his head up his ass,
I am obsessed with besting the Road-Runner and am unconcerned with anything else in the world.
And I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do!
My unending drive to succeed against the Road-Runner will not be deterred by any means whatsoever.
.... Eureka! That's it!
I have a sudden inspiration and believe I have finally figured out how to win.
EARTHQUAKE PILLS!!
These pills will help me achieve my ultimate goal of defeating the Road-Runner, and I can barely contain my excitement.
Contributed by Thomas W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Deb Pyrkosz
on I Want to Be Peter Lorre
I'm looking for Baileys 7