Tune-Yards (sometimes stylized as tUnE-yArDs) is the American, Oakland, Cal… Read Full Bio ↴Tune-Yards (sometimes stylized as tUnE-yArDs) is the American, Oakland, California-based music project of musician Merrill Garbus, with long-time collaborator, bassist Nate Brenner. Garbus’s music draws from an eclectic variety of sources and utilizes elements such as loop pedals, ukulele, vocals, and lo-fi percussion. Tune-Yards’ 2011 album Whokill was ranked the number one album of that year in The Village Voice's annual Pazz and Jop critic's poll.

Their debut album BiRd-BrAiNs was first released on limited edition vinyl and cassette in June 2009, via the Portland-based imprint Marriage Records. In July 2009, it was announced that tUnE-yArDs had signed to 4AD, and a limited edition pressing of BiRd-BrAiNs was released on August 17, 2009.

A full worldwide release followed on November 16, 2009 (and November 17th in North America). The autumn 2009 pressing was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Christian Wright, and includes two new bonus tracks: "Want Me To" and "Real Live Flesh."

BiRd-BrAiNs was entirely self-produced and recorded, with Garbus utilizing a hand-held digital voice recorder, ukulele, some noisy off-balance drums, and produced using shareware mixing software. Garbus described their sound as "a patchwork of sound snippets, of history in a present tense. It is a composer's commitment to the preservation of stories, however small and unassuming."

A second album w h o k i l l was released on April 19, 2011, preceded by the single "Bizness". It was produced by Garbus and engineered by Eli Crews at New, Improved Studios in Oakland, California. Comparing the act to Sonic Youth, Frontier Psychiatrist said, "if BiRd-BrAiNs was Garbus’ EVOL, a record bursting with musical ideas that attempted to subvert the notion of song, w h o k i l l is their Sister, a record that embraces the traditional pop song as a vehicle to convey those ideas." The song "Fiya" is featured on a 2010 commercial for the Blackberry Torch.

Stop That Man
Tune-Yards Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He wanted what is mine
But I've paid too much
To let him walk away
Without the love's touch
A city to wreck
To crack in some nuts
We'll have to be our own policeman

Please
Stop that man
Stop that man
Stop that man

So sick of watching [?] like a weak man
I needed the trigger in my own hand
A little something [?]
Crack his spine his spine
Your life for the very first time

Who else gets to be king of wood in my neighborhood
Who else gets to be rattled back with the help of the pack
Who fell? The neighborhood fell
It sounds that we'll never get a grip and
Splish splash, can't find cash
Splish splash, can't find cash

Please
Stop that man
Stop that man
Stop that man

In the cab
Splish splash, splish splash

He wanted what is mine
Splish splash, splish splash

Who else gets to be king of wood in my neighborhood
Who else gets to be rattled back with the help of the pack

Overall Meaning

The song "Stop That Man" by tUnE-yArDs is an interesting barrage of lyrics that are difficult to parse, even for fans of the band's unique approach to music. At its core, the song seems to be about someone who is trying to take something that the singer believes is rightfully theirs. However, throughout the song, it is unclear what this something actually is. The singer declares that they have "paid too much" for it to be taken away, but what that payment consists of is never stated. The lines "A city to wreck / To crack in some nuts" add to the sense of confusion, although they may be metaphors for the various obstacles that the singer has had to overcome in order to achieve their goal.

The chorus of the song, which consists of the repeated phrase "Stop that man," hints at a sense of desperation and urgency. It's clear that the singer feels like they are in a precarious situation and that time is running out. The lines "We'll have to be our own policeman" suggest that the singer doesn't have anyone else to rely on and that they need to take matters into their own hands. They are willing to do whatever it takes to protect what is theirs, even if it means resorting to violence.

Overall, "Stop That Man" is an enigmatic song that is open to interpretation. Its lyrics are cryptic, but they paint a picture of someone who is fiercely protective of what they have achieved and will stop at nothing to keep it safe.

Line by Line Meaning

He wanted what is mine
Someone desired to possess what belongs to me

But I've paid too much
I have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to obtain it

To let him walk away
I won't let him leave without consequences

Without the love's touch
Without suffering the consequences of his actions

A city to wreck
There is a place we need to cause destruction to

To crack in some nuts
To solve some problems and overcome challenges

We'll have to be our own policeman
We must take matters into our own hands and be responsible for enforcing justice

So sick of watching [?] like a weak man
Tired of observing people act cowardly and without conviction

I needed the trigger in my own hand
I needed to take control of the situation

A little something [?]
A small amount of power or advantage

Crack his spine his spine
Defeat him thoroughly and completely