Their name was inspired by an awkward conversation with a U-Haul employee who was inspecting a van that the band had rented. The U-haul employee, attempting to make polite conversation, asked the three bespectacled band members if they were brothers. They said no. He asked if they were scientists, as they looked like they could be the kind of people who wear lab coats. They told him that they were musicians, not scientists. To this day, they regret telling the truth. They are not named after the Cap'n Jazz song which bears the name.
They are a franchise of Art Rock band, Art Brut. In fact, they are Art Brut 47.
The band formed while its members attended the Claremont Colleges. Murray and Cain attended Pomona College; Michael Tapper attended Harvey Mudd College.
The band has released three self-made EPs (Bitching!, Safety, Fun, and Learning (In That Order) and In Action). Their debut LP, With Love And Squalor was on Virgin Records, the first three singles of which were "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt", "The Great Escape" and "It's A Hit". The album takes its name from the J.D. Salinger short story "For Esme - With Love and Squalor". They have since released LP Crap Attack, which is a collection of B-Sides, covers and other rarities, and their full follow-up album, Brain Thrust Mastery which debuted in the UK on March 17,2008 reached number 11 at the UK Album charts.
On the 1st November 2007, NME reported that Michael Tapper has left We Are Scientists under amicable circumstances, and on September 18, 2007, the band announced on their website that Max Hart, a keyboardist and guitarist who has played live with them before, has joined the band temporarily. As they put it: "There's no easy answer as to how long Max will stick around. Maybe we'll grow to hate his sanctimonious ways, which for now tickle us so. Maybe he'll grow to hate our open-minded, funny, refreshing, handsome ways, thus achieving what psychologists and bookies long ago labeled impossible."
And to make things even more exciting for the band, We Are Scientists is featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which Bishop Allen - at the time featuring former We Are Scientists drummer Michael Tapper - appears in a cameo.
According to Keith Murray's Wikipedia he was nominated for World's Sexiest Vegetarian 2007 and is predicted that he will be the new face of Louis Vuitton's spring/summer '09 collection.
The Band's 3rd effort, Barbara, was released in June of 2010 and features ex-Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows.
What's The Word
We Are Scientists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If nothing's ever getting heard?
I'm saving up my voice now
What's the word? Yeah
What's the word? Yeah
What's the word?
Instead of throwing up your hands
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
And just read my lips
They're pretty loose
They're pretty loose
They're pretty loose
But I can't ever say
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
Save your breath
I already knew
I already knew
I already knew
But I can't say
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
The lyrics to "What's the Word" by We Are Scientists present a sense of frustration and uncertainty. The singer is questioning the purpose of making noise if nothing is being heard and is saving up their voice as a result. They then ask for someone to tell them what they're trying to say instead of throwing up their hands in defeat. Breaking plans has been taking a toll on the singer, and they feel like they're about as close to making sense as they'll ever be. They question if they'll be gone quickly and can't determine who's kidding who.
Overall, the song seems to be about feeling unheard and misunderstood. The singer is trying to make sense of their situation but can't quite get there. They want someone to help them and tell them what they need to hear rather than giving up.
The repetition of "What's the word?" throughout the song emphasizes the need for communication and understanding. The loose lips mentioned at one point could refer to others not speaking clearly or truthfully, leading to confusion for the singer. The use of the phrase "who's kidding who?" could suggest a feeling of being deceived or misled.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the point of making all this noise
What's the use of being loud if nobody listens?
If nothing's ever getting heard?
Why bother if your message isn't being received?
I'm saving up my voice now
I'm being more careful with my words since they go unheard.
What's the word? Yeah
What's going on, what's the current situation?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Don't give up on communicating
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
Why not be straightforward with what you want to say?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
I'm tired of plans being made but never becoming reality
Now it's starting to kill me
It's becoming unbearable
Man, it's starting to kill
It's making me feel like I'm dying.
I'm about as close to making sense
I'm as logical as I'm gonna be
As I am ever going to get
This is the best you'll get from me
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
Would I be forgotten just as fast?
And just read my lips
Pay attention to what I'm saying
They're pretty loose
I might not be concise, though
They're pretty loose
I might not be concise, though
They're pretty loose
I might not be concise, though
But I can't ever say
But I don't know for sure
Who's kidding who?
Who is being deceived?
Who's kidding who?
Who is being deceived?
Who's kidding who?
Who is being deceived?
Save your breath
Don't waste your breath
I already knew
I already understand
I already knew
I already understand
I already knew
I already understand
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER CAIN, KEITH MURRAY, MICHAEL TAPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milena Lubińska
What's the point of making all this noise
If nothing's ever getting heard?
I'm saving up my voice now
What's the word? Yeah
What's the word? Yeah
What's the word?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
And just read my lips
They're pretty loose
They're pretty loose
They're pretty loose
But I can't ever say
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
Save your breath
I already knew
I already knew
I already knew
But I can't say
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
Karen Iveson
13 years later and this still a tune!
Who's still listening in 2020?
Raymond Fitzpatrick
2021 Was 4 life
Ritza Francois
Me!
Milena Lubińska
Me!
Giselle Balderas
Fuckin love this video. Fuckin love this BAND man!
uglygop
1:14 made me want to learn how to play the bass
iloveWAS
it's a great video. And Chris looks so coool in it.
sedanna,rhianna
This makes Chris even hotter which i didnt think was possible
Milena Lubińska
What's the point of making all this noise
If nothing's ever getting heard?
I'm saving up my voice now
What's the word? Yeah
What's the word? Yeah
What's the word?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
And just read my lips
They're pretty loose
They're pretty loose
They're pretty loose
But I can't ever say
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
Save your breath
I already knew
I already knew
I already knew
But I can't say
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Who's kidding who?
Instead of throwing up your hands
Why don't you tell me what you're trying to tell me?
I'm sick of breaking all these plans
Now it's starting to kill me
Man, it's starting to kill
I'm about as close to making sense
As I am ever going to get
Is that how quickly I'd be gone?
Rachel Janzen
I always think of Tapper moving his head when I listen to this song.