In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Hey
My little baby brother used to play down on the floor
But now he's not satisfied to do it anymore
He's got a funny habit and I don't know why
He walks around the ceiling, stepping on the flies
Baby brother, baby brother
Well he learnt to crawl
On the kitchen wall
Baby brother
Well just the other day, well-a bless-a my soul
I found him swimming round in the goldfish bowl
Since nobody told him that he hadn't oughta
He swam around for hours, with his head underwater
Baby brother, baby brother
Well you may swim all you wish
But don't eat the fish
Baby brother
Well, my little baby brother, he's a cute little cuss
But it's plain to see that he's not one of us
Where did we get him? I know you're gonna ask it
We found him on the porch in a crazy little basket
Baby brother, baby brother
Although your hair is blue
We think the world of you
Baby brother
Well, I bought my baby brother a toy balloon
He let it get away and it floated toward the moon
Instead of crying he climbed up on the fence
Started flapping his arms and we ain't seen him since
Baby brother, baby brother
Although he's out in outer space
I can still see his face
Baby brother
Although you're out in outer space
I can still see your face
Baby brother
(?)
Baby brother
My little baby brother used to play down on the floor
But now he's not satisfied to do it anymore
He's got a funny habit and I don't know why
He walks around the ceiling, stepping on the flies
Baby brother, baby brother
Well he learnt to crawl
On the kitchen wall
Baby brother
Well just the other day, well-a bless-a my soul
I found him swimming round in the goldfish bowl
Since nobody told him that he hadn't oughta
He swam around for hours, with his head underwater
Baby brother, baby brother
Well you may swim all you wish
But don't eat the fish
Baby brother
Well, my little baby brother, he's a cute little cuss
But it's plain to see that he's not one of us
Where did we get him? I know you're gonna ask it
We found him on the porch in a crazy little basket
Baby brother, baby brother
Although your hair is blue
We think the world of you
Baby brother
Well, I bought my baby brother a toy balloon
He let it get away and it floated toward the moon
Instead of crying he climbed up on the fence
Started flapping his arms and we ain't seen him since
Baby brother, baby brother
Although he's out in outer space
I can still see his face
Baby brother
Although you're out in outer space
I can still see your face
Baby brother
(?)
Baby brother
Lyrics submitted by shrodes
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"Do you have any Halloween song suggestions? Jack White: Oh yeah! How about “Baby Brother”? That’s an old, strange song. The Cramps played it one time at one of their shows, the Purple KNIF."
The Cramps' Purple Knif Show compilations can be found on CD, and are well worth checking out. 'Baby Brother' is originally by Bill Carter And The Rovin' Gamblers, and this is apparently where Jack White discovered the song.
The lyrics remind me either of a Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Halloween-episode (á la 'The Thing and I', which is a parody of the 1982 horror comedy 'Basket Case') or an Edward Gorey story.
anybody know where i can hear this?
I got it with my itunes purchase of icky thump about an hour ago.
Hey
My little baby brother used to play down on the floor !!!BUT NOW HE'S NOT SATISFIED TO DO IT ANYMORE!!! He's got a funny habit and I don't know why He walks around the ceiling, stepping on the flies
Baby brother, baby brother Well he learning to crawl On the kitchen wall Baby brother
Well just the other day, well-a bless-a my soul I found him swimming round in the goldfish bowl Since nobody told him !!!THE HE HADN'T OUGHTA!!! He swam around for hours, with his head underwater
Baby brother, baby brother Well you may swim all you wish But don't eat the fish Baby brother
Only corrections that I can see...
If I'm not mistaken, this is based off of a famous Hannah-Barbera cartoon about an accidental swap of a newborn son in a family from a regular kid to a martian. Absolutely classic cartoon. It's the first thing that came to mind when I heard this.
Parker
Baby brother, baby brother Well he LEARNED to crawl On the kitchen wall Baby brother
Well MY little baby brother he's a cute little cuss But it's plain to see that he's not one of us Where did we get him? I know you're gonna ask IT We found him on the porch in a crazy little basket
Okay... now I don't have anymore corrections.
Parker
this is just a goofy song. my friend got it from pre-ordering Icky Thump from somewhere, she also got Tennessee Border. but I think Jack just wanted to make a fun, nonsense song. I love listening to it
errrr... I get so annoyed when people post poor lyrics and never check back and make changes to them. In my opinion, song lyrics on this website should be managed similar to a Wikipedia article, allowing all users to make edits or whatever. I don't know what the best system would really be. But I'm sure you all agree that when people leave comments/corrections about a song’s lyrics, they are rarely applied.
Inaccurate lyrics... As for where you can get this song, I got it for free at skreemr.com and went to advanced search.
is there anyone who can send me this song :'( !!!!!!
is there anyone who can send me this song :'( !!!!!!