The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Mr. Horrible
Mr. Horrible
Telephone call for Mr. Horrible
But before he can talk to the ugliness men
There's some horrible business left
For him to attend to
Something unpleasant has spilled on his brain
As he sponges it off they say
"Is this Horrible?
Is this Horrible?
It's the ugliness men, Mr. Horrible
We're just trying to bug you
We thought that our dreadfulness
Might be a thing to annoy you with"
But Mr. Horrible says, "I don't mind
The thing that bothers me is
Someone keeps moving my chair"
"Would you mind if we balance this glass of milk
Where your visiting friend accidentally was killed?
Would it be okay with you if we wrote a reminder
Of things we'll forget to do today otherwise,
Using a green magic marker, if it's alright
On the back of your head?"
Mr. Horrible
Mr. Horrible
We're not done with you yet Mr. Horrible
You have to try on these pants so the Ugliness Men
Can decide if they're just as embarrassing as we think
We have to be sure about this
But Mr. Horrible says, "I don't mind
The thing that bothers me is
Someone keeps moving my chair"
Someone keeps moving my chair
Mr. Horrible says, "I don't mind
The thing that bothers me is
Someone keeps moving my chair"
Mr. Horrible
Telephone call for Mr. Horrible
But before he can talk to the ugliness men
There's some horrible business left
For him to attend to
Something unpleasant has spilled on his brain
As he sponges it off they say
"Is this Horrible?
Is this Horrible?
It's the ugliness men, Mr. Horrible
We're just trying to bug you
We thought that our dreadfulness
Might be a thing to annoy you with"
But Mr. Horrible says, "I don't mind
The thing that bothers me is
Someone keeps moving my chair"
"Would you mind if we balance this glass of milk
Where your visiting friend accidentally was killed?
Would it be okay with you if we wrote a reminder
Of things we'll forget to do today otherwise,
Using a green magic marker, if it's alright
On the back of your head?"
Mr. Horrible
Mr. Horrible
We're not done with you yet Mr. Horrible
You have to try on these pants so the Ugliness Men
Can decide if they're just as embarrassing as we think
We have to be sure about this
But Mr. Horrible says, "I don't mind
The thing that bothers me is
Someone keeps moving my chair"
Someone keeps moving my chair
Mr. Horrible says, "I don't mind
The thing that bothers me is
Someone keeps moving my chair"
Lyrics submitted by Irrational
Someone Keeps Moving My Chair Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
It's totally a coincidence since Flood came out in 1990 and "Office Space" came out in 1999, but occurs to me that you could almost make this part of the album into a little theme song trilogy: Someone Keeps Moving My Chair = Milton, Hearing Aid = Peter, Minimum Wage = Lumburgh (cracking the whip). Just a little goofy thought, funny how it kinda works though. Heh.
this is a creepy and fun song at the same time. all these odd/disturbing things seem to surround him yet all he can complain about is that somebody keeps moving his chair.
disturbing... i wonder if his friend's death was accidental, or if it was caused by the ugliness men. something was spilt upon his brain... wouldn't his skull have to be open? maybe this song is about being sedated during an operation of the head. ah its hard to tell, the lyrics are nicely vague.
I think it's basically about a guy, a businessman of some sort I assume, who is being bothered and frustrated by a bunch of annoying co-workers, probably his superiors. They meet with him, and are totally rude and insensitive. But the guy can't protest about any of the things that really bug him, so he just feigns outrage over his chair being moved.
I think this is a song about a man whose friend was killed (obvisously) and that kinda hollowed his emotions so nothing else that was done to him affects him emotionally except something petty like some1 moving his chair.
I'm more with JJ than anyone on this. although, i'm pretty sure the lyrics say the Ugliness Man, and that they were calling him the Ugliness Man, as well as Mr. Horrible. bt i always got the idea of this being at a bussiness office, with annoying co-workers.
Rodan2000
The thing you always have to remember is, TMBG don't often make sense. What I can tell is, people are annoying this guy, and he's kinda too focussed on his chair to notice. They probably meant it literally, in an effort to make as little sense as possible.
For some reason this song reminds me of the movie Office Space. And Milton in particular.
Green magic marker/something unpleasant = acid (to me)
Acid has the strange ability to rid you of your cares
i agree w/ j.j. The dead friend thing is just a thing they're bringing up to pick on Mr. Horrible