Randy Newman – Short People

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Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
To live

They got little hands
And little eyes
And they walk around
Tellin' great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet

Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Round here

Short people are just the same
As you and I
(a fool such as i)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(it's a wonderful world)

Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
Short people got nobody
To love

They got little baby legs
And they stand so low
You got to pick 'em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That got beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin' peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They're gonna get you every time
Well, I don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
Don't want no short people
'round here

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Lyrics submitted by archmastermind, edited by ericdl

Track duration: 02:52

"Short People" as written by Randy Newman

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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Short People song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Also you are correct ereed6 Randy Newman has stated that the song was written from the perspective of a crazy person. Very cool you knew that. I still don't think that negates the fact that the song is making a point on discrimination. When I talk to a racist or sexist person, I often walk away thinking that they are lunatics. They are irrational, they lack a clear concept of reality, and project paranoid thoughts onto individuals who are of no threat to them. Sounds like a crazy person to me! From a song writing perspective the character singing the song would have to be crazy. No sane person would believe those things. But it becomes this crazy person's beliefs that ultimately become a perfect critique on discrimination.
    Flag NateFairbankson April 01, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is clearly about the absurdity of taking any group of people, be it short, tall, black, white, male, or female people and then applying a set of negative connotations to the group that "ALL" of them posses. To use a group like short people is yet another stroke of genius on Randy's part. How many people do you know who hate a person simply because they are short? None? That is why it works so well as an illustration when he claims things like all short people "have dirty little minds" and "they're going to get you every time". Its so ridiculous and thus illustrates how extremely idiotic any sort of discriminatory labeling of a group of people is.
    Sadly, most people don't seem to posses the critical thinking skills required to understand many of Randy's songs. This has always given me mixed feelings about his songs. On the one hand, the fact that their meaning is lost on so many people is part of what makes them so dear to me. On the other hand, it can be frustrating because I think America would be such a better place if the messages of his songs were somehow communicated to the masses in a way they could understand them and ideally embrace them.
    Flag NateFairbankson April 01, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:If course short people have reason to live - to keep us out of their ranks.
    If we didn't have them, the average height would rise, and those of us in the middle would be the new short !!!
    That's why we need short people.
    Flag fmyerson November 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is written from the perspective of a crazy person. There is no deep meaning. It's just silly. Randy Newman told me this in concert 3 days ago.
    Flag ereed6on February 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:fuck midgets
    Flagged clay-manon August 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with Falcon. This song is about small-minded people. The kind of person who doesn't accept himself the way God made him and has to put platform shoes on so he will be taller. The kind of person that runs somebody else down as if that will make them any taller (as in higher up). That's who has no one to love. That's who goes around with their small view of the world hurting others with their lies. THe middle part is a great irony, to be sure, so many people will say things like that when really their hearts are full of hate of another person or group for real or imagined differences. Thee honk their horns at people and open their mouths to assault with their words. They are so unkind they have to be raised up to the level of other humans just to have a conversation with them.
    Flag montresoron March 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i'm quite short my self.... my boyfriend is quite tall...he sings this to me alot... i hit him hard when he does ... :P

    anyway cant watch toystory without wanting to punch randy newman lol
    Flag Saoirsefluffballon November 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Randy Newman's brilliant, I love playing this song near all my short friends.

    But seriously, you people who think Randy Newman is actually prejudiced against short people got no reason to live.
    Flag guitarherohero10on October 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Family Guy is Hillarious!
    (Randy)-Fat man with and his kids and dog.
    Drove in through the morning fog.
    Hey there Rover, come on over...

    (Lois)-Well its nice to have a little music while we eat.(Spoken)

    (Randy)-Red headed lady, Reaching for an apple.
    Gonna take a bite, nope, nope.
    She gonna breathe on it first,wipe it on her blouse.
    She takes a bite.
    Chews it once,twice,three times, four times, stops!
    Saliva workin', takes a hard long look at Randy...
    five times.
    Fat old husband walking over.

    (Lois)-Lets get the hell out of here.(Spoken)

    (Randy)-Yeah, There walking down the road
    Left foot,Right foot
    Left foot,Right foot
    Left foot (SMACK)
    Flag Xaq27on August 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:randir, I don't know if you were trying to be sarcastic. But it is ironic that in your post you are being short-minded.

    Supposedly Newman has said himself that the song can be interpreted as being about short-minded people. Negative people basically.
    Flag bakismakion February 13, 2008   Link

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