Don’t Let’s Start Lyrics

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

Warning
Don’t try to read too much into this song! If you squint at the lyrics for a while, this song seems incredibly depressing. But John Linnell has repeatedly insisted that most of the lyrics were constructed to complement the melody and are not meaningful. When asked about the story behind the song, he said, “where did it come from? I made it up.”

“Don’t Let’s Start” is one of They Might Be Giants' most popular and well-loved songs. This is despite the fact that it was a commercial dud as a single – peaking at #94 in Australia.

The success of this song can mainly be pointed towards its music video, directed by now-veteran TV director Adam Bernstein. The video features the band alternately parading around with rolls of stapled-together carpet on their heads, jerkily dancing, and performing in the old New York State Pavilion in front of dancers who are covered completely by the giant face of turn-of-the-century journalist William Allen White.
It garnered the band quite a bit of attention from MTV, who named it the 89th greatest music video of all time in 1999.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Is this song an alternative song?
Genius Answer

Yes, it was the first single released by They Might Be Giants. Despite a lack of commercial success the song is a fan favorite and got airplay on alternative and college radio stations.

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