| "Brontosaurus" | |
|---|---|
| Song by They Might Be Giants | |
| from the album Book | |
| Released | November 12, 2021 |
| Genre | Alternative |
| Length | 3:04 |
| Label | Idlewild |
| Songwriter | John Linnell |
| Composers | |
| Producers |
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Brontosaurus is a song by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants for their studio album Book (2021). [1] It discusses the hard life of a person through the metaphoric idea of being a brontosaurus.
The lyrics include themes of "concepts of futility and uselessness" and "optimism and bad vision" which it uses metaphors in the lines referencing the brontosaurus dinosaur. [2]
In a 2023 interview, John Linnell said about his inspiration to the lyrics of the song: [3]
A dinosaur is a metaphor for something that is ancient or extinct, and there is this notion that artists or bands can be dinosaurs and that just means that they're "old hat". That's part of the idea.
The song might have a reference to Anne Elk's Theory on Brontosauruses in Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch comedy. [4]
Brontosaurus includes rock melodies backed with horns, [2] and keyboard. [5]
They Might Be Giants preformed the song at the Jimmy Kimmel Live! in April 2023. [6]
Musicians
Backing band
Production
The song is generally well-received by fans when played at concert. [8]