"Don't Let's Start" is a song by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, from their 1986 eponymous debut album. It was the first single released from the album, released as a maxi-single. The single peaked at number 94 on the Australian ARIA singles chart in 1988. It was re-released by

Elektra Electra was a daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra in Greek mythology. Electra or Elektra may also refer to: Greek mythology *Electra (Pleiad), one of the Pleiades * Electra, one of the Danaids, daughter of Danaus and Polyxo * Electra (Oc ...

in 1990 after the success of the band's third album, '' Flood''.

Lyrical content

The lyrics of "Don't Let's Start" include a number of dark, pointed statements, such as "everybody dies frustrated and sad, and that is beautiful." John Linnell has repeatedly insisted that some of the song's lyrical twists, though pondered extensively by fans, were constructed to complement the melody and were not necessarily meaningful. Asked about the origin of the song's obscure lyrics, Linnell replied "where did it come from? I made it up."

Music video

A music video was produced for the song, and it found some success at that time on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

. It was included on MTV's 1999 list of the "100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" at #89. The video was directed by Adam Bernstein and was filmed inside the

New York State Pavilion The New York State Pavilion is a historic world's fair pavilion at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Flushing, Queens, New York. It was designed in 1962 for the 1964 New York World's Fair by architects Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, with str ...

in Flushing Meadows Park, the site of the

1964 New York World's Fair The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair was a world's fair that held over 140 pavilions and 110 restaurants, representing 80 nations (hosted by 37), 24 US states, and over 45 corporations with the goal and the final result of building exhibits or ...

. The band is featured wearing tall hats which, according to John Flansburgh on Tumblr, consist of "a large piece of semi-rigid cardstock (cut in a little arc) covered with a light bolt of red velvet fabric from a fabric store." The video also features large cardboard cutouts of the face of William Allen White. His face also appears on the "Don't Let's Start" CD single, and it has frequently been used in other contexts associated with They Might Be Giants.

Track listing

; Maxi-single # "Don't Let's Start" (single mix) – 2:35 # "We're The Replacements" – 1:55 # "When It Rains It Snows" – 1:36 # "The Famous Polka" – 1:32 ; 1990 maxi-single re-release # "Don't Let's Start" (single mix) – 2:35 # "Your Racist Friend" (remix) – 3:50 # "She's an Angel" – 2:37 # "Absolutely Bill's Mood" – 2:38 ; 1990 single re-release # "Don't Let's Start" (single mix) – 2:35 # "Letterbox" – 1:25 # "Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love" – 1:36

Personnel

* John Flansburgh – electric guitar, bass guitar * John Linnell – lead vocals, keyboards

Chart performance

Other versions

*The song was covered by the band Common Rotation on their 2003 album ''The Big Fear''. *

Jimmy Eat World Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona. The band is composed of lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jim Adkins, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind. They h ...

quotes the song in "

A Praise Chorus "A Praise Chorus" is a song by American rock band Jimmy Eat World. It was released in 2002 as the fourth single released from the band's fourth album ''Bleed American'', which was later retitled ''Jimmy Eat World''. Songs "praised" by this son ...

" on their 2001 album '' Bleed American''. The part is sung by guest vocalist Davey von Bohlen of the Promise Ring.

References

External links

* "Don't Let's Start" (releases) at This Might Be A Wiki *"

Don't Let's Start "Don't Let's Start" is a song by an alternative rock band, They Might Be Giants from their 1986 eponymous debut album. It was the first single released from the album, released as a maxi-single. The single peaked at #94 on the Australian ARI ...

" (song) at This Might Be A Wiki {{authority control 1986 songs 1987 debut singles Songs written by John Flansburgh Songs written by John Linnell They Might Be Giants songs Restless Records singles