Song of the Day 11/19: They Might Be Giants, “Don’t Let’s Start”

The title track to the 1986 debut album by They Might Be Giants is my go-to response to anyone who wants to talk to me about politics these days. To quote John and John, “D, world destruction, Over and overture, N do I need apostrophe T need this torture? … No one in this world ever gets what they want. … I don’t want to live in this world anymore.” But they sure are upbeat about it.

The video was shot inside the since-demolished New York State Pavilion from the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Those giant cutout heads are of William Allen White, early 20th-century newspaper editor and a leader of the Progressive movement.