As the author of the video, it's probably worth pointing out I am from the UK (which is Europe for our Americans ;) I love the song, and can confirm the song is meant to be funny, and over the top on the stereo-types.
This is such a great song :D Jonathan Coulton should be famous and paid! Now thats a guy who truly deserves it, his lyrics are so funny and but he makes the songs sound so good :). Love this song - Greets from Holland =D
It's awesome when people know history. Congrats guys! JC's songs are awesome, blending current & historical events into song lyrics well. Also personal experience like in "Code Monkey."
Wait, he *did* play "Over There" in England. It was his first number, according to the comments in the official JoCo blog, and he got lots of boos for the "saved your asses in WWII" line. However, the rest of the concert went smashingly.
This song (and Flickr) gives me the impression that Coulton took a bunch of improv or sketchwriting classes. One thing we'll do, sometimes, is we'll randomly go on wikipedia or 4chan or whatever for inspiration, then a spark ignites in our brain and we'll start writing a sketch. Or, in Coulton's case, a song. It seems like the kind of thing you'd do when you're writing a song a week for a year.
Can I just say, all these recent comments from a few people....you are aware this is a funny song? He is playing on the stereo-types. Listen to some of his other songs, you'll realizes how good he is.
I am not even entirely sure that is incorrect English but at any rate you understood the gist of what I was trying to convey. Nobody should be able to correct others spelling when they use short hand like that. Thanks for the lesson.
@vurtualboy Don't forget that in attrition, the germans didn't stand a chance. They had to put torches under their tanks to prevent them from freezing, troops were dying from the cold and every once in a while a tank would explode from aforementioned torches. They should have stuck to their own territory until summer, but instead they charged into pretty much the coldest contested land on earth at the time.
It's somewhat true about alot of mayonnaise with your frites in belgium though... We are very over the top when we make our fries :) Don't think you'll find so many types of sauces to go with them anywhere else as easily as in Belgium either.
@TheBahamaLlamas It's been a long time since i was in history class, but if I remember, there wasn't a whole lot happening in the Pacific until the later part of the war. Correct me if I'm wrong.
btw i just wanna say that you can walk from north america to asai and from asia to africa and europe. so everything except antartica and australia everything is connected
I very much agree with maker of my fate and who wouldn't want to poke fun at those who believe that everybody understands English if you scream loud enough
@IamTheiPhone Americans were fighting the Japanese, and Britain was fighting off Germany in Europe. The Americans got some isles and Japan responded with the now-infamous Pearl Harbor attack (there's a movie on it, in fact). Battle of Britain was one of the turning points, but there were many more that were aided by Americans, and the biggest of them is, sadly, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
You ever hear of success? It's never been achieved by Linux to the extent of Microsoft or Apple. I was stranded the other day, and wasn't able to shower. Thus, I ate French toast.
@suiciderobotmonkey Actually, I have spoken to Jonathan at length on this song (have even have a video of part of that conversation on here, search for "Jonathan Coulton Interview - Part 3 of 4 "), . He is indeed playing on stereotypes.
I certainly agree about the cheese. There's no city in the Netherlands where there isn't a cheese shop or two in a shopping street. And let's not talk about markets.
"When you're in Belgium you can eat a lot of mayonnaise with your frites, and no one will say 'Hey, that's too much mayonnaise.'" Really, with lyrics like this... If you can't tell that this is non-serious song playing on stereotypes, you should probably step outside, look at the sky, take a big breath, and calm down!
in europe we actaully brush our teeth, yes. and about the american beer... I´ll quote monty pythons: "Its like making love in a canoe. It´s fucking close to water."
Don't disagree. It is, however, designated a "germanic" language. But we all know that England had a very mixed heritage and therefore its language had a very mixed influence (Celt, Roman, Germanic, Viking/Danish, Norman)...the language has a color all its own.
@swordo21 Many people agree that that the USSR would have lost the war if it was not for the lead lease act and if it was not for the co US-UK bombing over germany wwii would have lasted much longer
LYRICS LISTEN PEOPLE ALSO SEARCH FOR 1 of 4 2 of 4 Take a boat, take a plane Go to London, go to Spain Take a train from Amsterdam to Monaco Take a loved one if you think They enjoy things that stink Cause everything is different over there When you're in Belgium you can eat A lot of mayonnaise with your frites And no one will say hey that's too much mayonnaise Enjoy a German sausage hall Eat an Italian meatball But I hope you don't want a Twinkie Because they don't have Hostess Twinkies over there Over there you'll never feel at ease Cause there's not much soap and there's too much cheese And everyone wears clogs and rides on trains Over there they'll make you regret that you ever Saved their asses in World War II Don't make me go over there Cause I enjoy my freedom here And I enjoy light-colored beer I like to take showers And I like to brush my teeth every day Twice a day They say that there's a place in France Where the naked ladies dance You can find it if you ask around And there's a hole there in the wall Where the men can see it all But the men don't care Because they chew their underwear And the underwear they chew costs a dollar ninety-two And the men go around with their ding dongs hanging down Over there you'll never feel at ease Cause there's not much soap and there's too much cheese And everyone wears clogs and rides on trains Over there they'll make you regret that you ever Saved their asses in World War II Don't make me go over there No don't make me go over there Don't make me go over there
' The Internet was invented by the American Defense dept. Tim Berners-Lee, the British scientist you're thinking of, invented the World Wide Web (30 years after the Internet),' Absolutley, when you plug in a modem those horrible noises you hear are All-American, when you access your e-mail or watch youtube however your on Her Majesties time.
@Zarafien The UK had amerian civilian pliots too, the uk could of fallen in wwii before the battle of britain but after and during the battle of britain the UK had Really strong defenses so i doubt if germany could take over britain but Russia needed out side help many supplies from the USA and the UK saved russia in 1941-1942 but i doubt if the UK alone could ship and defend all that without US ships because even in 1940 the Uk had around 100-150 US destoryers
@leaguesmanoframsgate The mass majority of the ground troops that liberated Western Europe were American. The UK did more for its size, but it is so much smaller so its impact became eclipsed after we entered the war. The USSR did more than either of us, but they didn't liberate areas, they conquered them.
1) Not all North American caucasians were British. In fact, at one time in the early 20th century, it looked like German might be the central language of the United States. And, a significant number of Candians are of French descent. 2) The British have a far greater proportion of Swedish/Norwegian/Danish invaders than Germans. They are all loosely related, as are all upper central Europeans. However, Gallic is the dominant bloodline that traces and that is French.
@jocopro I would have to disagree with the stereotype part. I think this song is not meant to rather stereotype the average American's point of view of the rest of the world. Commenting on this video in order to reinforce these ideas dos not pound this idea into us American's thick skulls any faster. I'm not sure what the original comment was saying, because the artist himself is an American.
@Zarafien Yes. Russia would have annihilated Germany without any help from anyone. Gather around kids its time for a history lesson. Russia had been pushed back to Stalingrad, and had even lost control of the city a few times. While Stalin was worried so much about protecting it he was oblivious to the fact that Germany was less than a month away from Moscow. Hitler also was able to keep England at bay and out of real fighting with his air campaign. Keeping both of them from doing anything.
Wrong buddy. There´s infitessimal Celtic influence in the English language, however you find very strong latin and french roots. Just look at street (strata) or all those silent letters.
@MrAlkalinity I think you never picked up an issue of Captain America or Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos. Nick Fury notably beat the sh!t outta Hitler on at least 3 separate occasions.
I can't believe this song was uploaded when TH-cam started (10 Years ago)!
Such a lovely, friendly, modest attitude really makes me want to go and give America a big hug.
As the author of the video, it's probably worth pointing out I am from the UK (which is Europe for our Americans ;)
I love the song, and can confirm the song is meant to be funny, and over the top on the stereo-types.
This is such a great song :D Jonathan Coulton should be famous and paid! Now thats a guy who truly deserves it, his lyrics are so funny and but he makes the songs sound so good :). Love this song - Greets from Holland =D
You Americans never cease to amuse me with your hilarious sterotypes :)
It's awesome when people know history. Congrats guys!
JC's songs are awesome, blending current & historical events into song lyrics well. Also personal experience like in "Code Monkey."
Guys... just stop arguing about who saved who, who is what, or what means what... just enjoy the song.
I love it!
GREAT video!!!
Wait, he *did* play "Over There" in England. It was his first number, according to the comments in the official JoCo blog, and he got lots of boos for the "saved your asses in WWII" line. However, the rest of the concert went smashingly.
awesome Video, you my friend have talent
...singing the chorus to this song is the only thing that keeps me sane when i'm cleaning the basement
This song (and Flickr) gives me the impression that Coulton took a bunch of improv or sketchwriting classes. One thing we'll do, sometimes, is we'll randomly go on wikipedia or 4chan or whatever for inspiration, then a spark ignites in our brain and we'll start writing a sketch. Or, in Coulton's case, a song. It seems like the kind of thing you'd do when you're writing a song a week for a year.
Nice one with the freedom pic, couldn't have been better. :)
Not sure if anyone already told you this... Canada still has them, at least where I am at, had some like two weeks ago...
what cant understand is that not many people have heard of Jonathan Coulton still.
Did anyone tape the concert? Totally must get as many JoCo vids on my private play list as possible.
a wry and humourous look at the view from across the pond.
Well he did open his London gig with it and after say, 'That is the last time I'll insult you this evening'
Brilliant Satire. Randy Newman would be proud.
"and no one will say hey! thats too much mayonaise"
Can I just say, all these recent comments from a few people....you are aware this is a funny song? He is playing on the stereo-types. Listen to some of his other songs, you'll realizes how good he is.
I need to find that place in France.
@Baurles Something about the phrase "400 million trains" just sounds really nice. It should be a prog rock album title or something.
I am not even entirely sure that is incorrect English but at any rate you understood the gist of what I was trying to convey. Nobody should be able to correct others spelling when they use short hand like that. Thanks for the lesson.
@vurtualboy Don't forget that in attrition, the germans didn't stand a chance. They had to put torches under their tanks to prevent them from freezing, troops were dying from the cold and every once in a while a tank would explode from aforementioned torches. They should have stuck to their own territory until summer, but instead they charged into pretty much the coldest contested land on earth at the time.
It's somewhat true about alot of mayonnaise with your frites in belgium though... We are very over the top when we make our fries :) Don't think you'll find so many types of sauces to go with them anywhere else as easily as in Belgium either.
I'm struggling to understand the concept of having too much cheese.
@TheBahamaLlamas
It's been a long time since i was in history class, but if I remember, there wasn't a whole lot happening in the Pacific until the later part of the war. Correct me if I'm wrong.
@lolbandwidth Yes. In India they have more people than trains!
@silveRxG actually in the winter the sea between alaska and sibiria can freeze, thats how the first people came to america
btw i just wanna say that you can walk from north america to asai and from asia to africa and europe. so everything except antartica and australia everything is connected
great song lol!
For nearly 10 years I thought he said mayo with your FEET
Well. Your comment just made me realise that, 6 years later. Mayonnaise with your frites.
Not all of us. Our country has 310 million people. Please keep that in mind.
I think that says a lot about JoCo.
It totally is.
@jocopro You normaly have more trains than people.. How would it look if for example US had 400 million trains?
@McLeod54 yes and we need to LAUGH at ouselves to!!
@paimail21 lol as an american i agree, i hate getting involved in everything, but when you are a world super power, it is kind of our job
@jocopro i would hope that there are more people in america than trains in america. o.o
I very much agree with maker of my fate and who wouldn't want to poke fun at those who believe that everybody understands English if you scream loud enough
He's all like 'and there's too much cheese', how can there be too much cheese?
AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!
I wonder why during the London show everyone booed at the ww2 thing, but nobody in Amsterdam.
hey. I'm over here. not that bad
@Roach1593 also the war was won thanks to england mainly.. best trained soilders in the world !
@jocopro Most places have more people than trains...
@IamTheiPhone We fought both at the same time. Japan took longer though.
Wow people can't take a Joke
Yeah we have a lot of cheese but we also have Octoberfest!
its like the best beer in the world and it costs nealy nothing!
but still i love the song
@IamTheiPhone Americans were fighting the Japanese, and Britain was fighting off Germany in Europe. The Americans got some isles and Japan responded with the now-infamous Pearl Harbor attack (there's a movie on it, in fact). Battle of Britain was one of the turning points, but there were many more that were aided by Americans, and the biggest of them is, sadly, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
@Wugish oh you're such a funny guy. thanks for making me laugh.
@marmelade8 Well, Sweden is a part of Europe...
You ever hear of success? It's never been achieved by Linux to the extent of Microsoft or Apple.
I was stranded the other day, and wasn't able to shower. Thus, I ate French toast.
@suiciderobotmonkey Actually, I have spoken to Jonathan at length on this song (have even have a video of part of that conversation on here, search for "Jonathan Coulton Interview - Part 3 of 4 "), . He is indeed playing on stereotypes.
I certainly agree about the cheese.
There's no city in the Netherlands where there isn't a cheese shop or two in a shopping street.
And let's not talk about markets.
Best song about culture shock.
"When you're in Belgium you can eat a lot of mayonnaise with your frites, and no one will say 'Hey, that's too much mayonnaise.'"
Really, with lyrics like this... If you can't tell that this is non-serious song playing on stereotypes, you should probably step outside, look at the sky, take a big breath, and calm down!
in europe we actaully brush our teeth, yes.
and about the american beer...
I´ll quote monty pythons:
"Its like making love in a canoe. It´s fucking close to water."
Don't disagree. It is, however, designated a "germanic" language. But we all know that England had a very mixed heritage and therefore its language had a very mixed influence (Celt, Roman, Germanic, Viking/Danish, Norman)...the language has a color all its own.
As a European, I'm not sure whether to feel insulted or just laugh.
...
Just kidding, Jonathan Coulton is TEH BEST! ^_^
@swordo21 Many people agree that that the USSR would have lost the war if it was not for the lead lease act and if it was not for the co US-UK bombing over germany wwii would have lasted much longer
LYRICS
LISTEN
PEOPLE ALSO SEARCH FOR
1 of 4
2 of 4
Take a boat, take a plane
Go to London, go to Spain
Take a train from Amsterdam to Monaco
Take a loved one if you think
They enjoy things that stink
Cause everything is different over there
When you're in Belgium you can eat
A lot of mayonnaise with your frites
And no one will say hey that's too much mayonnaise
Enjoy a German sausage hall
Eat an Italian meatball
But I hope you don't want a Twinkie
Because they don't have Hostess Twinkies over there
Over there you'll never feel at ease
Cause there's not much soap and there's too much cheese
And everyone wears clogs and rides on trains
Over there they'll make you regret that you ever
Saved their asses in World War II
Don't make me go over there
Cause I enjoy my freedom here
And I enjoy light-colored beer
I like to take showers
And I like to brush my teeth every day
Twice a day
They say that there's a place in France
Where the naked ladies dance
You can find it if you ask around
And there's a hole there in the wall
Where the men can see it all
But the men don't care
Because they chew their underwear
And the underwear they chew costs a dollar ninety-two
And the men go around with their ding dongs hanging down
Over there you'll never feel at ease
Cause there's not much soap and there's too much cheese
And everyone wears clogs and rides on trains
Over there they'll make you regret that you ever
Saved their asses in World War II
Don't make me go over there
No don't make me go over there
Don't make me go over there
' The Internet was invented by the American Defense dept. Tim Berners-Lee, the British scientist you're thinking of, invented the World Wide Web (30 years after the Internet),'
Absolutley, when you plug in a modem those horrible noises you hear are All-American, when you access your e-mail or watch youtube however your on Her Majesties time.
I don't think most of the people reading this will ever have heard modem noises.
@Zarafien The UK had amerian civilian pliots too, the uk could of fallen in wwii before the battle of britain but after and during the battle of britain the UK had Really strong defenses so i doubt if germany could take over britain but Russia needed out side help many supplies from the USA and the UK saved russia in 1941-1942 but i doubt if the UK alone could ship and defend all that without US ships because even in 1940 the Uk had around 100-150 US destoryers
Brooklyn Lager! Not a bad choice. Although I do generally prefer darker beer.
hahaha "Americans tend to forget the roles that other people play in their heavily-armed wank fantasies..."
love that line it cracks me up :)
@leaguesmanoframsgate The mass majority of the ground troops that liberated Western Europe were American. The UK did more for its size, but it is so much smaller so its impact became eclipsed after we entered the war. The USSR did more than either of us, but they didn't liberate areas, they conquered them.
He also appeared to be quite the good internet troll - look how many people are arguing in these comments :D
Love this song!
1) Not all North American caucasians were British. In fact, at one time in the early 20th century, it looked like German might be the central language of the United States. And, a significant number of Candians are of French descent.
2) The British have a far greater proportion of Swedish/Norwegian/Danish invaders than Germans. They are all loosely related, as are all upper central Europeans. However, Gallic is the dominant bloodline that traces and that is French.
Well, he *did* just do a concert in England.
oh Mousebong, lighten the hell up.
@marmelade8 Threre are a number of countries that make meatballs, Sweden is one of them, Italy is another.
@jocopro I would have to disagree with the stereotype part. I think this song is not meant to rather stereotype the average American's point of view of the rest of the world. Commenting on this video in order to reinforce these ideas dos not pound this idea into us American's thick skulls any faster. I'm not sure what the original comment was saying, because the artist himself is an American.
@Zarafien Yes. Russia would have annihilated Germany without any help from anyone. Gather around kids its time for a history lesson. Russia had been pushed back to Stalingrad, and had even lost control of the city a few times. While Stalin was worried so much about protecting it he was oblivious to the fact that Germany was less than a month away from Moscow. Hitler also was able to keep England at bay and out of real fighting with his air campaign. Keeping both of them from doing anything.
omg this is soo true XDDD
This.
good pronounciation of friet =o
Wrong buddy. There´s infitessimal Celtic influence in the English language, however you find very strong latin and french roots. Just look at street (strata) or all those silent letters.
@MrAlkalinity I think you never picked up an issue of Captain America
or Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos.
Nick Fury notably beat the sh!t outta Hitler on at least 3 separate occasions.
European here, thinking this shit is 'awesome'! :D
@Fivelemental Would be funny if I wasnt aware of the fact that near every American thinks along the lines of this song.
I like the part where he said over there
We can all make typos.
Is this genuinely the american view of europe?
Look, it's not hard. I am not Jonathan Coulton. I am just a fan. I think that is quite clear from the video description *and* the credits.
that thing about cheese is actually true XD
Wait... Inst Meatballs Swedish?
OMG.... THE TEETH... GAG
You can eat a lot of mayonnaise with your frites! For the longest time I thought he said feet. Frites is french for fries.
@Enigma1790 yeah, it's how Russia has been defended throughout history
@BillionSix I think you got it spot on. This comment made me laugh.
I'm American and I actually have a decent knowledge of history and I realize this.
Don't be such a bigot.
@ThisisBosaccount Truthfully Russia would most likely have beaten Germany without our help. We just sped up the process a bit.
Uhhh, have you heard of Linux? It wasn't made in america.
Yep, sugar tariffs in the US have ruined candy over here.
Al Gore is british?
@RiuvGuitar lol its true we americans are large :(...i weigh about 130 tho so i am not part of that lol
I really like his songs. But i think America saved their own asses too in ww2!