Flans recently posted a trans Dr. Worm fanart for the Trans Day of Visibility, which leads me to believe he'd probably be down with this interpretation.
Not an idea, a fact. He informed you that he is not a real doctor because impersonating a doctor is a crime. Its apart of the joke. 🎉 Back to reality. ~You're welcome.
@@Acanofalconpunch john Linnell is also very bothered by people seeing him as a loser: ""I feel defensive immediately hearing somebody describe it that way. But to me, the song makes perfect sense. It's about somebody who has an idea of their identity that, you know, other people don't agree with. And specifically, it's about the kind of person who has a fantasy about [wanting] people to call them a nickname that nobody will agree to call them, and has an idea of their status that nobody else agrees on, and it's a pretty common problem, you know. I mean I grew up with people like that, who lived in their mothers' basements and had an idea that they were on TV and stuff like that, and that's all the song is really about, it's about somebody who has a fantasy and nobody else will buy into it."
Oh that's an interesting read! It didn't occur to me bc I've had that actual conversation with human drummers, about how you just have to come in bc there's no way to alert them of your presence when they're playing
i think another thing in this song thats SUPER trans is the line "someday somebody else besides me will call me by my stage name" it conjures the idea of being in the closet and not knowing when but knowing someday, somebody else besides you will call you by the name you call yourself
I am so, SO glad that I'm not the only person who's had this interpretation of Doctor Worm! My chosen name began as a consideration for a stage name when I was still exploring my gender identity and hadn't yet figured out that I'm trans, so the line "someday somebody else besides me will call me by my stage name" almost always makes me tear up, and the powerful assertion of identity in "I am a real worm" hits me where I live. Thanks for making this video!
Love this. I always thought "I'm interested in things" could also be read as Dr. Worm being on the spectrum. They're ready and willing to tell you about what they're interested in
There is a school of thought that the completion of art (if I may use an extremely clumsy phrase) ends with the viewer/listener, not when the artist displays their work. People bring their own interpretations and that is what gives art its meaning, regardless of the artist’s intentions. You have made an absolutely amazing completion to a work I had considered perfectly complete already. I’m a cis woman with a trans son (age 17). He *barely* tolerates my obsession with tmbg; there is much eye-rolling. I wonder if I can get him to watch this. So so so good. And your singing isn’t bad either. Thank you for this.
@@TXWatson I appreciate the humility, But I'm pretty sure you can actually perfectly imitate the sounds of several different instruments with your voice while singing.
I completely agree with this really, Art is generally made for the people who enjoy it, Not those who make it. Sure, The artist may enjoy it too, In fact likely does if they considered it good enough to release to the world, But that doesn't make their interpretation inherently any more right than anyone else's. I suppose something can be said for intention, But it's still far from the most important part of interpretation. There's actually one musician I know, Daniel Uhl of Spiral Cell, Who in an interview said he doesn't like to give his own interpretations of his songs or say what his intention is, As he wants the listener to make their own interpretation of it, Which I think is honestly fantastic. (Even if out of sheer curiosity I would like to know his interpretation of them in some cases.)
as an autistic trans man who has struggled with getting people to come to terms with my identity, family especially, this song does resonate with me a lot. the idea of being a “real worm” and “living like a worm” means lot to me, because it reminds me so much of the numerous times i’ve tried explaining to people that despite not being a male *biologically* (like not being “a real doctor”), I am a man in spirit and identity of sorts, and i “live like a worm” in a way that i live my life happy with what i identify as. being “interested” in things alongside doctor worm’s expressed passion for the drums personally resonates with my fixations and interests, and how i act whenever people show an interest or intent to hear me out. it makes me love this song so much more than i already do. thank you for this. :) [and to the terfs in the comments, cry louder, people can have interpretations, and if you feel the need to comment about how much you disagree with said interpretations, just know that we, most likely, don’t care all that much, keep your thoughts to yourself and click off the video, yeah?
Me too! I love this interpretation. I'm not trans myself and so don't want to try to speak for any trans people. I do feel this could be really helpful to give a window into how SOME trans people feel, like just a tiny little slice 🖤
@@TXWatson I respect your interpretation. But the way your title and your video is saying it is like disregarding a ton of other interpretations. TMBG love writing songs like this, they don't give them specific meanings but the lyrics can be hilarious and entertaining. Then some people will come up with interpretations based on what they wanted it to mean. Like you know some people would interpret the Worm as a Penis and the Drum as a girl's ass, I don't know. My point is, you should be clear in saying that this is purely your own personal interpretation and avoid ascribing things that boldly. And also, not to be mean at all, but your like interpreting a song using pronouns like they're not used that much. Like, of course you would expect the song to start like "They call me..." and not like "He/She calls me..."--in short, your interpretation is very one-sided.
@@hetaeramancer I literally have a whole section about the fact that this is definitely not the intended reading of the song, and that the value of this reading is precisely in the fact that it's something trans audiences can read, knowing it's their own interpretation and not an authoritative one, without fear of critique on the basis that it's not precisely a correct reading. I go over the sources and citations that establish what TMBG have actually said they meant, and explain why this reading is more valuable as the interpretation of individuals than it could be if it were definitive. To have written this comment and think you had a point, you would truly need to have not actually watched the video. Next time you try and dunk on someone for being disrespectful of a work, consider showing that work the respect of actually viewing it first.
Wait wait... Dr. Worm and Rabi Vole are supposed to be bad at the drums and solo? But... I enjoy both. Clearly, if I'm sitting here listening to these YEARS after having listened to it the first time they have done something GOOD. Yes good. My autocorrect suggests I mean "well" and not "good" but no they have done something good. Regardless of their genders, these two people have done something good.
i am a worm, i‘m not a doctor, and i like to poorly play music so i’ve always identified with this song. but actually, and in all seriousness, i love this song as a testament to enjoying yourself and trying to better yourself while being proud of where you are. and as a non-binary person who really felt understood and validated when you spoke i loved your analysis. thanks, bud, for making me further enjoy doctor worm!! 💜 (and thanks for sending me from tiktok to here.)
I found this while looking for the Doctor Worm music video and I feel so happy cause I’m non-binary and regularly think and feel “today my gender is Dr. Worm”. Because this song makes me feel gender emotions. And also reminds me of how I’m learning how to bake pie. So like I’m doctor work but with baked good and I love that. I’m seeing TMBG in a few days and I’m going to wear mushroom overalls to the concert and I’m so excited.
I love TMBG so much and I love this video! I think what makes this interpretation work so well despite clearly not being intended is that They Might be Giants always write with a lot of empathy for the characters singing their songs. Whatever Doctor Worm is meant to be about its clear that Doctor Worm is a very sincere character with very sincere needs and desires.
This came into my recommended after I looked up the song since a really long time. My first reaction was "yeah, why the hell not" I always thought that Dr Worm was a classic story of someone who is enjoying what they want and plans to one day make it big doing what they love. To add this extra dimension to my interpretation of the song makes no difference in my interpretation and introduces me to a new angle of a song I really enjoy.
Oh my God, I adore this. I found this while I was watching TMBG music videos, and the moment I saw the title it clicked in my mind. I already loved this song, and I always interpreted it in a positive light, rather than the delusional meaning that was intended. You've completely changed how I see this song now.
The phrase "I am a real worm, I am an actual worm, I live like a worm." is somewhat reminiscent of many conversations I've had with well-meaning cis moms.
I've listened to some They Might Be Giants - enough to know that their songs are always open to wide ranges of interpretation, and I'd finally listened to Dr. Worm after it was mentioned in a Drawfee episode. This was the first video in the sidebar after listening to it and I want to say you did a great read on it! A few of my professors in my English and art history courses have said things to this effect: "all art has meaning, but it isn't always predetermined by the artist. Truly being an English major or a literary/art analyst, is to make meaning of something out of the evidence within the piece itself." This video really captures that spirit of analyzing art. You're going through the full process of "what is the narrator saying, doing, feeling? How can I prove this interpretation while staying within the realms of the lyrics and instrumentation, rather than relying on what the artists themselves have had to say?" That's generally what English teachers mean when they say "what does this mean? There's no wrong answer," - of course in public school there's always the answer they want you to get to, but in college and beyond it's all about finding your own answer in the text, making your own connections, and then proving it through argument.
full stop, this is something i’ve been thinking for the past three months. i just found this video today when i was looking for tmbg demos and this was listed as “related” i’m so glad i found this video, i’m so glad people agree with me. thank you for this.
I'm so glad that multiple other people have individually discovered this reading of the song because if I were the only one I would sound CRAZY for feeling this
I may not be trans, but when I thought about this song on my own I came to this video's exact conclusion. I don't care if the Johns might say otherwise, y'all should have this one.
I love this reading of the song. I also think it's neat that people interpret "Doctor Worm" this way, as it's also become an anthem for the Deep Space 9 characters Jadzia and Ezri Daz, both of whom are heavily coded as transgender.
Thank you for adding to the large pile of reasons I (a.) Need to finally get around to watching some Star Trek and (b.) Should specifically start with DS9
if the youtube algorithm was any decent it would have sent me a personal email with this video link in it when you uploaded it. but i'm SO glad i've found it now and THANK YOU for making it
I love the small probably unintentional detail of how the letters are sometimes bolded in certain parts in the lyrics describing how the tone of doctor worm
Given at least two trans women I'm aware of are HUGE fans of TMBG I immediately have to wonder if a trans person I encounter (or someone I know about comes out as trans) if they also happen to be a fan of one of my favorite music groups of All Time. Meanwhile I question my own gender every time Michael Guy Bowman sings "you are my favorite girl" in This Is As Good As It Gets.
i like this reading. i think i'm gonna stick to my (not all that different) general feelings of queer trans autistic kinship i feel towards this earnest li'l creature, but i really appreciate hearing someone do the kind of analysis that doesn't occur to me and provide a more explicitly trans interpretation
One of the reasons I absolutely love TMBG. Their lyrics can have different meanings for different people. Enough space to fill in what each listener wants, needs or likes. I have all sorts of theories about a bunch of their songs that fit into my experience. Glad they fit into yours as well. Viva la TMBG!
I gave Gemini AI the task of producing a short story based on Doctor Worm. It took to the task in a more literal sense, but wasn't horrible. *** Prompt: Write a short story based on the TMBG song, "Doctor Worm" Reginald wriggled, a disgruntled frown etched on his segmented face. Rain lashed against the damp potting soil, his usual practice space. Tonight, the rhythm of the storm wasn't enough. He craved the crisp snap of a snare and the booming resonance of a bass drum. He was Doctor Worm, after all, and a doctor needed his instruments. The dream had come a year ago, a vision during a particularly humid summer. John Bonham, the human drummer he'd admired from afar, his thunderous beats echoing through the ventilation system into Reginald's dirt castle. That night, a new ambition sprouted - to play the drums, not burrow through them. Reality, however, proved less glamorous. Reginald's initial attempts were met with mockery. Mildred, the grumpy earthworm next door, called him "delusional." Bartholomew, the pompous beetle, scoffed, "Drumming? That's for creatures with limbs, not mindless burrowers." But Reginald persisted. He fashioned makeshift drumsticks from twigs and bottle caps, their clatter a far cry from Bonham's thunder. He practiced in secret, the rhythm pulsing through his segmented body, a counterpoint to the dripping rain. Tonight, however, a new kind of frustration gnawed at him. He yearned for an audience, a single creature to acknowledge his efforts. "Someone else besides me will call me by my stage name," he muttered, the lyric from his personal anthem echoing in his mind. Suddenly, a flicker of light pierced the darkness. A firefly, lost in the storm, had stumbled upon his makeshift stage. Mesmerized, it hovered, its bioluminescence illuminating the determined glint in Reginald's multiple eyes. With renewed vigor, Reginald launched into his latest composition, a frenetic beat that mimicked the storm's fury. The firefly, captivated, pulsed its light in time with the rhythm. It wasn't much, but in that flickering glow, Reginald saw a reflection - not of a doctor, but of an artist, his passion resonating with the world, even if that world was just one tiny firefly. As the storm subsided, a single word escaped Reginald's tiny mandibles. "Encore?" The firefly, as if in answer, blinked its tiny light twice. A small smile, or at least what passed for one on a worm's face, spread across Reginald's segmented face. He wasn't quite John Bonham yet, but under the watchful glow of his first fan, Doctor Worm continued to practice, his dreams drumming a steady rhythm in the damp earth.
I revised the prompt, and this is probably a bit better. *** Prompt: Write a short story based on the TMBG song, "Doctor Worm" about a transsexual person. Rain pummeled the corrugated metal roof, a relentless percussion solo that echoed in Janine's basement apartment. It mirrored the frantic beat of her heart. Tonight was the night. She wasn't Janine anymore. Tonight, she was Dr. Worm. The name, a childhood fascination with invertebrates twisted with a subversive glee, felt like a secret identity. Looking in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Gone were the ill-fitting clothes and the hair she'd never felt was truly hers. Now, a sharp bob framed her face, and a leather jacket hung loosely on her newly confident posture. Hours of TH-cam tutorials had transformed her eyeliner into a weaponized wing, a stark contrast to the mousy brown she used to hide behind. Dr. Worm, though. That was the real transformation. It wasn't just the worn drum kit she'd cobbled together from online deals and scavenged parts. It was the rhythm, a language that finally felt like it flowed naturally through her, a counterpoint to the dissonance she'd felt her whole life. The memory of her parents' horrified faces when she'd first confessed her dreams of playing drums, not becoming a doctor, flickered across her mind. "Unladylike," they'd said. "Unrealistic." But Dr. Worm wasn't a lady. Dr. Worm wasn't Janine, either. Dr. Worm was the person trapped inside, finally bursting free. Her phone buzzed, a text from her friend, Chloe, the only person who knew about Dr. Worm. "Ready to rock the basement, Doc?" Janine, or rather, Dr. Worm, a mischievous grin splitting her face, typed back, "Almost. Just gotta find my metaphorical stethoscope." She grabbed a drumstick, the familiar weight a comfort. Tonight, she wasn't playing for her disapproving parents or the whispers at school. Tonight, she was playing for herself. As the first beats pounded through the room, the rain outside faded into background noise. The rhythm pulsed through her, a primal language that spoke of defiance and self-discovery. Dr. Worm wasn't perfect - the basement wasn't exactly a stadium - but in that moment, enveloped by the music, she was exactly who she was meant to be. When the last note faded, a single tear rolled down her cheek, a tear of relief, of joy, of pure, unadulterated existence. Maybe someday, Dr. Worm would play on a real stage, bathed in real spotlights. But for now, the basement, the flickering fluorescent light, and the echo of the drums - that was her symphony.
I'd like to post how I interpret the song just to put it out there. Dr. Worm, from what I've interpreted, is literally about a worm who plays the drums and goes by the stage name 'Dr.Worm.' My points are that the conversation between you and Dr.Worm is very introductory (By that I mean that Dr.Worm is meeting you for the first time. The reason he tells you he's not a doctor is so that you aren't confused.) Next, I think he's saying that he's an 'actual worm' is the song exclaiming that he really is a worm and not a human. Then when he's playing the drums he may be nervous. He believes that he's good at it but wants you to know that you can criticize it if you want. Him leaving the door unlocked could also explain how the two of you meet. You simply walked into his house. Him saying he doesn't know if your watching whilst he's playing the drums, to me that sounds like he's getting so into his drum playing that he zones you out of his mind. He dreams of having his performance be famous and that his stage name 'Dr.Worm' would be known worldwide. I have other reasons for my interpretation, but this comment is just to put what I perceive out there into the world. You did make a good video with some nice points, but from at least how I've listed to this song, the lyrics are just too literal in my opinion.
Yeah this is a totally reasonable interpretation, and I think definitely how TMBG intended it to read. I find reading it as a trans allegory really compelling (for obvious reasons) but it's def only one way to look at the song, and certainly not the only way to *enjoy* the song.
I'm a trans guy who's part of a system, and one of my headmates is a worm on a string. Payne(the worm) is a split of myself(host) and really enjoys this song, they're struggling with understanding that they have to share a body with myself and our third equally non-human headmate. Payne is also a PTSD holder, and neither myself nor our other headmate are professionals with handling an illness like PTSD, we wish we knew more and wish we could help Payne more, but as none of us are doctors, all we can do is support and accept Payne as they are, that they are more than just a suffering worm puppet, they are an actual worm and they like things. We love that they are okay at doing things even if they aren't the best because Payne is getting better and we love that for them. Thank you for this video 💜 -The Void System
5:19 I always interpreted the "I can't heard the doorbell" as being related to the being a worm; Worms, Or Earthworms at least, Don't have ears, And thus theoretically couldn't hear a doorbell ring, Although the drums being loud makes perfect sense to.
this is one of me and my siblings (all 3 of us trans) like favorite piece of music, thank you for sharing your cool interpretation and making me think about a favorite song of mine more! now i gotta figure out how constantinople is a trans allegory actually
I'm not the biggest fan of TMBG since I dont know most of their albums, but ive been a fan of this song for over 10 years ever since i first heard it in the browser mmorpg AQW. Finally accepting myself as a trans woman and then finding this video after trying to find out if TMBG were trans supporters makes me very happy and a little emotional. Though i only like some of their songs, i really like them as people and the social role they put themselves in and ill always wish the best for both john and john! Also, thanks for the interpretation, you made this song a thousand times better for me
I always feel unique until I find a youtube video that lies at the intersection of two different parts of my identity that i never thought would cross. My identity as a transgender woman and my identity as a fan of they might be Giants.
great video!!! my friend sent this to me and i think your interpretation was very interesting. i know its common amongst trans tmbg fans to see doctor worm as a trans song, but this is the first time i ever saw someone go into depth with it. about a year ago i started this list of trans tmbg songs which has around twenty songs on it (i still need to add some interpretations to it since i stumbled upon one for mr me and some songs discussed on the second trans episode of this might be a podcast). i think its very interesting how this cis band has so many songs that trans people can relate to and find some sort of meaning behind it that's gender related. i absolutely hate the original meaning behind doctor worm because it doesn't really feel that way even if you didn't see anything gender related about it. it just seems like doctor worm is trying their best, but linnell is just calling them a loser. maybe linnell was fucking around when he said that since sometimes they like to do that when it comes to talking about the meanings behind their songs, but i dont know. anyways, great video. sorry for the long comment, i get very excited about anything relating to tmbg and trans people.
Yeah I mean I've known ppl like the person Linell was talking about. Tbh I think he's just too nice a person-like he tries to write songs abt ppl he has a problem with but he puts too much empathy in it & winds up writing abt someone with a really sincere relationship to a difficult experience. "I Should Be Allowed To Think" is another one like that for me-like it's supposed to be abt someone who's deluded & self-important, and while that does come thru in that one, it's also really clear that dude is actually Going Through Some Shit & kinda desperately trying to make his life into something that he can feel meaning in. With Doctor Worm I think that Linell's read is totally a plausible interpretation, but he never actually put anything in the song that suggests that the doctor really has an unjustified confidence, & I think that's missing just because they would've felt mean writing it. But the result is that it's about somebody who's just a passionate amateur who has hope about where their hobby might take them. (Edited cuz I realized I wasn't actually sure Linell wrote both of those songs, & also I think Flansberg is prolly similarly limited by niceness)
Well, I think it's cool that you can draw that meaning from the song. I'm sure TMBG would agree that the song could just as easily be about that than anything else. But if you're speaking about their intent, I'm skeptical. You seemed to agree. Good art allows its consumer to draw what they need from it and see things that are exclusive to them personally in it. Peter Pumkinhead by XTC has been said to be about Jesus Christ, JFK, MLK and all manner of religious leaders and personal heroes. And Andy Partridge has called the song a pick your own subject song. It's about all those people and whoever you want it to be about. That's just one example but it should be possible to do that with a lot of things. Be they songs, paintings, books or whatever.
i hate interpretations of this song that see Doctor Worm as this annoying, sad figure, because I relate to Doctor Worm. i am interested in things. i am not a real doctor. i want to get better at music but i am an amateur. i am nonbinary. having social anxiety, one thing that always scares me away from displaying any self-confidence in public is the fear of people observing me being myself, and judging me for... treating myself with too much seriousness or undeserved respect? or for displaying my interests without restraint, without constantly considering and accomodating for the fact that anything I do could be seen as annoying or cringy or piteous or complacent. maybe all us actual worms can get together in one big band practice and call each other by our stage names and give each other constructive criticism on our hobbies when requested. and maybe I won't have to worry about what other people think as much :)
This is a really interesting and meaningful analysis, and one that produces some sentences that are rather hilarious taken at face value: "Their identity as a worm is not a topic for debate[...]" Great video!
you did a solid job with this video. you had me raising my eyebrow at the start and then led me through the whole thesis flawlessly. you actively anticipated my thoughts and preemptively walked through everything so flawlessly that i am stunned by how well you managed to put this together. amazing work!
i've always loved the song growing up, and as an autistic person, i've always found doctor worm's enthusiasm for their hobbies infectious and inspiring. but, even as a cis person, i'd say like, /most/ of my friends are trans, so after a moment or two, your interpretation really clicked. the implied experiences as doctor worm's friend as per your interpretation are all things i've went through as i've grown up and met people, and grown close to them, forming lifelong friendships, and growing as a person along the way. also [Trumpets of interruption] got me to laugh pretty hard. great work!
Misread the year as 1988 for a second and got jumpscared by the idea that a band I grew up with was so much older than me (I was born in 2005, and TMBG kids albums were a big part of my childhood)
wait dr worm is meant to be about a loser? I always thought it was more a metaphor for an awkward guy opening up and sharing his passions and dreams with the listener? him being a worm is kinda like a way of saying hes metaphorically small and unnoticeable but that doesnt make him less important? It just feels wrong to call dr worm a delusional loser when...hes just a lil guy... just a little worm in a big world... Maybe its because i spend my breaks in the spring pulling drenched worms out of cold puddles in the rain. I am a proud worm sympathizer.
I don't personally think that Dr. Worm is about trans people, or anything really. But then that's the beauty of TMBG, their songs are often just nonsensical fun so people can ascribe whatever meaning that they want to them.
I was a little skeptical at first because I love this song and didn’t want you to just throw random meaning into it that was loosely tied to it but this is so valid and I love it so much
thought worms are underground = underground artist aspires to be seen only line that work make sense is im interested in things but thats kinda self deprecating
As a TMGB super fan and a trans guy I'm kicking myself never seeing this as a trans allegory! Thank you for the new interpretation. So here's one for you: I always read The Constellation as jealousy of a cis man towards a nonexistent trans person-you know, the one some cis folks make up in their heads to be pissed at for no reason whatsoever.
i at times have thought of this song somewhat similar but for slightly different reasons, but i like it! every song should be this up for interpretation! love it
That’s a really interesting interpretation! It’s funny, I never interpreted this song as dr worm being delusional, they seem like they just have a pure, innocent joy. Weirdly, I cried the first time I heard this song because of that. They just love playing the drums and want to share that with you. 😭
You know funnily enough the way you segmented the song made me think of autistim and my relationship to it... and how gender relates to that so i mean clearly not intended those ways, but a nice conclusion nevertheless
I never really saw this as a trans allegory, but I can see how you got there. I thought it was just a song about making music. Those early stages where you're actually starting to make something that resembles actual music and you're wondering if you sound good to other people. I mean yeah I know that is basically the most basic interpretation of the song, but not every thing has to have some deeper meaning, sometimes a painting of a pipe is just a painting of a pipe and song it's just meant to be silly fun. Though interpretation is one of the funnest parts of art and as long as you can back up your argument imho and it's not what I call squinting where the piece of are is like completely opposed to your take (like people saying a work is apolitical or work means the total opposite of what it's meant to convey and they don't really back it up with anything. Basically your not interpreting it your just making it say whatever you want it to say by like paying attention to a small part of it or ignoring things that go against your take, it's something I see a lot and it annoys me)
@@darkmyro yeah, that's definitely more consistent with what TMBG have said about how they thought about the song when they wrote it. I talk a bit at 10:55 about how this interpretation is definitely not intended, and why I think this reading is a better experience for some people because it isn't bound to an obligation to confirm to an authoritative interpretation. The pipe painting might not be the best example for your point, though. The really famous painting of a pipe, "Treachery of Images," is specifically about how works of art aren't what they appear to be.
I need another person to make a video like this that way I can say "If I had a nickel for every time someone has presented a trans interpretation of a song I loved before I transitioned, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice right??"
This is awesome! Some of the best and most original interpretative work I’ve ever seen! And the way you articulate your points is fantastic! I think the Johns would approve!
I think Brontosaurus from their newest album Book is intended as a trans metaphor from the ground up , though dr worm works as one retroactively i feel like it being released on the same album as "sexxy" might speak to trans issues not being present on their mind in that era
This is a completely awesome video. I love your analysis. It is the best demonstration that I have seen that consistency with authorial intent is not necessary for a good and relevant literary criticism. I have always liked this song without giving it much thought. I'm tone deaf and not a music effort, so the efforts of Dr. Vole and Rabbi Vole seem fine to me. I don't see any lack as you indicated their efforts don't have any mistakes and fit into the song. I am looking forward to watching more of your work Thank you!
Flans recently posted a trans Dr. Worm fanart for the Trans Day of Visibility, which leads me to believe he'd probably be down with this interpretation.
That's awesome!
@@lolflashlight1010 what?
Lmao
@@lolflashlight1010 and some people are just trying to erase the perception of the problem.
Where can I find this?
I have always been bothered by the idea that TMBG think Dr. Worm is "a looser" The song has alwasy felt pretty loving and celebratory of Dr. Worm.
Not an idea, a fact. He informed you that he is not a real doctor because impersonating a doctor is a crime. Its apart of the joke. 🎉 Back to reality. ~You're welcome.
@@Acanofalconpunch john Linnell is also very bothered by people seeing him as a loser: ""I feel defensive immediately hearing somebody describe it that way. But to me, the song makes perfect sense.
It's about somebody who has an idea of their identity that, you know, other people don't agree with. And specifically, it's about the kind of person who has a fantasy about [wanting] people to call them a nickname that nobody will agree to call them, and has an idea of their status that nobody else agrees on, and it's a pretty common problem, you know. I mean I grew up with people like that, who lived in their mothers' basements and had an idea that they were on TV and stuff like that, and that's all the song is really about, it's about somebody who has a fantasy and nobody else will buy into it."
5:16 I always thought "cuz I can't hear the doorbell" referenced the fact that worms can't hear at all
Oh that's an interesting read! It didn't occur to me bc I've had that actual conversation with human drummers, about how you just have to come in bc there's no way to alert them of your presence when they're playing
things can mean multiple things and honestly it being a play on both "cant hear over the drums" and "worms cant hear" is kinda fun
i think another thing in this song thats SUPER trans is the line "someday somebody else besides me will call me by my stage name" it conjures the idea of being in the closet and not knowing when but knowing someday, somebody else besides you will call you by the name you call yourself
"By both John and John" LMAO NEVER GETS OLD
I saw the title and I thought about it, and yeah, I definitely agree with you. My mind instantly went to “I am a real worm, I am an actual worm.”
my first thought was the stage name bit
i dont know why this showed up when i was searching "homestar runner gay" in the google search bar but im glad it did
Tbh target demographic
May I ask why exactly you were looking that up?
@@PonkleWonkle why aren’t you?
Probably because Homestar Runner did a music video for TMBG
HOMESTAR RUNNER GAY??????
I searched "trans worm" and i was very surprised i managed to fing anything, thanks for this
trans worm
Trans worm
Trans worm
I am so, SO glad that I'm not the only person who's had this interpretation of Doctor Worm! My chosen name began as a consideration for a stage name when I was still exploring my gender identity and hadn't yet figured out that I'm trans, so the line "someday somebody else besides me will call me by my stage name" almost always makes me tear up, and the powerful assertion of identity in "I am a real worm" hits me where I live. Thanks for making this video!
Your singing is actually fantastic my guy
Love this. I always thought "I'm interested in things" could also be read as Dr. Worm being on the spectrum. They're ready and willing to tell you about what they're interested in
SAME
There is a school of thought that the completion of art (if I may use an extremely clumsy phrase) ends with the viewer/listener, not when the artist displays their work. People bring their own interpretations and that is what gives art its meaning, regardless of the artist’s intentions. You have made an absolutely amazing completion to a work I had considered perfectly complete already. I’m a cis woman with a trans son (age 17). He *barely* tolerates my obsession with tmbg; there is much eye-rolling. I wonder if I can get him to watch this. So so so good. And your singing isn’t bad either. Thank you for this.
Thank you! (The singing thing was a joke, though. I did actually just use the TMBG audio)
@@TXWatson I appreciate the humility, But I'm pretty sure you can actually perfectly imitate the sounds of several different instruments with your voice while singing.
I completely agree with this really, Art is generally made for the people who enjoy it, Not those who make it. Sure, The artist may enjoy it too, In fact likely does if they considered it good enough to release to the world, But that doesn't make their interpretation inherently any more right than anyone else's. I suppose something can be said for intention, But it's still far from the most important part of interpretation. There's actually one musician I know, Daniel Uhl of Spiral Cell, Who in an interview said he doesn't like to give his own interpretations of his songs or say what his intention is, As he wants the listener to make their own interpretation of it, Which I think is honestly fantastic. (Even if out of sheer curiosity I would like to know his interpretation of them in some cases.)
I want, "I am going to be using They/Them for Doctor Worm" tattooed on my body
I think that rabbi vole's solo is meant to show their simular struggles to Dr. Worm's theme by themselves.
Omg, I've always thought this, but I'm not entirely sure why??? I'm 4 years late to this, but I'm STOKED.
as an autistic trans man who has struggled with getting people to come to terms with my identity, family especially, this song does resonate with me a lot. the idea of being a “real worm” and “living like a worm” means lot to me, because it reminds me so much of the numerous times i’ve tried explaining to people that despite not being a male *biologically* (like not being “a real doctor”), I am a man in spirit and identity of sorts, and i “live like a worm” in a way that i live my life happy with what i identify as. being “interested” in things alongside doctor worm’s expressed passion for the drums personally resonates with my fixations and interests, and how i act whenever people show an interest or intent to hear me out. it makes me love this song so much more than i already do. thank you for this. :)
[and to the terfs in the comments, cry louder, people can have interpretations, and if you feel the need to comment about how much you disagree with said interpretations, just know that we, most likely, don’t care all that much, keep your thoughts to yourself and click off the video, yeah?
I don't care the original intention, this is how will now choose to interpret this song.
Me too! I love this interpretation. I'm not trans myself and so don't want to try to speak for any trans people. I do feel this could be really helpful to give a window into how SOME trans people feel, like just a tiny little slice 🖤
Yeah, drives home that I think is usually a step too complex for the discourse a lot of cis ppl are ready for.
@@TXWatson I respect your interpretation. But the way your title and your video is saying it is like disregarding a ton of other interpretations.
TMBG love writing songs like this, they don't give them specific meanings but the lyrics can be hilarious and entertaining.
Then some people will come up with interpretations based on what they wanted it to mean. Like you know some people would interpret the Worm as a Penis and the Drum as a girl's ass, I don't know.
My point is, you should be clear in saying that this is purely your own personal interpretation and avoid ascribing things that boldly.
And also, not to be mean at all, but your like interpreting a song using pronouns like they're not used that much. Like, of course you would expect the song to start like "They call me..." and not like "He/She calls me..."--in short, your interpretation is very one-sided.
@@hetaeramancer I literally have a whole section about the fact that this is definitely not the intended reading of the song, and that the value of this reading is precisely in the fact that it's something trans audiences can read, knowing it's their own interpretation and not an authoritative one, without fear of critique on the basis that it's not precisely a correct reading. I go over the sources and citations that establish what TMBG have actually said they meant, and explain why this reading is more valuable as the interpretation of individuals than it could be if it were definitive. To have written this comment and think you had a point, you would truly need to have not actually watched the video. Next time you try and dunk on someone for being disrespectful of a work, consider showing that work the respect of actually viewing it first.
Wait wait... Dr. Worm and Rabi Vole are supposed to be bad at the drums and solo? But... I enjoy both. Clearly, if I'm sitting here listening to these YEARS after having listened to it the first time they have done something GOOD. Yes good. My autocorrect suggests I mean "well" and not "good" but no they have done something good. Regardless of their genders, these two people have done something good.
as a huge tmbg fan & nonbinary person this explains EVERYTHING !!!! also omg I love the sense of humor in this. amazing vid thank you
i am a worm, i‘m not a doctor, and i like to poorly play music so i’ve always identified with this song. but actually, and in all seriousness, i love this song as a testament to enjoying yourself and trying to better yourself while being proud of where you are. and as a non-binary person who really felt understood and validated when you spoke i loved your analysis. thanks, bud, for making me further enjoy doctor worm!! 💜 (and thanks for sending me from tiktok to here.)
I found this while looking for the Doctor Worm music video and I feel so happy cause I’m non-binary and regularly think and feel “today my gender is Dr. Worm”. Because this song makes me feel gender emotions. And also reminds me of how I’m learning how to bake pie. So like I’m doctor work but with baked good and I love that. I’m seeing TMBG in a few days and I’m going to wear mushroom overalls to the concert and I’m so excited.
This makes me smile. I love humans 💜 (Genuine)
yes so good, was looking for a non-binary comment and here it is
A cis man I don't talk to just sent me this video. Thanks, man.
I love TMBG so much and I love this video! I think what makes this interpretation work so well despite clearly not being intended is that They Might be Giants always write with a lot of empathy for the characters singing their songs. Whatever Doctor Worm is meant to be about its clear that Doctor Worm is a very sincere character with very sincere needs and desires.
This came into my recommended after I looked up the song since a really long time. My first reaction was "yeah, why the hell not"
I always thought that Dr Worm was a classic story of someone who is enjoying what they want and plans to one day make it big doing what they love. To add this extra dimension to my interpretation of the song makes no difference in my interpretation and introduces me to a new angle of a song I really enjoy.
Oh my God, I adore this. I found this while I was watching TMBG music videos, and the moment I saw the title it clicked in my mind. I already loved this song, and I always interpreted it in a positive light, rather than the delusional meaning that was intended. You've completely changed how I see this song now.
i just discovered this song like 5 minutes ago because im making a playlist of worm related music
Good video! love this reading
If you ever make a snail-related list, check out Snail Shell
Inch the worm pfp spotted.
Worm gang rise up
It's a fun song about a worm who plays drums.
The phrase "I am a real worm, I am an actual worm, I live like a worm." is somewhat reminiscent of many conversations I've had with well-meaning cis moms.
I've listened to some They Might Be Giants - enough to know that their songs are always open to wide ranges of interpretation, and I'd finally listened to Dr. Worm after it was mentioned in a Drawfee episode. This was the first video in the sidebar after listening to it and I want to say you did a great read on it!
A few of my professors in my English and art history courses have said things to this effect: "all art has meaning, but it isn't always predetermined by the artist. Truly being an English major or a literary/art analyst, is to make meaning of something out of the evidence within the piece itself." This video really captures that spirit of analyzing art. You're going through the full process of "what is the narrator saying, doing, feeling? How can I prove this interpretation while staying within the realms of the lyrics and instrumentation, rather than relying on what the artists themselves have had to say?"
That's generally what English teachers mean when they say "what does this mean? There's no wrong answer," - of course in public school there's always the answer they want you to get to, but in college and beyond it's all about finding your own answer in the text, making your own connections, and then proving it through argument.
full stop, this is something i’ve been thinking for the past three months. i just found this video today when i was looking for tmbg demos and this was listed as “related”
i’m so glad i found this video, i’m so glad people agree with me. thank you for this.
I don't know but I think it seems more beautiful that he talks about a worm that wants a friend 🧸🔫
I mean, alright. Cool. I'm glad you also enjoy the song.
I'm so glad that multiple other people have individually discovered this reading of the song because if I were the only one I would sound CRAZY for feeling this
>:) it's hard to make yourself.... volenerable........
I may not be trans, but when I thought about this song on my own I came to this video's exact conclusion. I don't care if the Johns might say otherwise, y'all should have this one.
I love this reading of the song. I also think it's neat that people interpret "Doctor Worm" this way, as it's also become an anthem for the Deep Space 9 characters Jadzia and Ezri Daz, both of whom are heavily coded as transgender.
Thank you for adding to the large pile of reasons I (a.) Need to finally get around to watching some Star Trek and (b.) Should specifically start with DS9
if the youtube algorithm was any decent it would have sent me a personal email with this video link in it when you uploaded it. but i'm SO glad i've found it now and THANK YOU for making it
I love the small probably unintentional detail of how the letters are sometimes bolded in certain parts in the lyrics describing how the tone of doctor worm
I hope they make a new song from dr. Worms friend rabbi vowels perspective. I liked his part in the song.
Given at least two trans women I'm aware of are HUGE fans of TMBG I immediately have to wonder if a trans person I encounter (or someone I know about comes out as trans) if they also happen to be a fan of one of my favorite music groups of All Time.
Meanwhile I question my own gender every time Michael Guy Bowman sings "you are my favorite girl" in This Is As Good As It Gets.
i like this reading. i think i'm gonna stick to my (not all that different) general feelings of queer trans autistic kinship i feel towards this earnest li'l creature, but i really appreciate hearing someone do the kind of analysis that doesn't occur to me and provide a more explicitly trans interpretation
One of the reasons I absolutely love TMBG. Their lyrics can have different meanings for different people. Enough space to fill in what each listener wants, needs or likes. I have all sorts of theories about a bunch of their songs that fit into my experience. Glad they fit into yours as well. Viva la TMBG!
I gave Gemini AI the task of producing a short story based on Doctor Worm. It took to the task in a more literal sense, but wasn't horrible.
***
Prompt: Write a short story based on the TMBG song, "Doctor Worm"
Reginald wriggled, a disgruntled frown etched on his segmented face. Rain lashed against the damp potting soil, his usual practice space. Tonight, the rhythm of the storm wasn't enough. He craved the crisp snap of a snare and the booming resonance of a bass drum. He was Doctor Worm, after all, and a doctor needed his instruments.
The dream had come a year ago, a vision during a particularly humid summer. John Bonham, the human drummer he'd admired from afar, his thunderous beats echoing through the ventilation system into Reginald's dirt castle. That night, a new ambition sprouted - to play the drums, not burrow through them.
Reality, however, proved less glamorous. Reginald's initial attempts were met with mockery. Mildred, the grumpy earthworm next door, called him "delusional." Bartholomew, the pompous beetle, scoffed, "Drumming? That's for creatures with limbs, not mindless burrowers."
But Reginald persisted. He fashioned makeshift drumsticks from twigs and bottle caps, their clatter a far cry from Bonham's thunder. He practiced in secret, the rhythm pulsing through his segmented body, a counterpoint to the dripping rain.
Tonight, however, a new kind of frustration gnawed at him. He yearned for an audience, a single creature to acknowledge his efforts. "Someone else besides me will call me by my stage name," he muttered, the lyric from his personal anthem echoing in his mind.
Suddenly, a flicker of light pierced the darkness. A firefly, lost in the storm, had stumbled upon his makeshift stage. Mesmerized, it hovered, its bioluminescence illuminating the determined glint in Reginald's multiple eyes.
With renewed vigor, Reginald launched into his latest composition, a frenetic beat that mimicked the storm's fury. The firefly, captivated, pulsed its light in time with the rhythm. It wasn't much, but in that flickering glow, Reginald saw a reflection - not of a doctor, but of an artist, his passion resonating with the world, even if that world was just one tiny firefly.
As the storm subsided, a single word escaped Reginald's tiny mandibles. "Encore?"
The firefly, as if in answer, blinked its tiny light twice. A small smile, or at least what passed for one on a worm's face, spread across Reginald's segmented face. He wasn't quite John Bonham yet, but under the watchful glow of his first fan, Doctor Worm continued to practice, his dreams drumming a steady rhythm in the damp earth.
I revised the prompt, and this is probably a bit better.
***
Prompt: Write a short story based on the TMBG song, "Doctor Worm" about a transsexual person.
Rain pummeled the corrugated metal roof, a relentless percussion solo that echoed in Janine's basement apartment. It mirrored the frantic beat of her heart. Tonight was the night. She wasn't Janine anymore. Tonight, she was Dr. Worm.
The name, a childhood fascination with invertebrates twisted with a subversive glee, felt like a secret identity. Looking in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Gone were the ill-fitting clothes and the hair she'd never felt was truly hers. Now, a sharp bob framed her face, and a leather jacket hung loosely on her newly confident posture. Hours of TH-cam tutorials had transformed her eyeliner into a weaponized wing, a stark contrast to the mousy brown she used to hide behind.
Dr. Worm, though. That was the real transformation. It wasn't just the worn drum kit she'd cobbled together from online deals and scavenged parts. It was the rhythm, a language that finally felt like it flowed naturally through her, a counterpoint to the dissonance she'd felt her whole life.
The memory of her parents' horrified faces when she'd first confessed her dreams of playing drums, not becoming a doctor, flickered across her mind. "Unladylike," they'd said. "Unrealistic." But Dr. Worm wasn't a lady. Dr. Worm wasn't Janine, either. Dr. Worm was the person trapped inside, finally bursting free.
Her phone buzzed, a text from her friend, Chloe, the only person who knew about Dr. Worm. "Ready to rock the basement, Doc?"
Janine, or rather, Dr. Worm, a mischievous grin splitting her face, typed back, "Almost. Just gotta find my metaphorical stethoscope." She grabbed a drumstick, the familiar weight a comfort. Tonight, she wasn't playing for her disapproving parents or the whispers at school. Tonight, she was playing for herself.
As the first beats pounded through the room, the rain outside faded into background noise. The rhythm pulsed through her, a primal language that spoke of defiance and self-discovery. Dr. Worm wasn't perfect - the basement wasn't exactly a stadium - but in that moment, enveloped by the music, she was exactly who she was meant to be.
When the last note faded, a single tear rolled down her cheek, a tear of relief, of joy, of pure, unadulterated existence. Maybe someday, Dr. Worm would play on a real stage, bathed in real spotlights. But for now, the basement, the flickering fluorescent light, and the echo of the drums - that was her symphony.
I'd like to post how I interpret the song just to put it out there.
Dr. Worm, from what I've interpreted, is literally about a worm who plays the drums and goes by the stage name 'Dr.Worm.'
My points are that the conversation between you and Dr.Worm is very introductory (By that I mean that Dr.Worm is meeting you for the first time. The reason he tells you he's not a doctor is so that you aren't confused.)
Next, I think he's saying that he's an 'actual worm' is the song exclaiming that he really is a worm and not a human.
Then when he's playing the drums he may be nervous. He believes that he's good at it but wants you to know that you can criticize it if you want.
Him leaving the door unlocked could also explain how the two of you meet. You simply walked into his house.
Him saying he doesn't know if your watching whilst he's playing the drums, to me that sounds like he's getting so into his drum playing that he zones you out of his mind.
He dreams of having his performance be famous and that his stage name 'Dr.Worm' would be known worldwide.
I have other reasons for my interpretation, but this comment is just to put what I perceive out there into the world.
You did make a good video with some nice points, but from at least how I've listed to this song, the lyrics are just too literal in my opinion.
Yeah this is a totally reasonable interpretation, and I think definitely how TMBG intended it to read. I find reading it as a trans allegory really compelling (for obvious reasons) but it's def only one way to look at the song, and certainly not the only way to *enjoy* the song.
I'm a trans guy who's part of a system, and one of my headmates is a worm on a string. Payne(the worm) is a split of myself(host) and really enjoys this song, they're struggling with understanding that they have to share a body with myself and our third equally non-human headmate. Payne is also a PTSD holder, and neither myself nor our other headmate are professionals with handling an illness like PTSD, we wish we knew more and wish we could help Payne more, but as none of us are doctors, all we can do is support and accept Payne as they are, that they are more than just a suffering worm puppet, they are an actual worm and they like things. We love that they are okay at doing things even if they aren't the best because Payne is getting better and we love that for them. Thank you for this video 💜 -The Void System
5:19 I always interpreted the "I can't heard the doorbell" as being related to the being a worm; Worms, Or Earthworms at least, Don't have ears, And thus theoretically couldn't hear a doorbell ring, Although the drums being loud makes perfect sense to.
when is this gonna blow up for the love of god
This came up as one of the recommendations while I was watching the music video for Dr. Worm. The title caught my attention, I'm glad it did.
this is one of me and my siblings (all 3 of us trans) like favorite piece of music, thank you for sharing your cool interpretation and making me think about a favorite song of mine more! now i gotta figure out how constantinople is a trans allegory actually
The solo is my favorite part of the song lol
I'm not the biggest fan of TMBG since I dont know most of their albums, but ive been a fan of this song for over 10 years ever since i first heard it in the browser mmorpg AQW. Finally accepting myself as a trans woman and then finding this video after trying to find out if TMBG were trans supporters makes me very happy and a little emotional. Though i only like some of their songs, i really like them as people and the social role they put themselves in and ill always wish the best for both john and john! Also, thanks for the interpretation, you made this song a thousand times better for me
Except there is no proof of them being trans supporters. Don't let this good song be ruined by nonsense like transgender.
I always feel unique until I find a youtube video that lies at the intersection of two different parts of my identity that i never thought would cross. My identity as a transgender woman and my identity as a fan of they might be Giants.
great video!!! my friend sent this to me and i think your interpretation was very interesting. i know its common amongst trans tmbg fans to see doctor worm as a trans song, but this is the first time i ever saw someone go into depth with it. about a year ago i started this list of trans tmbg songs which has around twenty songs on it (i still need to add some interpretations to it since i stumbled upon one for mr me and some songs discussed on the second trans episode of this might be a podcast). i think its very interesting how this cis band has so many songs that trans people can relate to and find some sort of meaning behind it that's gender related. i absolutely hate the original meaning behind doctor worm because it doesn't really feel that way even if you didn't see anything gender related about it. it just seems like doctor worm is trying their best, but linnell is just calling them a loser. maybe linnell was fucking around when he said that since sometimes they like to do that when it comes to talking about the meanings behind their songs, but i dont know. anyways, great video. sorry for the long comment, i get very excited about anything relating to tmbg and trans people.
Yeah I mean I've known ppl like the person Linell was talking about. Tbh I think he's just too nice a person-like he tries to write songs abt ppl he has a problem with but he puts too much empathy in it & winds up writing abt someone with a really sincere relationship to a difficult experience. "I Should Be Allowed To Think" is another one like that for me-like it's supposed to be abt someone who's deluded & self-important, and while that does come thru in that one, it's also really clear that dude is actually Going Through Some Shit & kinda desperately trying to make his life into something that he can feel meaning in. With Doctor Worm I think that Linell's read is totally a plausible interpretation, but he never actually put anything in the song that suggests that the doctor really has an unjustified confidence, & I think that's missing just because they would've felt mean writing it. But the result is that it's about somebody who's just a passionate amateur who has hope about where their hobby might take them.
(Edited cuz I realized I wasn't actually sure Linell wrote both of those songs, & also I think Flansberg is prolly similarly limited by niceness)
Well, I think it's cool that you can draw that meaning from the song. I'm sure TMBG would agree that the song could just as easily be about that than anything else. But if you're speaking about their intent, I'm skeptical. You seemed to agree. Good art allows its consumer to draw what they need from it and see things that are exclusive to them personally in it. Peter Pumkinhead by XTC has been said to be about Jesus Christ, JFK, MLK and all manner of religious leaders and personal heroes. And Andy Partridge has called the song a pick your own subject song. It's about all those people and whoever you want it to be about. That's just one example but it should be possible to do that with a lot of things. Be they songs, paintings, books or whatever.
i hate interpretations of this song that see Doctor Worm as this annoying, sad figure, because I relate to Doctor Worm. i am interested in things. i am not a real doctor. i want to get better at music but i am an amateur. i am nonbinary.
having social anxiety, one thing that always scares me away from displaying any self-confidence in public is the fear of people observing me being myself, and judging me for... treating myself with too much seriousness or undeserved respect? or for displaying my interests without restraint, without constantly considering and accomodating for the fact that anything I do could be seen as annoying or cringy or piteous or complacent. maybe all us actual worms can get together in one big band practice and call each other by our stage names and give each other constructive criticism on our hobbies when requested. and maybe I won't have to worry about what other people think as much :)
Honestly finding those communities is so important. Make friends who call you by your stage name 2k22
@@TXWatson psst... Dont tell them I told you this but they're the real Dr worm....
Really love what you did visually with this one!
Thank you!
My friends: what are you going to do with a mass media degree?
Me: oh yknow. Trans readings of TMBG songs
Dude you just made me lol. You are a huge comedian
I came here from your tiktok about None Pizza with Left Beef. The essay was perfection. I love this song, and this video is absolutely amazing.
my friend sent me this video and I am such a massive TMBG fan I must comment just to show my appreciation
They call me doctor worm
I’m a big tmbg fan and this is the best thing I have EVER seen
Same
This is a really interesting and meaningful analysis, and one that produces some sentences that are rather hilarious taken at face value: "Their identity as a worm is not a topic for debate[...]"
Great video!
i knew there was a reason i flapped my hands around when i heard this song
you did a solid job with this video. you had me raising my eyebrow at the start and then led me through the whole thesis flawlessly. you actively anticipated my thoughts and preemptively walked through everything so flawlessly that i am stunned by how well you managed to put this together. amazing work!
I have a theory that "Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes" is about being trans
i stumbled across the song a few days ago in an edit of the worms from the Muppets and feel strong gender euphoria when i listen to it 🤩
They might be trans allies
i've always loved the song growing up, and as an autistic person, i've always found doctor worm's enthusiasm for their hobbies infectious and inspiring.
but, even as a cis person, i'd say like, /most/ of my friends are trans, so after a moment or two, your interpretation really clicked. the implied experiences as doctor worm's friend as per your interpretation are all things i've went through as i've grown up and met people, and grown close to them, forming lifelong friendships, and growing as a person along the way.
also [Trumpets of interruption] got me to laugh pretty hard.
great work!
I honestly thought the vole’s name was Crab Apple this whole time.
As a non binary drummer, I have always loved this song, thanks for making this
Misread the year as 1988 for a second and got jumpscared by the idea that a band I grew up with was so much older than me (I was born in 2005, and TMBG kids albums were a big part of my childhood)
@@BookWyrmOnAString yk their first album came out in 1986, right?
@@TXWatson it was the suddenness of the realization that got me
wait dr worm is meant to be about a loser? I always thought it was more a metaphor for an awkward guy opening up and sharing his passions and dreams with the listener? him being a worm is kinda like a way of saying hes metaphorically small and unnoticeable but that doesnt make him less important?
It just feels wrong to call dr worm a delusional loser when...hes just a lil guy... just a little worm in a big world... Maybe its because i spend my breaks in the spring pulling drenched worms out of cold puddles in the rain. I am a proud worm sympathizer.
Aaaaaaaaaand subbed, lol. I found this randomly because I was jamming to Doctor Worm and I love your analysis. Great work, and excellent singing!
Almost a year later, was listening to the song and this popped back into my head. god bless
Hell yeah!!! 🪱🏳️⚧️
Wow nice singing almost sounded like the original
I don't personally think that Dr. Worm is about trans people, or anything really. But then that's the beauty of TMBG, their songs are often just nonsensical fun so people can ascribe whatever meaning that they want to them.
As a trans guy who has had this song in his head for two weeks straight this was a nice surprise and I am all for it
I've been obsessing over this and have had almost the exact same thoughts! so cool to see other cool people interacting with this song in this way
I was a little skeptical at first because I love this song and didn’t want you to just throw random meaning into it that was loosely tied to it but this is so valid and I love it so much
yeah no I've been putting this together for about 5 years 😅
I love this song even more now!
I didn’t expect any of that, I like it :D!
thought worms are underground = underground artist aspires to be seen
only line that work make sense is im interested in things but thats kinda self deprecating
As a TMGB super fan and a trans guy I'm kicking myself never seeing this as a trans allegory! Thank you for the new interpretation. So here's one for you: I always read The Constellation as jealousy of a cis man towards a nonexistent trans person-you know, the one some cis folks make up in their heads to be pissed at for no reason whatsoever.
i at times have thought of this song somewhat similar but for slightly different reasons, but i like it! every song should be this up for interpretation! love it
Extremely big brain takes hour I am so glad this came up when I just wanted to listen to doctor worm
I really dig the use of whiteboards.
Interesting theory, but I think it's a song about a worm that likes to play the drums. I don't think it's that deep.
Also, I love your humor.
Omg you have such a great singing voice!
That’s a really interesting interpretation! It’s funny, I never interpreted this song as dr worm being delusional, they seem like they just have a pure, innocent joy. Weirdly, I cried the first time I heard this song because of that. They just love playing the drums and want to share that with you. 😭
Very informative, thankyou
You know funnily enough the way you segmented the song made me think of autistim and my relationship to it... and how gender relates to that so i mean clearly not intended those ways, but a nice conclusion nevertheless
Interesting and well thought out interpretation, never would have thought of it like that
I never really saw this as a trans allegory, but I can see how you got there. I thought it was just a song about making music. Those early stages where you're actually starting to make something that resembles actual music and you're wondering if you sound good to other people. I mean yeah I know that is basically the most basic interpretation of the song, but not every thing has to have some deeper meaning, sometimes a painting of a pipe is just a painting of a pipe and song it's just meant to be silly fun. Though interpretation is one of the funnest parts of art and as long as you can back up your argument imho and it's not what I call squinting where the piece of are is like completely opposed to your take (like people saying a work is apolitical or work means the total opposite of what it's meant to convey and they don't really back it up with anything. Basically your not interpreting it your just making it say whatever you want it to say by like paying attention to a small part of it or ignoring things that go against your take, it's something I see a lot and it annoys me)
@@darkmyro yeah, that's definitely more consistent with what TMBG have said about how they thought about the song when they wrote it. I talk a bit at 10:55 about how this interpretation is definitely not intended, and why I think this reading is a better experience for some people because it isn't bound to an obligation to confirm to an authoritative interpretation.
The pipe painting might not be the best example for your point, though. The really famous painting of a pipe, "Treachery of Images," is specifically about how works of art aren't what they appear to be.
I need another person to make a video like this that way I can say "If I had a nickel for every time someone has presented a trans interpretation of a song I loved before I transitioned, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice right??"
This is awesome! Some of the best and most original interpretative work I’ve ever seen! And the way you articulate your points is fantastic! I think the Johns would approve!
I LOVE this reading so much! You my friend have a new subscriber.
I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rabbi Vole played an incredible bass solo
@@breadmoneyarchival you're so right I'm sorry
I think Brontosaurus from their newest album Book is intended as a trans metaphor from the ground up , though dr worm works as one retroactively i feel like it being released on the same album as "sexxy" might speak to trans issues not being present on their mind in that era
This is a completely awesome video. I love your analysis. It is the best demonstration that I have seen that consistency with authorial intent is not necessary for a good and relevant literary criticism. I have always liked this song without giving it much thought. I'm tone deaf and not a music effort, so the efforts of Dr. Vole and Rabbi Vole seem fine to me. I don't see any lack as you indicated their efforts don't have any mistakes and fit into the song. I am looking forward to watching more of your work Thank you!
I really like this interpretation but I will acknowledge Mx. and Indiv. as honorifics - albeit they're less well known.