Music Monday

Music Monday: Empire State Human by The Human League

Music Monday is a meme that was created by Drew from The Tattooed Book Geek. Bjørn and I will pick a song alternatively on each Monday and share our thoughts about them. Bjørn’s pick this week is Empire State Human by The Human League.

Thoughts and Ramblings

They didn’t want them, baby, when ‘Empire State Human’ by The Human League was released in 1979 as their third single, the first and only from the debut album Reproduction. The band already began to disagree about what their sound should be before the album came out. Only Phil Oakey, the singer, has remained the band’s member throughout its existence. (There is a handy timeline graphic on Wikipedia.) And so, self-sabotaging with great success, unlike the record’s success, they briefly changed their name to The Men for the second single (which failed to chart) before becoming The Human League again for ‘Empire State Human’ (which charted upon re-release, because the record label pressed too many copies, and so included them as freebies with the next single).

There are no waitresses, cocktail bars, or a cinematic video to be seen here. But you can listen to Philip Oakey declaring he wants to be tall 112 times over three minutes. Once you do, a few weeks later your workmates, parents, or a significant other will give you a weird look when you find yourself muttering under your breath that you want to be tall, tall, tall, tall, as big as a wall, wall, wall, wall without even realising you’re doing it.

Song Lyrics

Since I was very young I realised
I never wanted to be human size
So I avoid the crowds and traffic jams
They just remind me of how small I am
Because of this longing in my heart
I’m going to start the growing art
I’m going to grow now and never stop
Think like a mountain, grow to the top

Tall, tall, tall
I want to be tall, tall, tall
As big as a wall, wall, wall
As big as a wall, wall, wall
And if I’m not tall, tall, tall
Then I will grow, grow, grow
Because I’m not tall
Tall, tall, tall, tall
Tall, tall, tall
Tall, tall, tall
I want to be tall, tall, tall
As big as a wall, wall, wall
As big as a wall, wall, wall
And if I’m not tall, tall, tall
Then I will grow, grow, grow
Because I’m not tall
Tall, tall, tall, tall
Tall, tall, tall

With concentration
My size increased
And now I’m fourteen stories high
(At least)
Empire State human
Just a bored kid
I’ll go to Egypt to be
The pyramids

Tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick)
I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Stone by stone)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(Growing ’til he’s)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(Fully grown)
And if I’m not tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick)
Then I will grow, grow, grow
(Stone by stone)
Because I’m not tall
(Growing ’til he’s)
Tall, tall, tall, tall
(Fully grown)
Tall, tall, tall
Tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water)
I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more sand)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(Biggest person)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(In the land)
And if I’m not tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water)
Then I will grow, grow, grow
(Fetch more sand)
Because I’m not tall
(Biggest person)
Tall, tall, tall, tall
(In the land)
Tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick
Stone by stone
Growing ’til he’s
Fully grown
Brick by brick
Stone by stone
Growing ’til he’s
Fully grown)

Tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water)
I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more sand)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(Biggest person)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(In the land)
And if I’m not tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water)
Then I will grow, grow, grow
(Fetch more sand)
Because I’m not tall
(Biggest person)
Tall, tall, tall, tall
(In the land)
Tall, tall, tall
Tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick)
I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Stone by stone)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(Growing ’til he’s)
As big as a wall, wall, wall
(Fully grown)
And if I’m not tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick)
Then I will grow, grow, grow
(Stone by stone)
Because I’m not tall
(Growing ’til he’s)
Tall, tall, tall, tall
(Fully grown)
Tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water
Fetch more sand
Biggest person
In the land
Fetch more water
Fetch more sand
Biggest person
In the land)

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