Linnell's lyrics are perhaps best known for their inclusion of strange subject matter and word play. Persistent themes include aging, delusional behavior, bad relationships, death, and the personification of inanimate objects. Conversely, the accompanying melodies are usually cascading and upbeat.
Early life
John Linnell was born in New York City to father Zenos Linnell, a psychiatrist, and mother Kathleen. When Linnell was a child, Walt Kelly's Songs of the Pogo album made a strong impression on his musical sensibilities. The album contained lyrics that relied heavily on puns and word play, which Linnell appreciated. In particular, he recalls "Lines Upon a Tranquil Brow", which later became part of They Might Be Giants's live repertoire. At an early age, Linnell and his family relocated to Lincoln, Massachusetts, where he attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Here, he worked on the school newspaper, the Promethean, and met John Flansburgh. The two occasionally collaborated on home-recording projects.
Linnell was born in Bloomsbury, London. His father was a carver and gilder and Linnell was brought into contact with artists from an early age, and was drawing and selling portraits in chalk and pencil at the age of 10. His first artistic instruction was received from Benjamin West, and he spent a year in the house of John Varley the water-colour painter, where he had William Hunt and William Mulready as fellow-pupils, and made the acquaintance of Shelley, Godwin and other men of mark. In 1805 he was admitted a student of the Royal Academy, where he obtained medals for drawing, modelling and sculpture. He was trained as an engraver, and executed a transcript of Varley's "Burial of Saul."
John Linnell (1729–96), was an 18th-century cabinet-maker and designer.
Biography
Linnell was in charge of one of London's largest cabinet-makers firms of the 18th century with many important and prominent patrons. The Linnell firm was created in 1730 by William Linnell (c.1703–63), and was inherited by his son John Linnell in 1763. The firm moved from 8 Long Acre in St. Martin's Lane, London to 28 Berkeley Square in 1750. From 1763 to his death John Linnell continued to develop the business his father had established and his reputation grew. However, due to his unconventional lifestyle, he left no heir to his trade and the fate of the firm after his death is uncertain.
There is speculation that in the last years of his life John Linnell entered a partnership with his relative Thomas Tatham (1763–1817). However the evidence is not conclusive. Thomas Tatham went on to be a partner at one of London's fashionable cabinetmaking and upholstery business owith George Elward, Edward Bailey and Richard Saunders. They were principal cabinet-makers to George IV and this firm worked at Carlton House and Buckingham Palace.
Idaho is a mountainous state with an area larger than that of all of New England. It borders the US states of Montana to the northeast, Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington and Oregon to the west. To the north, it shares a 45mi (72km) international border with the Canadian province of British Columbia, the shortest such land border of any state. The network of dams and locks on the Columbia River and Snake River make the city of Lewiston the farthest inland seaport on the Pacific coast of the contiguous United States.
Idaho's nickname is the "Gem State", because nearly every known type of gemstone has been found there. In addition, Idaho is one of only two places in the world where star garnets can be found in any significant quantities, the other being India. Idaho is sometimes called the "Potato State" owing to its popular and widely distributed crop. The state motto is Esto Perpetua (Latin for "Let it be forever" or "Let it endure forever").
Fires is the second album by London-born singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot. First released in April 2005 on her own independent record label, Idaho Records, Fires was met with much critical acclaim but did not gain commercial recognition.
After working as a support act for artists such as Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Vega, Pallot was signed up to 14th Floor Records, who were impressed with the audience response and after-show sales of her album. Thus, Fires was reissued in late April 2006 with revamped artwork and some slight remixes on some of Pallot's songs. The album entered at UK #41 and later, on the strength of the popular single "Everybody's Gone to War", made it as far as #21.
To date, the album has been certified gold in the UK for sales of over 100,000, and has earned Pallot a nomination at the 2007 BRIT Awards for Best British Female. As of 4 October 2009, the album has sold 138,563 copies in the UK.
Idaho by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Night-long
Vigil by the picture window.
Sleepy
Eyes never leave the road.
Past my bedtime
Miles ago.
Still haven't entered
Idaho.
There is a sign
Just up the way.
100 feet
From my front yard.
And though it's dark
I make it out.
It says that Idaho
Welcomes you.
Everybody's passed out.
They don't know
How close we are now.
Idaho.
(car alarm blares throughout)
Seen you.
Know everything about you.
Heard your
Air blowing 'cross my door.
Tantilizing.
Go man go.
Driving my house to
Idaho.
Almost there now.
Play that drumroll.
published: 17 Feb 2016
TMBG Concert Boise Idaho
The family's favorite band sing "I am a Paleontologist" at The Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, November 2009.
Please forgive the shotty camerawork. I had a four-year-old on my sholders.
published: 13 Dec 2009
South Carolina by John Linnell
This song isn't anywhere on this site. I don't like my odds of it (Or me, after my copyright issues) sticking around. We'll see.
published: 29 Sep 2009
Here We Have Idaho (YTO 272)
thanks, Erin, for reminding me of the words.
published: 10 May 2012
Tea Time in Idaho
Another one of our songs, be happy, enjoy, happy joy, show it to all of your friends, this song will come to you in your dreams.
published: 10 Feb 2009
Idaho pigeon shooting
Pigeon shooting in Idaho
published: 05 Aug 2012
John Linnell - Iowa
Iowa by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Silhouette on the moon
Flying around on a broom
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She likes the conical hat
Matching black dress
And a cat
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
"And if that broom don't fly,
I'm gonna buy you
A Dustbuster."
(dustbuster noise)
Stirs a large iron pot
Casting a spell
On Vermont
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
Idaho by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Night-long
Vigil by the picture window.
Sleepy
Eyes never leave the road.
Past my bedtime
Miles a...
Idaho by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Night-long
Vigil by the picture window.
Sleepy
Eyes never leave the road.
Past my bedtime
Miles ago.
Still haven't entered
Idaho.
There is a sign
Just up the way.
100 feet
From my front yard.
And though it's dark
I make it out.
It says that Idaho
Welcomes you.
Everybody's passed out.
They don't know
How close we are now.
Idaho.
(car alarm blares throughout)
Seen you.
Know everything about you.
Heard your
Air blowing 'cross my door.
Tantilizing.
Go man go.
Driving my house to
Idaho.
Almost there now.
Play that drumroll.
Idaho by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Night-long
Vigil by the picture window.
Sleepy
Eyes never leave the road.
Past my bedtime
Miles ago.
Still haven't entered
Idaho.
There is a sign
Just up the way.
100 feet
From my front yard.
And though it's dark
I make it out.
It says that Idaho
Welcomes you.
Everybody's passed out.
They don't know
How close we are now.
Idaho.
(car alarm blares throughout)
Seen you.
Know everything about you.
Heard your
Air blowing 'cross my door.
Tantilizing.
Go man go.
Driving my house to
Idaho.
Almost there now.
Play that drumroll.
The family's favorite band sing "I am a Paleontologist" at The Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, November 2009.
Please forgive the shotty camerawork. I had a ...
The family's favorite band sing "I am a Paleontologist" at The Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, November 2009.
Please forgive the shotty camerawork. I had a four-year-old on my sholders.
The family's favorite band sing "I am a Paleontologist" at The Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, November 2009.
Please forgive the shotty camerawork. I had a four-year-old on my sholders.
Iowa by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Silhouette on the moon
Flying around on a broom
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's ...
Iowa by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Silhouette on the moon
Flying around on a broom
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She likes the conical hat
Matching black dress
And a cat
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
"And if that broom don't fly,
I'm gonna buy you
A Dustbuster."
(dustbuster noise)
Stirs a large iron pot
Casting a spell
On Vermont
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
Iowa by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Silhouette on the moon
Flying around on a broom
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She likes the conical hat
Matching black dress
And a cat
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
"And if that broom don't fly,
I'm gonna buy you
A Dustbuster."
(dustbuster noise)
Stirs a large iron pot
Casting a spell
On Vermont
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
Idaho by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Night-long
Vigil by the picture window.
Sleepy
Eyes never leave the road.
Past my bedtime
Miles ago.
Still haven't entered
Idaho.
There is a sign
Just up the way.
100 feet
From my front yard.
And though it's dark
I make it out.
It says that Idaho
Welcomes you.
Everybody's passed out.
They don't know
How close we are now.
Idaho.
(car alarm blares throughout)
Seen you.
Know everything about you.
Heard your
Air blowing 'cross my door.
Tantilizing.
Go man go.
Driving my house to
Idaho.
Almost there now.
Play that drumroll.
The family's favorite band sing "I am a Paleontologist" at The Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, November 2009.
Please forgive the shotty camerawork. I had a four-year-old on my sholders.
Iowa by John Linnell, from the album "State Songs".
Lyrics:
Silhouette on the moon
Flying around on a broom
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She likes the conical hat
Matching black dress
And a cat
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
"And if that broom don't fly,
I'm gonna buy you
A Dustbuster."
(dustbuster noise)
Stirs a large iron pot
Casting a spell
On Vermont
Iowa
Is a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She's a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
She is a witch
Linnell's lyrics are perhaps best known for their inclusion of strange subject matter and word play. Persistent themes include aging, delusional behavior, bad relationships, death, and the personification of inanimate objects. Conversely, the accompanying melodies are usually cascading and upbeat.
Early life
John Linnell was born in New York City to father Zenos Linnell, a psychiatrist, and mother Kathleen. When Linnell was a child, Walt Kelly's Songs of the Pogo album made a strong impression on his musical sensibilities. The album contained lyrics that relied heavily on puns and word play, which Linnell appreciated. In particular, he recalls "Lines Upon a Tranquil Brow", which later became part of They Might Be Giants's live repertoire. At an early age, Linnell and his family relocated to Lincoln, Massachusetts, where he attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Here, he worked on the school newspaper, the Promethean, and met John Flansburgh. The two occasionally collaborated on home-recording projects.
The songs of the 50 states The songs of the 50 states The time has come for us to sing about a certain place Where everything is in the control Of people who are down in a hole The songs of the 50 states The songs of the 50 states No two alike but each connected by a golden thread I'll try not to forget all the words And leave that job to those who have heard State songs State songs I can't wait for my favorite one I'm not gonna say they're great I ain't gonna say they ain't But I recall and will relate the words and music of the 50 Songs of the 50 states The songs of the 50 states The time is nigh for us to sigh about a certain place Where everything is in the control Of people who are under the ground State songs State songs I can't wait for my favorite one I hear the melody the harmony the pounding rhythm The ideas, notes and words Every state, a different composition Keeping me awake Late at night Can't get them out of my mind State songs State songs I can't wait for my favorite one I'm not gonna say they're great I ain't gonna say they ain't But I recall and will relate the words and music of the 50 Songs of the 50 states The songs of the 50 states The time has come for us to sing about a certain place Where everything is in the control Of men who are controlling my mind State songs State songs I can't wait for my favorite one