1997 - The Impression That I Get is that Buffy rules!
Other than being the longest band name and longest song name in the history of Friday 90’s, this song is notable because the lead singer seems weird to me. Watch the video. Doesn’t he seem like he should be fat? He doesn’t look like he is but he should be. And I don’t think they should have let him make all those weird faces. He keeps grimacing like he either is farting or just smelled a big fart.
Oh, and who has never knocked on wood? I’m no warlock but I’m pretty familiar with the expression. Is it because I’m Irish? Did you know when you knock on wood you are scaring away the faeries that would otherwise twist what you say to make it come out badly? That’s right. That’s why I do it. I say shit that could be twisted all the time and I knock on wood to make sure I stay safe. Try it. Just see if your fortunes don’t change.
What else is there to say about this song? Well, you can see a vital clue to 90’s hipsterness. Are the dudes in this band dressed nicely? Damn right. And you might think that’s the giveaway, but it isn’t. Look at their socks. The color of their socks betrays their hipsterness. There are really only two rules men need to know when dressing, folks. Match the belt to the shoes and match the socks to the pants. If you do that you will always look like a grown up and not a hipster doofus. Thankfully dressing like these boobs is no longer in style and won’t ever come back.
*knocks wood* Video and lyrics after the jump.
Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse
I’ve never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I’ve never had to knock on wood
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
Because I’m sure it isn’t good
that’s the impression that I get
have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don’t possess
Or has it ever come down to do or die
You’ve got to rise above the rest
I’ve never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I’ve never had to knock on wood
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
Because I’m sure it isn’t good
that’s the impression that I get
I’m not a coward,
I’ve just never been tested
I’d like to think that if I was,
I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go
I might be a cowards,
I’m afraid of what I might find out
I’ve never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I’ve never had to knock on wood
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
Because I’m sure it isn’t good
That’s the impression that I get
I just got a wicked lady boner. Buffy rules.
No socks falls where in this sartorial advice?
I saw these guys at an awesome three band show a couple of years ago, where they were the second band between Civet and the headlining Dropkick Murphys. I can tell you this:
* They put on a hell of a show.
* Screw the dark suits. They were all wearing suits, all right… but they were head-to-toe PLAID and no two were the same tartan. I have no idea if the socks matched the trousers but I kind of doubt it.
* The “knock on wood” part makes a lot more sense if you think of it as being in parentheses: “Have you ever felt a pain so powerful, So heavy you collapse? I’ve never had to, (knock on wood) But I know someone who has, Which makes me wonder if I could.” So the “Knock on wood” is as if they’re using it as you normally would, except in the middle of a song.
* That guy in the video who does nothing but dance? Except for one or two songs where he sings, he dances like that NON-STOP, EVERY NUMBER, FOR THE WHOLE FREAKING SHOW! You try dancing like a crazed dervish nonstop for a one hour set while under hot stage lights and wearing a plaid suit.
Your thoughtful and articulate defense of both the band and the song almost makes me want to go back through the lyrics and put parentheses in so it makes more sense.
BUT! Since you failed to address Fart Face’s fart face, I dub thee: hispster apologist. Prepare for a Murphy Dropkick to the soul-patch!
And for the record, I dance like that for an hour every day listening to Orinoco Flow.
I can’t concentrate on the song…I’m knockin wood to Buffy…and it IS good…
Aloha FSSF!
ZING
you dance like that to Orinoco Flow? Dude, there are plenty of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing… dancing like that to Enya? you’ll break a hip-ster.