Violent Femmes — Out The Window
Album: Why Do Birds Sing?Avg rating:
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Total ratings: 1316
Length: 2:50
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Life was fun
life was great
til I made my big mistake
oh no it'll never happen to me
life was short
and life was sweet
I was thinking as I hit the street
I could hardly beleve
I could scarcely conceive
but I had gone out the window
I had gone out the window
I had gone out the window
she was fine
she looked great
and so we made our big mistake
I swear I swear I swear
it'd never happen to her
but the pavement knocked her head around
when she hit the solid concrete ground
from 30 flights above
and she was thirty something loving nothing
gone out the window
she had gone out the window
she had gone out the window
catch me if I'm falling,
catch me if I'm calling
he was smart he was wise
he'd profoundly philosophize
empathy for all humanity
'til one day by an open window
there's a note that read
I've gone out the window - I'm dead
he said yes to life for all of his life
but then one day he said no
I gotta go out the window
we all go out the window
catch me i am falling
catch me I am calling
catch me we are falling
catch me we are calling
life was great
til I made my big mistake
oh no it'll never happen to me
life was short
and life was sweet
I was thinking as I hit the street
I could hardly beleve
I could scarcely conceive
but I had gone out the window
I had gone out the window
I had gone out the window
she was fine
she looked great
and so we made our big mistake
I swear I swear I swear
it'd never happen to her
but the pavement knocked her head around
when she hit the solid concrete ground
from 30 flights above
and she was thirty something loving nothing
gone out the window
she had gone out the window
she had gone out the window
catch me if I'm falling,
catch me if I'm calling
he was smart he was wise
he'd profoundly philosophize
empathy for all humanity
'til one day by an open window
there's a note that read
I've gone out the window - I'm dead
he said yes to life for all of his life
but then one day he said no
I gotta go out the window
we all go out the window
catch me i am falling
catch me I am calling
catch me we are falling
catch me we are calling
Comments (151)add comment
sjccroquet wrote:
OK. I had to Google the definition of defenestration. ...see what you made me do! ...LOL!
This is a contender for all-time best song about defenestration.
OK. I had to Google the definition of defenestration. ...see what you made me do! ...LOL!
Finafek wrote:
You Lucky Duck! I wish I could have been there too!
Two separate times in the 90's my wife and I unexpectedly stumbled across the Femmes at free concerts at the Milwaukee lakefront. They remain two of the best concerts I've been to.
You Lucky Duck! I wish I could have been there too!
Classic - takes me back to my Teens when they were one of my favourite bands.
They toured my hometown of Geelong, Australia in the early 90's to promote this album and I have never forgotten it!!! (of course they upped the cheer's when they started playing songs from their superior self-titled album, but I digress)
Love this band - thanks for the memories RP!
They toured my hometown of Geelong, Australia in the early 90's to promote this album and I have never forgotten it!!! (of course they upped the cheer's when they started playing songs from their superior self-titled album, but I digress)
Love this band - thanks for the memories RP!
Unlistenable
Two separate times in the 90's my wife and I unexpectedly stumbled across the Femmes at free concerts at the Milwaukee lakefront. They remain two of the best concerts I've been to.
This is a contender for all-time best song about defenestration.
thomos wrote:
Ummm...it's Bill, not Ben...save ya the embarrassment there...
Signed,
The guy that always calls people by the wrong name
So here is my story. When you approach 60 and live in Dubai you you simply get to the point of turning the radio off and living in silence or perhaps relive an old CD. Maybe even the occasional overseas concert. For me the turning occurred when I was listening to Virgin radio and the argument was whether the song was County and Western or Rap!!!! Who gives, it was crap. So I google "eclectic rock" and my wife and I haven't stopped listening to RP for weeks. Contacted my Australian brothers, both band members, to tell them and the pricks tell me that have been listing to radio Paradise for ages! Ben and Rebecca thank you for being there..
Grayden.
Ummm...it's Bill, not Ben...save ya the embarrassment there...
Signed,
The guy that always calls people by the wrong name
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
They attracted a thick group of hangers-on and I think at some point after their second album came out, the touring grind had made them very defensive. And Gordon was always a bit of a challenge. But I dealt with them on a few occasions and thought they had their integrity intact as well as their sense of humor... including Gordon.
I happened to see the Violent Femmes on a "Wisconsin Only" tour in 1998. It appeared they weren't doing anything other than going on tour just to have fun in their native Wisconsin. No opening band, just the the Violent Femmes in front of a small crowd in a small theater and having as much fun playing their music as possible. Good times! : )
They attracted a thick group of hangers-on and I think at some point after their second album came out, the touring grind had made them very defensive. And Gordon was always a bit of a challenge. But I dealt with them on a few occasions and thought they had their integrity intact as well as their sense of humor... including Gordon.
I happened to see the Violent Femmes on a "Wisconsin Only" tour in 1998. It appeared they weren't doing anything other than going on tour just to have fun in their native Wisconsin. No opening band, just the the Violent Femmes in front of a small crowd in a small theater and having as much fun playing their music as possible. Good times! : )
Violent Femmes were the inspiration for the name of French band Louise Attaque. Which is enough in itself for any music lover to give this song an inferior rating.
fadedsignal wrote:
If he's on fire, you could very well be right.
ethajn wrote:
This song is lame in just about every way a song could possibly be. If faced with the choice between listening again to this song or the pixies song that preceded it, I'd opt to set myself on fire.
Immolation induced by the Femmes & Pixies?
I smell a Justin Timberlake fan.
If he's on fire, you could very well be right.
This still speaks to me at 43.
10 ⟶ ∞
10 ⟶ ∞
Saw them two years in a row for New Year's eve. Two of the best. Just great fun!!!
thomos wrote:
So here is my story. When you approach 60 and live in Dubai you you simply get to the point of turning the radio off and living in silence or perhaps relive an old CD. Maybe even the occasional overseas concert. For me the turning occurred when I was listening to Virgin radio and the argument was whether the song was County and Western or Rap!!!! Who gives, it was crap. So I google "eclectic rock" and my wife and I haven't stopped listening to RP for weeks. Contacted my Australian brothers, both band members, to tell them and the pricks tell me that have been listing to radio Paradise for ages! Ben and Rebecca thank you for being there..
Grayden.
Grayden.
So here is my story. When you approach 60 and live in Dubai you you simply get to the point of turning the radio off and living in silence or perhaps relive an old CD. Maybe even the occasional overseas concert. For me the turning occurred when I was listening to Virgin radio and the argument was whether the song was County and Western or Rap!!!! Who gives, it was crap. So I google "eclectic rock" and my wife and I haven't stopped listening to RP for weeks. Contacted my Australian brothers, both band members, to tell them and the pricks tell me that have been listing to radio Paradise for ages! Ben and Rebecca thank you for being there..
Grayden.
Grayden.
ziakut wrote:
Agree. That does not stop me liking Cake, though.
The Femmes are the way 'Cake' wishes it could be...Femmes are far better imo.
Agree. That does not stop me liking Cake, though.
SoundThinker wrote:
If you were that accurate at predictions in the 16th or 17th Century you'd be burned as a witch, or at least have had your internet connection terminated.
SoundThinker wrote:
See? I told ya!
Next Nick Lowe “Cracking Up”!!!
See? I told ya!
If you were that accurate at predictions in the 16th or 17th Century you'd be burned as a witch, or at least have had your internet connection terminated.
Great stuff - when they are good they are great. Tongue in cheek rock - right up there with Primus!
goin outta window, and feel so wise.
SoundThinker wrote:
See? I told ya!
Next Nick Lowe “Cracking Up”!!!
See? I told ya!
Next Nick Lowe “Cracking Up”!!!
Good song to go out the door to at 5 on Friday night.
Bill, these two cuts just do the smoked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel perfection thing. With a pickle, of course.
drsteevo wrote:
I second that motion.
thirded.
I second that motion.
thirded.
My first thought was Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Have to heard them since...
Love it!
GTT wrote:
They attracted a thick group of hangers-on and I think at some point after their second album came out, the touring grind had made them very defensive. And Gordon was always a bit of a challenge. But I dealt with them on a few occasions and thought they had their integrity intact as well as their sense of humor... including Gordon.
I saw these guys play their first gig in NYC, opening for a Richard Hell comeback show. My friend said, wow if this is the opening band, RH is going to be great. RH was so-so, but the Femmes were something special. They played various clubs in the city over the next year, and I saw them whenever I could. Sad sequel: a couple of years later, my ex-girlfriend got them to play at one of the colleges in NYC, and she later told me that their success had clearly gone to their head ... very demanding and not pleasant to deal with. But the music is still great.
They attracted a thick group of hangers-on and I think at some point after their second album came out, the touring grind had made them very defensive. And Gordon was always a bit of a challenge. But I dealt with them on a few occasions and thought they had their integrity intact as well as their sense of humor... including Gordon.
LPCity wrote:
The were quite good, but I wouldn't call them the "original unplugged punk band" - The Modern Lovers (who are conspicuously absent from the RP Playlist) did it infinitely better about ten years before these guys.
The original unplugged punk band. Accept no substitutes.
The were quite good, but I wouldn't call them the "original unplugged punk band" - The Modern Lovers (who are conspicuously absent from the RP Playlist) did it infinitely better about ten years before these guys.
Please play more Violent Femmes! Love these guys.
Pixies and then the Femmes!!! Love it!!!
I saw these guys play their first gig in NYC, opening for a Richard Hell comeback show. My friend said, wow if this is the opening band, RH is going to be great. RH was so-so, but the Femmes were something special. They played various clubs in the city over the next year, and I saw them whenever I could. Sad sequel: a couple of years later, my ex-girlfriend got them to play at one of the colleges in NYC, and she later told me that their success had clearly gone to their head ... very demanding and not pleasant to deal with. But the music is still great.
The original unplugged punk band. Accept no substitutes.
garyalex wrote:
Because it just does - clearly children of the Velvets these guys were.
Reminds me of Lou Reed. Not sure why.
Because it just does - clearly children of the Velvets these guys were.
Great segue from Pixies' Here Comes Your Man. RP is such a pleasure!
First concert I ever saw. This album was in heavy rotation for me in high school. Good stuff.
And the funny thing was, as "Here Comes Your Man" was ending just now, I was thinking for some strange reason that "Out the Window" would be an excellent next track....................so my jaw hit the floor when it came on a second later!! Nice work, Bill!!
And the funny thing was, as "Here Comes Your Man" was ending just now, I was thinking for some strange reason that "Out the Window" would be an excellent next track....................so my jaw hit the floor when it came on a second later!! Nice work, Bill!!
Reminds me of Lou Reed. Not sure why.
Cynaera wrote:
Makes perfect sense to me, but we used to get drunk and dance naked back in those days... we fell out of windows all the time...
love this song...
miss you, Cynaera...
This is one of those songs that, unless you were a drunk college kid or a total wanna-be, probably wouldn't make any sense (and would elicit the reactions lovingly catalogued here at the RP forum.) I was neither a drunken college kid nor a wannabe, so I'm no expert. Still, I just love the very mindless joy of this song. It's fun, silly, and the words are just filler for that infectious beat.
Love it. And yeah, I'll dance to it.
Love it. And yeah, I'll dance to it.
Makes perfect sense to me, but we used to get drunk and dance naked back in those days... we fell out of windows all the time...
love this song...
miss you, Cynaera...
Fun.
Here Comes Your Man —> Out The Window
One in ... one out.
One in ... one out.
Likey.
ofanansky wrote:
I second that motion.
I think there could be a bit more Violent Femmes in the mix
I second that motion.
misterbearbaby wrote:
Perhaps, but to me, Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers were obviously their chief influence.
Count NRBQ among their "early influences."
Perhaps, but to me, Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers were obviously their chief influence.
ofanansky wrote:
And there could be more insect parts and rodent hairs in a loaf of bread.
That doesn't mean I consider it desirable.
I think there could be a bit more Violent Femmes in the mix
And there could be more insect parts and rodent hairs in a loaf of bread.
That doesn't mean I consider it desirable.
Count NRBQ among their "early influences."
just makes me want to dance with violent femmes!
ofanansky wrote:
Amen.
I think there could be a bit more Violent Femmes in the mix
Amen.
An experimental project is born: "The Break" Brian Ritchie from Violent Femmes and three former Midnight Oil members created a surf rock band. I've just uploaded at the LRC (Listener Review Channel) a song from their debut album, I hope Bill and Rebecca likes it!!
I think there could be a bit more Violent Femmes in the mix
I liked this song. I wouldn't listen to it constantly but it's different and interesting. After this, an earlier Pixies song, and the first Bjork song I've ever listened to all the way through, I'm reminded of listening to a station called 91X in San Diego in the mid eighties. "Cutting edge" is fun sometimes. The same reason I like 'rp' so much.
flubber nuggets......that means that I'm kinda disappointed
but it is decent...5
but it is decent...5
jitterjames wrote:
Yeah, but what a great band.
although I think the femmes do have plenty of better material
Yeah, but what a great band.
hencini wrote:
I concur! (and am jealous)
Pixies —> Femmes... Bill, you are on a roll... Don't stop!!
This was my first concert, btw... : )
This was my first concert, btw... : )
I concur! (and am jealous)
although I think the femmes do have plenty of better material
Simply wonderful :)
Simply awful.
Pixies —> Femmes... Bill, you are on a roll... Don't stop!!
This was my first concert, btw... : )
This was my first concert, btw... : )
Yea! More Femmes please!
ziakut wrote:
I got no problem with that.
The Femmes are the way 'Cake' wishes it could be...Femmes are far better imo.
I got no problem with that.
wow.
The Femmes are the way 'Cake' wishes it could be...Femmes are far better imo.
ziggytrix wrote:
Nine months on and I stand by my earlier assessment.
I don't think making me want to retch qualifies as 'rocking my socks off'.
Personally, I think the Femmes rock your socks right the F off, and they're every bit as fun and flippant as Cake.
Nine months on and I stand by my earlier assessment.
I don't think making me want to retch qualifies as 'rocking my socks off'.
HarrO wrote:
The Femmes and Gordon Gano started to go in a country / gospel direction after their first album that everyone is familiar with. The later stuff wasn't really quite as good and it was a strange transition from teen angst to gospel... sort of like aging 30 years in a month.
Violent Femmes do Rock-a-Billy!!! I Love it . Thanks Bill
The Femmes and Gordon Gano started to go in a country / gospel direction after their first album that everyone is familiar with. The later stuff wasn't really quite as good and it was a strange transition from teen angst to gospel... sort of like aging 30 years in a month.
Nice mix! Thanks Bill.
aelfheld wrote:
And yet you like Cake songs. So you're not completely without a taste for post-punk college rock. Personally, I think the Femmes rock your socks right the F off, and they're every bit as fun and flippant as Cake.
I didn't like this particular song the first time I heard it, but it's really frackin catchy, even if the bass line sounds a bit too similar to the main riff from Blister In the Sun.
Appalling lyrics, worse music.
And yet you like Cake songs. So you're not completely without a taste for post-punk college rock. Personally, I think the Femmes rock your socks right the F off, and they're every bit as fun and flippant as Cake.
I didn't like this particular song the first time I heard it, but it's really frackin catchy, even if the bass line sounds a bit too similar to the main riff from Blister In the Sun.
This is one of those songs that, unless you were a drunk college kid or a total wanna-be, probably wouldn't make any sense (and would elicit the reactions lovingly catalogued here at the RP forum.) I was neither a drunken college kid nor a wannabe, so I'm no expert. Still, I just love the very mindless joy of this song. It's fun, silly, and the words are just filler for that infectious beat.
Love it. And yeah, I'll dance to it.
Love it. And yeah, I'll dance to it.
Appalling lyrics, worse music.
out of the window - YES!!!
AdyMiles wrote:
Agreed.
an insensitive song making a joke of suicide. wtf. it's not even that good. take it off
Agreed.
Thank you, oh god, THANK YOU for NOT playing Blister in the Sun or Gone Daddy Gone. I will tear out my ears. And my eyes. Just...don't do it, OK?
an insensitive song making a joke of suicide. wtf. it's not even that good. take it off
Violent Femmes do Rock-a-Billy!!! I Love it . Thanks Bill
Dog_Ear wrote:
autodefenestrated by the sounds of it
He defenestrated?
autodefenestrated by the sounds of it
just showin some love for Milwaukee boys!!
Where's the drunken party? If alcohol created flashbacks, these guys would trigger 'em for me every time ;)
Sweet. Bill, how 'bout some Jonathan Richman?
More chair dancing.... !!!
I need to buy some VF.
Ahhh... bringin' back da days! 
He defenestrated?
How can this onlyt be a 6.5 while the Pixies got an 8? This is good stuff!
Let me give a shoutout to my hometown boys!
What a great band! I actually want to defenestrate myself now in solidarity.
Yeah, go ahead and self-immolate. That would be a cool thing to watch.
I was just thinking of these guys earlier today! Excellent choice!
Pixies, Femmes, and then vintage Nick Lowe? What's next Elvis Costello or The Jesus and Mary Chain? 
I guess that RP is on the same rotation, huh?
ethajn wrote:
This song is lame in just about every way a song could possibly be. If faced with the choice between listening again to this song or the pixies song that preceded it, I'd opt to set myself on fire.
Will you tape it and add it to Utube please?
queenjill wrote:
I didn't know they had any songs other than Blister in the Sun. Go figure.
One of the things I truly admire about this band is their incredible broad range of genre....from bluegress to punk.
I love just about everything this band has ever done.
Great Stuff....I'll never get tire of these tunes....Just got on a big Violent Femmes kick this weekend!
Like it!
I didn't know they had any songs other than Blister in the Sun. Go figure.
this whole track sucks, time to hit the X and wait for the real Radioparadises return
If they would have stopped after they ran out of ideas, after Hallowed Ground that is, then they would be a reall cult classic. As it is though, they are simply pathetic and their first two alblums are simply all they could produce of any quality.
and now you know. 
yes it was weak then and it is weaker now . . .
Leslie wrote:
Yuck.
Yuck.
Nice play, I remember someone asking for this song yesterday. On their behalf I thank you.
just wanna say; Yiiiiaaaaaaah!
thank you so much!
Best song from the Femmes second best album.
Cute lil\' ditty about suicide from the minstels of Madison, WI. What a slice of Americana.
Liked it then, like it now 
jagdriver wrote:
Just plain obnoxious. Nothing else.
Just plain repetitive.
They only had one album. to acknowledge the others only makes me sad
ChrisInCT wrote:
lolololololol
I've always wondered, is that
laugh out laugh out laugh out laugh out loud
or
laugh out loud out loud out loud out loud
Just plain obnoxious. Nothing else.
Whoa, haven't heard the Femmes in forever.
Almost forgot about those guys!
Thanks Bill!!
I Love You Hannah Banana!!!
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fadedsignal wrote:
Immolation induced by the Femmes & Pixies?
I smell a Justin Timberlake fan.
lolololololol
Jacksonstat wrote:
Such a fun group to see in concert. Love the Femmes!
yahoo!! absolutely. i've seen them several times and they rock, but they amaze me with the talent on stage each time.
ethajn wrote:
This song is lame in just about every way a song could possibly be. If faced with the choice between listening again to this song or the pixies song that preceded it, I'd opt to set myself on fire.
Immolation induced by the Femmes & Pixies?
I smell a Justin Timberlake fan.
This is one of best American bands. I love these guys. A real toe tapper about suicide. What a gag.
Nice one, Bill. :)
Agreed! What've they got, like an acoustic guitar, a xylophone, and a snare drum? And still they dominated the Shoreline mainstage a couple years back at BFD. (The whacked-out, headlining Strokes could *not* compete...)
Jacksonstat wrote:
Such a fun group to see in concert. Love the Femmes!
Hello,
I love the closing bass acoustic guitar -- signature Violent Femmes!
Neil
ethajn wrote:
This song is lame in just about every way a song could possibly be. If faced with the choice between listening again to this song or the pixies song that preceded it, I'd opt to set myself on fire.
Doesn't take much to set you off, does it?
Oh wow -- I've never heard anything from this album. But it's definitely the Violent Femmes! Sweet.
ethajn wrote:
This song is lame in just about every way a song could possibly be. If faced with the choice between listening again to this song or the pixies song that preceded it, I'd opt to set myself on fire.
Yay! Fun music. I'm waking up. Now all I need is some Peets.
OK. I had to Google the definition of defenestration. ...see what you made me do! ...LOL!
...the act of throwing somebody out a window!