Unknown Songs

Below is a list of songs written, performed, or recorded by They Might Be Giants that have remained unheard or unidentified by fans, and do not necessarily have enough relevant information to warrant a page. These should only be given pages if accompanied by substantial details.

It is possible that some of these songs are known by different names.

Mentioned by They Might Be Giants

These are songs that were once mentioned or teased by They Might Be Giants, typically as music due for an upcoming release.

Title	Notes
Atlantic Ocean / Pacific Ocean	John Linnell mentioned in a 2000 interview that the band had recorded a song for each of the three oceans, in either 1982 or 1983; only "Indian Ocean" has been released.
Attention (partial title)	Mentioned in a 2020 email as a word from the title of an upcoming song for potential inclusion on BOOK. As of November 2021, this song was "still in the works".[1]
Captain Crunch	Written by John Linnell in the early 1980s, before the formation of They Might Be Giants; featured a lyric like, "You're not a man, you're not a captain either." Mentioned by Julie Kantner of The Turtlenecks in a 2019 interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast.
Completelier Blues	Recorded for the 2015 Dial-A-Song project;[2] lyrics were later cannibalized for "All Time What".[3] John Flansburgh has stated that the song "was ditched",[4] and that the band has no intention of releasing it.[5]
Dawn Divine	Early version of "Selectionist" featuring Mike Doughty;[6] recorded during the Nanobots sessions but abandoned due to Hurricane Sandy interrupting studio time.[7][8]
Delusion	Recorded in 2015 alongside "Daylight" and "I'll Be Haunting You";[9] not known to have been released as part of the 2015 Dial-A-Song project.
Funky Pumpkin	Unfinished song that John Flansburgh wrote for a 1998 Halloween broadcast of WFMU's Radio Thrift Shop. He did not complete the song in time for the broadcast and performed "Unsupervised, I Hit My Head" instead.
Giant Halloween Tonight	A reworked version of a theme song from John Linnell's high school band known as The Baggs, which was performed in TMBG's early live shows. The only known mention of the song was in a December 1985 interview in SPIN magazine.
Glug Glug Glug	Mentioned by John Flansburgh in a 1999 radio interview as an instrumental he was writing intended for No!; might be an early title for "Wake Up Call". When asked about it in 2022, Flansburgh was unfamiliar with the title and speculated that it may have ended up as a Malcolm In The Middle track.[10]
I Want You Back	A cover of the Jackson 5 song, recorded by John Flansburgh and Bill Krauss in 1981 or 1982, before the formation of They Might Be Giants. Mentioned by Krauss in an interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast.
I Wouldn't Be Mad	A staple of the band's earliest live shows; described by John Flansburgh as a "pop rock number with a strange found audio piece playing in the midst of it."[11] Flansburgh has stated that recordings of it do exist, but they "are kind of stinky even though the songs okay."[12] Appeared on a mid-1980s setlist, as well as the 2001 Songs T-shirt, the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants, and the "TMB Songs" list.
I'm Sorry Rosalyn	Mentioned in the description of Podcast 6B; possibly the track "Roslyn's Dog" by Arthur Bradford from They Might Be Giants Vs. McSweeney's. When asked about it in 2024, John Flansburgh stated, "I'm Sorry Rosalyn became something else, but I can't remember what it was!"
It's Not A Game	Mentioned in a press release for the Working Undercover For The Man EP. John Flansburgh stated in 2021, "I could be wrong, but I believe that was the working title for a piece of music we licensed rather than did as a work for-for-hire for Malcolm in the Middle, but I don't know what song it later became."
Killing	Mentioned in a 2019 tweet about drum accompaniments being recorded,[13] but appeared on neither BOOK nor The Pamphlet EP; described as "in limbo" in November 2021.[14]
Lucky You	A collaboration between Dan Miller and John Flansburgh, recorded during the Nanobots sessions.[15] Miller wrote the music, Flansburgh wrote the lyrics.[16] Featured Jon Graboff on mandolin.[17] Flansburgh: "We tracked it but there was a bunch of lyrics left to be done so it got delayed."[18]
Memoirs Of An Amnesiac	Mentioned in a 2002 mailing list email as being an upcoming track on Dial-A-Song.
My Father's Son	Mentioned in a 1988 interview as being one of the earliest They Might Be Giants songs, potentially circa 1981; was planned to be released as a flexi-disc record, paired with "Cowtown".[19]
Revolution While I'm Hot	An early song that John Flansburgh wrote for his college band The Turtlenecks; mentioned by Julie Kantner of The Turtlenecks in a 2019 interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast. It is unknown if the song was ever recorded, and when asked about it in 2024, Flansburgh stated that it was never released.
Rubber Guy	Appeared on a song list provided by Bill Krauss, as well as a mid-1980s setlist. According to Krauss, the song was an instrumental similar to "Space Suit".[20] John Flansburgh described the song in 2021: "It was a Bo Diddley kind of song that required a lot of busy playing and singing simultaneously, and I think it felt a bit like work to perform it which is probably why it didn't survive into later sets."
Self-Made Millionaire	Mentioned in a 1987 interview as a song that was playing on Dial-A-Song. John Flansburgh described it: "This fabulously wealthy guy comes home, he's a creep and his wife kills him. It's a very quick story." Also listed on the 2001 Songs T-shirt and in the liner notes of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants.
Smiles	Performed live by the band in the mid-1980s; described by John Flansburgh as a "crazy explosive rant of a song" in a No Wave style, comparable to the bands Pere Ubu and DNA.[21] Appeared on an '80s setlist that Flansburgh posted online in 2012, as well as the "TMB Songs" list.
Stalker In Reverse	Unfinished Nanobots-era song written by John Flansburgh.[22][23]
Swinging From Vine To Vine	Recorded in 2015 alongside "Apophenia" and "Shape Shifter"; not released as part of the 2015 Dial-A-Song project.[24][25] Possibly related to "The Velvet Ape", which was initially part of a "very hair-brained idea for a set of songs."[26]
Tan Minivans	Mentioned in a 2019 tweet about drum accompaniments being recorded,[27] but appeared neither on BOOK nor The Pamphlet EP; also mentioned in a January 2020 email referencing songs to potentially be included on BOOK. In November 2021, Flansburgh stated the song still "has to get mixed."[28]
The Blob	A cover of the theme song to the 1958 film The Blob, written by Burt Bacharach & Mack David and originally performed by The Five Blobs. TMBG rehearsed a live cover of it 2023, featuring a duo arrangement of Flansburgh on guitar and Linnell on saxophone.[29] The band have not yet performed it live, and it's unknown if they have made a recording of it. Flansburgh stated in November 2024: "We gave it the old college try, and I suspect we will get back to it."[30]
Titanic Fog	Mentioned in a 2002 mailing list email as being an upcoming track on Dial-A-Song; in a 2023 Tumblr response, Flansburgh stated: "Titanic Fog was one of the "set aside" titles we had arranged with Fox TV for songs we wanted to contribute to Malcolm but expressed intentions in advance to use ourselves later, and thus we were allowed to hold on to the publishing. [...] Unfortunately I don't remember what song became Titanic Fog... but I am pretty sure it got repurposed on a regular album."
Various unreleased Coraline songs	In 2005, the band was hired to create music for the upcoming animated film Coraline, but they were let go further into the film's production. Director Henry Selick has stated that the band wrote four songs for the film, and recorded several other "demo" tracks (possibly instrumental cues).[31] Of these four songs, only two are known to have been released — "Other Father Song" and "Careful What You Pack". The titles and details about the remaining two songs are unknown.
Various unreleased State Songs	John Linnell has written a number of songs for his State Songs project that have not been released. In a 1999 interview, shortly after the release of the State Songs album, he stated: "I've probably got another 10 or 15 done, and ideas for others." Some of these songs had recorded demos, while others were only partially written.[32] Linnell has specifically mentioned having written a "North Carolina" song,[33] as well as two alternate versions of "Utah".[34]
Wild Card	Seen in a photo of the schedule for the 2015 iteration of Dial-A-Song; mentioned by Flansburgh as an unused instrumental track made for Dunkin' Donuts that was being worked into a new song.[35]
You Heart Your Bad Attitude	Mentioned by John Flansburgh in a 2022 interview on KMSU's They Might Be Playing They Might Be Giants as a song that he needed to finish; might be a candidate for the band's upcoming 24th album.

Found on lists

These are songs that were found on lists of the band's music: the 2001 Songs T-shirt, the liner notes of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants, Bill Krauss's "TMB Songs" list provided to the Don't Let's Start fan podcast, or TMBG's BMI repository.

Title	Notes
96 Tears Polka	Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss; might have been an early name for "The Famous Polka". John Flansburgh had no memory of the song when asked about it in 2022, and stated that the song likely interpolated "96 Tears" by ? and the Mysterians with a polka beat.[36] In an interview with the Don't Let's Start fan podcast, Darinka owner Gary Ray did not recognize the title, but speculated that it might have been performed at an event called "The Foods From Around The World Party" in May 1985.[37]
Boss Don't Like Me	Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss; Gary Ray remembered the song when it was mentioned[38] and said he believed TMBG played it at Darinka.
Drumbeat	Appeared on a mid '80s song list provided by Bill Krauss and a setlist for a performance at the Dive in the '80s; mentioned by John Flansburgh to be "walk-on" music at early shows.[39]
Earwig	Appeared on a 1997 setlist alongside "She Was A Hotel Detective" and "Unforgotten", labeled as "by the wayside temporarily".
Get Your Pepper Talkin'	Early version of "McGyver" (or possibly just an alternate title).[40] Listed in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants.
Steal This Book	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants.
The Story Pt. 2	Found in the song list on the 2001 Songs T-shirt; found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants.
This Just In	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; mentioned by Flansburgh to be "news-sounding" music made for either Malcolm In The Middle or the Jon Stewart show.[41]
We Found You	Found in the song list on the 2001 Songs T-shirt and song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; described by Flansburgh as a really early "experimental" Dial-A-Song track.[42]

Television incidental music

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (1999—2015)

These tracks are likely variations of the "Dog On Fire" theme that They Might Be Giants recorded for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Title	Notes
Beth Littleford	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants.
Dog Rock Crispy	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants.

Malcolm in the Middle (2000—2006)

These are among many incidental music cues that They Might Be Giants recorded for Malcolm In The Middle, in addition to the show's theme song, "Boss Of Me".

Title	Notes
Lois Vox	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI.
Modern Girl	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI.
Preacher Pad	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI.
Sleazin'	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI.
Wedgie Dance	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; assumed to be part of Malcolm in the Middle.
Who Will It Be	Listed on BMI.

Misc. TV / film cues

These are miscellaneous tracks that They Might Be Giants has recorded for various television and film projects.

Title	Notes
America's Most Wanted Theme	Theme song for the television show America's Most Wanted, recorded in 2002; rejected by FOX and never released. John Flansburgh described the recording as "an update on the 'crime jazz' sound of 50's TV themes with a pretty wild electronic rhythm track."[43]
Dragonfly TV	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI.
Jane Believe	Likely music for Disney's Return To Neverland which features a character named Jane, listed on BMI alongside "I'll Give You One Guess."
Nightline In Primetime	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants; BMI.
Yeah Yeah Yeah	Found in the song list in the liners of A User's Guide To They Might Be Giants and BMI around 2004; described by Flansburgh in 2023 as a "Beatlish" sounding television cue, possibly for Malcolm in the Middle or The Daily Show.[44]

See also

• Talk:A User's Guide to They Might Be Giants: Melody, Fidelity, Quantity
• Special:Wantedpages