Doctor Worm


"Doctor Worm" is a song by They Might Be Giants. It first appeared on the primarily live album Severe Tire Damage, being one of only three studio-recorded songs on the album. It was also released as a single and featured in a music video directed by band member John Flansburgh.

Details

The lyrics describe a worm learning to play the drums better. He invents a stage name for himself, and the song's narrator also describes his friend, a bass-playing vole known as "Rabbi Vole".
Discussing the lyrical inspiration, Flansburgh said, "For a long, long time we have been riffing on the song 'Dr. Love' by the band Kiss. And I think just the weirdness of the conceit of that song was kind of rolling around in John Linnell's head. I know a million, billion times we've talked about the song 'Dr. Love'. It's such an absurd song. So I think 'Dr. Love' was kind of the springboard for the idea behind 'Dr. Worm'."
The song placed as #13 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1998 and appears on the compilation CD.

Music video

A music video for the song directed by the cartoonist Kaz was featured in an episode of the Nickelodeon television series KaBlam!. In the video, Doctor Worm earns the respect of a musical group in search of a percussionist.
An alternate video by John Flansburgh, shot in black and white, features the band performing the song in an apartment office surrounded by medical paraphernalia.

Cover versions