Album: Lincoln (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about an imaginary lover in a different part of the world. They Might Be Giants have commented that "Ana Ng" would become a very common name for girls. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sandy - Newburgh, IN
  • The band got the idea for this song when they noticed a large number of people in the New York City phone book named "Ana Ng." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Martin - Rostock, Germany

Comments: 5

  • Chris from MassachusettsSteve from Chino Hills, Ca - I heard that the "I don't want the world, I just want your half." line came when John Linnell was at UMass Amherst and drove over the Calvin Coolidge bridge on the nearby Connecticut river. Parallel is an old rail road bridge and allegedly the line was written on the bridge by a graffiti artist.
  • Steve from Chino Hills, CaI'd love to know where they got the "I don't want the world, I just want your half." line came from. I love the idea that there is a super close polar opposite living on the exact other side of the world that you almost, but never meet.
  • Trey from Kalamazoo, MtGood.
  • Jake from Rolling Hills Estates, CaMy favorite part is the first line, the extended and extremely complicated way of saying that she lives on the exact opposite side of the world from him.
  • Darrell from Eugene, United StatesEvery time that I hear this song or see any reference to it, I think about either an acquaintance named Russell Ng, who died in a plane crash several years ago or the infamous serial killer Charles Chitat Ng. (My girlfriend is always disgusted by the likes of Charles Ng, and if you see this, Serena, you should disregard it and not pay any attention to who wrote it.)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.