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This song appeared on the Pacific Trim EP in 1996.
The lyrics concern religious extremism, sexism, and the Puritan legacy in America, reflecting Stephen Malkmus’s interest in history, which he studied at the University of Virginia.
Increase Mather told her daddy
"I roundly disagree with you
Your vocal style's too preachy
All the yokels mock your teaching."
But Cotton, he was just oblivious
To all their cutting pleas
Soon the townfolk took to it
In every pew they looked to him
For guidance just like eyeless lambs
Awaiting that ol' kabob stand
The skeptics formed
The nation's born
They want to have it, Cotton's dream
But Increase had them mounted
And they burned on open fires
So the word spread just like smallpox
In the Sudan
The gentry cried:
"Give it a day!"
"Give it a day!"
"Give it a day!"
"Give it a day!"
"Give it a day!"
"Give it a day!"
Years and years have passed
Since the Puritans invaded our soul
Just like those Arab terrorists
You'll never know
But today the gods can't make us quake
We see our lives as situations
Eyes are eyes and teeth are teeth
Well mine are rotten underneath
I got two ways we can separate from the clan
If I could fly, I could fry
I hope you profited from this bulletin
And it stabilized your land
You're drenched, you're fired
(You gentrified?)
Your Alzheim clan, but
Your father is another one of them
I don't want to mention him again, cause
I talked to him last night
He hates my guts
We had a fight
And he called you a slut girl
Why's that?
What did you do to him to make him think
Give It a Day was written by Stephen Malkmus.
Pavement released Give It a Day on Tue Jan 23 1996.