When you’re interpreting lyrics (or trying to) you generally ask: “What’s HAPPENING in this song?” as a part of the greater “What’s it ABOUT?”
Near as I can figure, it comes down the the lines:
“It’s just one of those strange days
Where nothing’s right
No, nothing seems right at all”
Strange day,...
Have you seen my girlfriend?
She lives in a pigpen
Have you seen my girlfriend?
I can't seem to find her; perhaps she is hiding
Underneath a blade of grass—let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day—
Have you seen my new house?
Looks just like a doghouse
Have you seen my new house?
Someone saw it walking straight into the ocean
Thought it was an ivory boat—let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off...
Maybe...
It's just a bad dream and I'll wake up soon
But I don't think I'll be so lucky
Maybe...
It's just one of those strange days
Where nothing's right
No, nothing seems right at all
Went up to a payphone on a bathroom wall
But I can't remember who I wanted to call
Operator, can't you help me?
Have you seen my garden?
It is most peculiar
Have you seen my garden?
Nothing there that grows looks anything at all like plants
I hear their voices—let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off...
Have you seen my girlfriend?
Have you seen my girlfriend?
Have you seen my girlfriend?
Have you seen my girlfriend?
Whole Day Off was written by Danny Elfman.
Whole Day Off was produced by Oingo Boingo & Joe Chiccarelli.
Oingo Boingo released Whole Day Off on Tue Jun 22 1982.