What does Extra Savoir-Faire mean?

They Might Be Giants: Extra Savoir-Faire Meaning

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Album cover for Extra Savoir-Faire album cover

Extra Savoir-Faire Lyrics

When I walk down the street, most guys look like elves
I don't mean to put them down but they do
It's hard to understand me from the language I use
There's no word in English for my style

What's a man like me supposed to do
With all this...

  1. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 25th 2011 !⃝

    I think it has to do with autism, although larikaz's interpretation is valid.
    "...Most guys look like elves..."
    It's hard for him to relate to other people.
    "...It's hard to understand me..."
    It's hard for other people to relate to him.
    "...What's a man like me supposed to do with all this extra savoir-faire?"
    He's very intelligent and erudite, but since he has some mental and/or psychological conditions that come with autism, he doesn't quite know how to use it, or how to prove himself with it.
    "I know just what to do when the ladies come 'round."
    Many autistic people are socially unskilled, so maybe this song isn't about an autistic. Maybe it's just a normal egocentric intellectual who's socially adroit, possibly good-looking, probably with a good career, etc. Then again, it's not impossible for him to be autistic.

  2. larikaz
    click a star to vote
    Jan 20th 2009 !⃝

    This song is about a man with an enormous ego. He sees himself as an intellectual giant who uses such a high vocabulary that no ordinary person can understand him. He is full of too much 'know how' and feels he has proven himself the best person in the world. Others try to copy him, but they aren't smart enough to even copy him properly.


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