The opening accordion notes of “Snowball in Hell” from They Might Be Giants’ Lincoln album have a unique power to transport listeners. For many, including myself, it evokes memories of late teenage nights, headphones on, lost in thought while trying to drift off to sleep, only to find the entire album has played through – again.
Existentialism Before Bedtime
This penultimate track on Lincoln gently creeps in with that single accordion note, soon joined by chords, and then the song takes off. “Snowball in Hell” has always resonated with a feeling of life’s overwhelming nature. It encapsulates the youthful dread of endless work, the relentless demands of life, and the eventual, unavoidable end.
Perhaps teenage angst is universal, but the song’s title itself, “Snowball in Hell,” presents a stark image of futility – something delicate and ephemeral in a place of fire and destruction. This inherent contradiction is key to understanding the song’s impact and, intriguingly, can be linked to the metaphorical idea of a “snowball kiss.”
Image depicting the album art for They Might Be Giants’ ‘Lincoln’, symbolizing the band’s quirky and thought-provoking musical style.
The music and lyrics of “Snowball in Hell” affirm a feeling of human existence being akin to a snowball’s lifespan in infernal conditions. The odds are stacked against us. The certainty of hardship and disappointment becomes almost comforting in its predictability. The lyrics themselves paint a picture of this bleak outlook:
Money’s all broke, and food’s going hungry.
If it wasn’t for disappointment,
I wouldn’t have any appointments.
This sentiment, while seemingly pessimistic, touches upon a raw nerve of truth about the human condition. And it’s within this realm of contradictory feelings – hope and despair, expectation and disappointment – that we can begin to understand what a “snowball kiss” might represent.
The “Snowball Kiss” Metaphor: A Fleeting Moment in a Harsh World
So, What Is A Snowball Kiss? It’s not a literal term you’ll find in a dating guide. Instead, think of it as a metaphor, inspired by the song “Snowball in Hell,” to describe a kiss that embodies contradiction and fleeting beauty amidst a challenging reality.
Imagine a kiss that is as unexpected and perhaps even as out of place as a snowball in hell. It’s a kiss that might feel delicate and precious, like a snowball, yet exists within a context that feels harsh or unsustainable – like hell. It’s a moment of tenderness in a world that often feels indifferent or even hostile.
This “snowball kiss” could represent:
- Unexpected Affection in Hard Times: A kiss shared during a period of personal struggle or societal hardship. It’s a fragile moment of connection against a backdrop of difficulty.
- Fleeting Romance: A passionate kiss within a relationship that is known to be temporary or facing insurmountable obstacles. Like a snowball, its beauty is destined to melt away.
- Contradictory Emotions: A kiss that blends sweetness and sadness, joy and melancholy. It’s a reminder that even in love, happiness can be intertwined with the awareness of pain or loss.
- The Illusion of Permanence: A kiss that feels deeply meaningful in the moment, yet carries the underlying knowledge that nothing lasts forever, much like the ephemeral nature of a snowball.
Capitalism and Coffee Breaks: A Moment of Harsh Reality
The song “Snowball in Hell” itself includes a jarring interlude that further emphasizes this sense of harsh reality. Midway through the track, a sample of two salesmen discussing relentless work ethic breaks in. They advocate forgoing even a coffee break in the pursuit of sales and profit, reinforcing a “grind mentality” where time is strictly money.
“…Don’t stop for coffee. When you stop for coffee, you’re going to be going someplace else. Coffee is for closers.”
This sample, taken from the 1961 series Success and Motivation Cassette Tapes by Paul J. Meyer titled “How to Master Your Time,” as discovered by the newsletter writer, adds another layer to the song’s bleak outlook. It’s a dose of cold, hard capitalist reality intruding on the musical experience.
This juxtaposition within the song mirrors the “snowball kiss” concept. Just as the salesmen’s words interrupt the music’s flow, the harshness of reality can intrude upon moments of tenderness and connection, making them feel all the more precious and fleeting – like a snowball in hell.
Final Reflections: Embracing the Contradiction
Is “Snowball in Hell” a great song? Absolutely. It’s a concise, clever piece of music, characteristic of Lincoln, enhanced by the surreal motivational cassette sample and even a melodica! It might not be as overtly rocking as “Ana Ng” or as wildly experimental as “You’ll Miss Me,” but “Snowball in Hell” captures a specific mood – a blend of existential contemplation and wry observation. It’s a song that resonates deeply and, much like the idea of a “snowball kiss,” it embraces contradiction and finds beauty in the face of life’s inherent challenges.
Perhaps a “snowball kiss” isn’t about lasting forever. Maybe it’s about the intense, poignant beauty of a moment that is known to be temporary, a fleeting spark of warmth and connection in a world that can sometimes feel like hell. And in that sense, it’s a powerful and meaningful experience, much like listening to “Snowball in Hell” itself.
Listen to “Snowball in Hell” below and consider the fleeting beauty of a “snowball kiss” in your own life.
Next week, we’ll explore another song with profound meaning, They Might Be Giants’ “Kiss Me, Son of God,” continuing our journey through the band’s thought-provoking and often contradictory musical landscape.
