Cover art for Teenage FBI by Guided by Voices

Teenage FBI

Guided by Voices
Track 23 on Hardcore UFOs: Revelations, Ephiphanies and Fast Food in the Western Hemisphere 

Producer

Ric Ocasek
“Teenage FBI” is the first song on Do the Collapse. It was released as the first promotional single from the album in the United States, but was only given a commercial… Read More 
Aug. 3, 19991 viewer8.5K views

Teenage FBI Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Someone tell me why I do the things
That I don't wanna do
When you're around me
I'm somebody else

[Verse 2]
Someone tell me why I act like a fool
When things don't go my way
When you're around me
I'm somebody else

[Chorus]
There is good reason, I guess
Having it once gone too far
When you clean out the hive
Does it make you wanna cry?
Are you still being followed
By the teenage FBI?
Someone tell me why
Someone tell me why

[Verse 3]
Someone tell me why I do the things
That I don't wanna do
When you're around me
I'm somebody else
[Verse 4]
Someone tell me why I act like a fool
When things don't go my way
When you're around me
I'm somebody else

[Chorus]
There is good reason, I guess
Having it once gone too far
When you clean out the hive
Does it make you wanna cry?
Are you still being followed
By the teenage FBI?
Someone tell me why
Someone tell me why

[Bridge]
Someone tell me why I do the things
That I don't wanna do
When you're around me
I'm somebody else

[Outro]
Someone tell me why
Someone tell me why
Someone tell me why

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About

Genius Annotation

“Teenage FBI” is the first song on Do the Collapse. It was released as the first promotional single from the album in the United States, but was only given a commercial single released in the UK and Australia. The song was debuted live in September 1996, almost three years before the album’s release.

An earlier, much shorter version of this song appears on the 1997 EP Wish in One Hand…. It was that earlier version that would appear on the best-of Human Amusements at Hourly Rates in 2003. In addition, a different demo of the song was released on the UK single for “Hold on Hope” in November 1999.

It would later be featured in the movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and on the soundtrack of NCAA Football 06.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Who produced “Teenage FBI” by Guided by Voices?
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Hardcore UFOs: Revelations, Ephiphanies and Fast Food in the Western Hemisphere (2003)
  1. 1.
    Captain’s Dead
  2. 2.
    Drinker’s Peace
  3. 3.
    Exit Flagger
  4. 4.
    14 Cheerleader Coldfront
  5. 5.
    Shocker in Gloomtown
  6. 6.
    Non-Absorbing
  7. 7.
    Tractor Rape Chain
  8. 8.
    Hot Freaks
  9. 9.
    Echos Myron
  10. 10.
    I Am a Scientist
  11. 11.
    A Salty Salute
  12. 12.
    Watch Me Jumpstart
  13. 13.
    Game of Pricks
  14. 14.
    Motor Away
  15. 15.
    Hit
  16. 16.
    My Valuable Hunting Knife
  17. 17.
    Cut-Out Witch
  18. 18.
    The Official Ironmen Rally Song
  19. 19.
    To Remake the Young Flyer
  20. 20.
    I Am a Tree
  21. 21.
    Bulldog Skin
  22. 22.
    Learning to Hunt
  23. 23.
    Teenage FBI
  24. 24.
    Things I Will Keep
  25. 25.
    Surgical Focus
  26. 26.
    Chasing Heather Crazy
  27. 27.
    Twilight Campfighter
  28. 28.
    Glad Girls
  29. 29.
    Back to the Lake
  30. 30.
    Everywhere with Helicopter
  31. 31.
    My Kind of Soldier
  32. 32.
    The Best of Jill Hives
  33. 33.
    Motor Away (Single Version)
  34. 34.
    Color of My Blade
  35. 35.
    My Valuable Hunting Knife (Single Version)
  36. 36.
    Game of Pricks (Single Version)
  37. 37.
    Mice Feel Nice (In My Room)
  38. 38.
    Not Good for the Mechanism
  39. 39.
    Kiss Only the Important Ones
  40. 40.
    Dodging Invisible Rays
  41. 41.
    Deaf Ears
  42. 42.
    Why Did You Land?
  43. 43.
    June Salutes You!
  44. 44.
    Delayed Reaction Brats
  45. 45.
    He’s the Uncle
  46. 46.
    Key Losers
  47. 47.
    Postal Blowfish (New Version)
  48. 48.
    Unleashed! The Large Hearted Boy (Live)
  49. 49.
    Some Drilling Implied (Live)
  50. 50.
    Systems Crash
  51. 51.
    Catfood on the Earwig
  52. 52.
    The Who vs. Porky Pig
  53. 53.
    A Life in Finer Clothing
  54. 54.
    The Worryin’ Song
  55. 55.
    Subtle Gear Shifting
  56. 56.
    Finks
  57. 57.
    The Finest Joke Is Upon Us
  58. 58.
    The Singing Razorblade
  59. 59.
    Now to War (Electric Version)
  60. 60.
    Mannequin’s Complaint (Wax Dummy Meltdown)
  61. 61.
    Do They Teach You the Chase?
  62. 62.
    (I’ll Name You) The Flame That Cries
  63. 63.
    The Ascended Master’s Grogshop
  64. 64.
    My Thoughts Are a Gas
  65. 65.
    Running Off with the Fun City Girls
  66. 66.
    None of Them Any Good
  67. 67.
    Choking Tara (Creamy Version)
  68. 68.
    I
  69. 69.
    Back to Saturn X
  70. 70.
    H-O-M-E
  71. 71.
    You’re the Special
  72. 72.
    Perhaps We Were Swinging
  73. 73.
    Mother & Son
  74. 74.
    7 Strokes to Heaven’s Edge
  75. 75.
    Fire ’Em Up, Abner
  76. 76.
    Harboring Exiles
  77. 77.
    Still Worth Nothing
  78. 78.
    Never
  79. 79.
    Slave Your Beetle Brain
  80. 80.
    It Is Divine (Different Version)
  81. 81.
    They
  82. 82.
    I Invented the Moonwalk (And the Pencil Sharpener)
  83. 83.
    Fly into Ashes (Demo)
  84. 84.
    The Various Vaults of Convenience
  85. 85.
    Trashed Aircraft (demo)
  86. 86.
    Running Off With the Fun City Girls (Demo)
  87. 87.
    Bulldog Skin (Demo)
  88. 88.
    Portable Men’s Society (demo)
  89. 89.
    Choking Tara (Mag Earwhig! Demo)
  90. 90.
    Man Called Aerodynamics (Demo)
  91. 91.
    Intro by Randy Campbell (Live) (Missing Lyrics)
  92. 92.
    Little Lines (Live)
  93. 93.
    A Salty Salute (Live)
  94. 103.
    My Impression Now (Live)
  95. 123.
    Land of Danger
  96. 124.
    Let’s Ride
  97. 125.
    Like I Do
  98. 126.
    Sometimes I Cry
  99. 127.
    She Wants to Know
  100. 128.
    Fountain of Youth
  101. 129.
    The Other Place
Credits
Producer
Writer
Background Vocals
Guitar
Percussion
Drums
Vocals
Bass Guitar
Keyboards
Cello
Violin
Viola
Recorded At
Electric Lady Studios (New York City, New York)
Released on
August 3, 1999
Teenage FBI Covers
Tags
RockPower PopAlternative RockIndie Rock
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