Everything You Know Is Wrong

In 'Everything You Know Is Wrong,' 'Weird Al' Yankovic takes listeners on a surreal journey through a series of bizarre and humorous scenarios, each more outlandish than the last. The song opens with a vivid image of the narrator driving on the freeway with a wolverine in his underwear, only to be startled by a mysterious figure in the back seat. This chaotic scene sets the tone for the rest of the song, where reality is constantly subverted, and the unexpected becomes the norm. The chorus drives home the central theme: 'Everything you know is wrong,' challenging the listener's perception of reality and the importance of their beliefs.

The second verse continues the theme of absurdity with the narrator accidentally stepping into an alternative dimension and being abducted by aliens. These extraterrestrial beings, who humorously resemble Jamie Farr, perform bizarre experiments on the narrator before offering to transport him back in time. The choice to return to last Thursday to pay a phone bill adds a layer of mundane humor to the otherwise fantastical scenario. The appearance of a disembodied head of Colonel Sanders further emphasizes the song's playful take on the unpredictability of life.

In the final verse, the narrator's misadventures lead him to heaven, where even the afterlife is not free from absurdity. St. Peter's disapproval of the narrator's Nehru jacket and the eternal room next to a noisy ice machine highlight the song's satirical take on the concept of eternal reward. Throughout the song, Yankovic uses humor and absurdity to convey a deeper message about the fluid nature of reality and the futility of clinging to rigid beliefs. The repeated chorus serves as a reminder that in a world where 'black is white, up is down, and short is long,' the only certainty is uncertainty.