Break It Down

Break It Down
Written by	Joe Hawley
Appears on	Sargasm (film), Live
Sung by	anonyMous
Genre	Rock
Language	English
Links:	anonyMous version Tally Hall version, 2006

Break It Down is a song originally by anonyMous which included members of Tally Hall.

The music video for Break It Down was directed by Joe Hawley and features each member of anonyMous, including Rob Cantor, Joe Hawley, and Ricky Lax.

History

Break It Down was originally a music video originally included in their comedy film Sargasm from 2004. The song is about 8 students who spent all of their cash on useless goods and all think of ways to make it back, many through less than nice means. It is likely the song was written in the winter of 2003 as that is when the majority of the film was written. The music video was uploaded and taken down from both YouTube and tallyhall.com over the years until they finally kept it on the site in mid 2005 due to popular demand from fans.

At some point after Sargasm, the lyrics were reworked, the instrumentation was improved and was performed only a few times around April of 2006. These included their double-header show at The Blind Pig on April 8th, 2006 and their performance at Top of the Park on June 6th, 2006. After 2006, Tally Hall never performed Break It Down again.

Break It Down was later massively reworked into Go to Bed, the twelfth track off of 2016's Joe Hawley Joe Hawley album. Go to Bed features the band Minimall and even uses the phrase "break it down".

Trivia

• As of late 2021 the song has gone viral on the social media app TikTok, like The Bidding and Hidden In The Sand before it.

Sargasm Lyrics

We need cash...
What happened to our stash?
I bought an electric guitar.
I rented a shiny car.
I went out to lunch.
But McDonald's is a thrifty munch.
I purchased a random flute.
I hired a prostitute.
Whatever will we do?
We'll have to think it through.

I know! I will start, to sell my body parts.
A kidney or a lung, my liver or my tongue.
I'll distribute them in jars, to people driving cars.

I have a better plan. I'll marry a wealthy man.
"Wouldn't that make you gay?"
Not necessari-lay.
That would be okay. What?
I'll sleep in a separate bed, and I'll refrain from giving...
...kisses.
We'll be happy for a while. I'll try to comply to his style.
And keep his mansion clean, then I'll kill him and inherit his green.
Break it down.

It wouldn't be so tough, to sell my girlfriend's stuff.
Her computer and her sewing kit, will go for quite a bit.
That doesn't seem so kind.
I doubt that she will mind.

We'll start a fake foundation. A non-profit organization.
We'll say it's for the mute, the blind, and destitute.
Then we'll get to take, the money that we make, we'll salvage all we can,
and take it to Afghanistan.
Break it down.

Ninjas are totally sweet. So light and nimble on their feet. So good at being bad,
I wish I had a ninja for a dad. (kill him son)
Put your money in the cup, or this assassin will cut you up.
Do no attempt to mess with me, I met a guy who met Bruce Lee...'s Mothers,
Cousins, Nieces, Brothers, Neighbors, Doctors, Ex-boyfriends... Dog.

It won't be hard at all, making money with a crystal ball.
"According to the tarot cards, your body will be torn to shards.
The pieces spread around, your mangled carcass never found."
That's all I'll have to say, and then they'll have to pay.

I know, I could....
Ahhhhh...
Break it down.

I'll make the money grow, with my impromptu magic show.
Performing in the streets, death defying feats. 
People will shriek and shout, but that's what magic is all about.
"My God! Is he alright?"
I do this every night.

I'll ace the GRE, and harvest a PHD. 
After curing the HIV, I'll collect my royalties.
Do you think you're bright enough?
…Let's get his girlfriend's stuff.
Break it down.

Tally Hall Lyrics

We need cash...
What happened to our stash?
I bought a new guitar.
I rented a classy car.
I got suckered by e-mail thugs, 
Into cheap prescription drugs.
Whatever will we do?
We'll have to think it through.

I have a word in mind,
A very scary kind,
I fear it everyday,
It starts with letter "J"
Jam? Jackal? Job? JOB!

People keep it calm, I'll simply call my mom
Hello this is your son, our bank account is done
How much? Well, there is none
She's never any fun.
Break it down

We all can live like kings if I sell my girlfriend's things
Her computer and her make-up kit would go for quite a bit
She'll probably go berserk
I'll make you look like the jerk

I'll ace the GRE and harvest a PHD
After curing the HIV, I'll collect my royalties
Do you think you're bright enough?
I'll get his girlfriend's stuff
Break it down

I'll play a simple tune
One that makes consumers swoon
We'll infect you with contagious rhyme
To keep them coming every time
That's all we'll have to play
And then they'll have to pay
Break it down

Tabs / Chords

Nothing here yet!