Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says

Posted: May 31, 2013 in Humor, Just for fun, Photos, Weekly Photo Challenge, Words
Tags: , , , , , ,

I spotted this sign in the garage of the music building where my friend teaches. Although I understand what’s meant by the sign, the meaning isn’t what the sign really says and therein lies the humor.
So if you’re alarmed about something, do NOT enter this building.  🙂

20130531-124635.jpg

I meant to include the lyrics from the song called “Signs”, one I remember from “back in the day.  I was in too much of a hurry to get my sign posted and forgot.  So I’ll edit the post and include them.  Hope you enjoy them.

Signs
The 5 Man Electrical Band
lyrics as recorded by The Five Man Electrical Band in 1971 and included on
the 1990 compilation album “Made In Canada – Volume Three 1965-1974”
(BMG KCD1-7158)

And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people need not apply”
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said “You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do”
So I took off my hat, I said “Imagine that. Huh! Me workin’ for you!”
Whoa-oh-oh

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

And the sign said anybody caught trespassin’ would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, “Hey! What gives you
the
right?”
“To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in”
“If God was here he’d tell you to your face, Man, you’re some kinda sinner”

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

Now, hey you, mister, can’t you read?
You’ve got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can’t even watch, no you can’t eat
You ain’t supposed to be here
The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside
Ugh!

—— lead guitar ——

And the sign said, “Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray”
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all, I didn’t have a
penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine.”
Wooo!

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Sign
Sign, sign

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/weekly-photo-challenge-the-sign-says/

Comments
  1. billgncs says:

    it should say “calm yourself before entering”

  2. What if you’re just slightly anxious? Can you go in? That’s not really made clear.

  3. mithriluna says:

    This is a great one! Love it! Mind if I share it on Facebook?

  4. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  5. kz says:

    lol i love reading signs like these. ^^ one time i even checked out a whole website filled with the funniest signs ever, ones with incorrect spellings, etc

    • I do, too, kz. I always regret the number of signs I see while driving that are funny/annoying/memorable in some other way, but that I can’t get because I can’t stop.

      janet

  6. brettfish says:

    i think it would help us a lot to know what building it is – if that is a dentist’s office or tax consultant they will probably remain empty. what a great find!

    • As I mentioned in the intro, it was at the entrance to a music building from the attached parking garage. I think there should be a sign like this at all IRS buildings!!

      Thanks for visiting!

      janet

  7. Wonderful observation. It helps to see the signs 🙂

  8. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  9. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  10. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  11. Hello 🙂 I love signs written in English by people who don’t think they need the help of native speakers to check it over before printing…. My favourite along those lines was in a shop window in St Tropez, where they had written “Do not sit on the window”. I think they were talking about the window sill, but I had a good laugh trying to sit on the window to wind the shop keeper up!

    • You’d love Richard Lederer’s books. “Anguished English” is one that has a section that’s all signs in English written by non-English speakers and it’s hilarious. In fact, if you like words (which you obviously do), you’ll enjoy the whole book. I have literally laughed until I cried at the humor, almost all unintended!

      I can just see the shopkeeper trying to sit on that window! If you have the inclination, go to the “Categories” pull-down menu on the left of my page and read the posts in the “Grammar nazi” section. I think you’ll enjoy them.

      Thanks for chatting. Have a great weekend (or would that be “weak end?”) 🙂

      janet

      • I’ll check it all out, including your blog. I am indeed hooked on reading and writing, and I work as a copyeditor and translator, which only encourages me to find faults in everything I clap eyes on 🙂

      • That will do it. I had an English minor in college, read a lot and have a mom who always speaks correctly, so…
        I’m part of a group of writers who weekly write a 100-word story based on a photo prompt (Friday Fictioneers category) and I have to be careful not to correct too much. If you’re interested in writing (or just reading), go to my post from Wednesday and you’ll find the information.

        janet

  12. Jane says:

    Funny sign…Should they put a relaxation chair right outside the door to try and calm oneself prior to entering?

    • Great place for massage therapist to set up, don’t you think? Or someone to teach meditation (I inadvertently typed “medication” at first, but that might work, too.) 🙂

      janet

  13. I’ve been singing that song all day! And I laughed at the use of “alarm,” since I recently posted a photo of a sign warning that a building “is alarmed” every day at 4. I love visualizing that.

    • An alarmed building could cause a lot of problems!! Nice to chat and, evidently, sing together, albeit in different locations. 🙂

      Have a great weekend,

      janet

  14. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  15. Madhu says:

    Funny sign! Love those lyrics too 🙂

  16. mpejovic says:

    “Do not enter the building when alarmed” would be funny too. It would be hilarious to run inside looking scared and screaming at the top of my lungs!

  17. I love wording oops on signs

  18. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  19. Thanks for including the lyrics….I’ve been humming that song while I was looking through my photos for signs. 🙂

  20. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  21. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  22. Sherry Galey says:

    That’s a good one! And I remember that song…;-)

  23. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  24. Now I have to go look up that song. I found it and remember it. Makes me feel old 😉

  25. As a student I worked in security at an underground parking garage. Even when the fire alarm went off, people still kept on coming in and parked their cars…

  26. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  27. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  28. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  29. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  30. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  31. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  32. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  33. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  34. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  35. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  36. […] Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says | This, that and the other thing […]

  37. sheesh – that counts me out from entering most buildings ha ha 🙂

  38. fgassette says:

    Thank you for visiting my blog today. I appreciate the time you took to stop by. May your day be filled with joy and peace.
    BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!

  39. yprior1 says:

    Janet – this sign is a great find – and I also like how you wrote out the words to the song – a way to feel it as you even note where the lead guitar is…
    also – I have enjoyed a few remakes of this song – but the 1971 is truly amazing… 🙂
    and check out the cover of the 45 on this you tube version of it… so fun!

    • I’ll check after everyone is up and awake. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and thanks for following the rabbit trail to these older posts. 🙂

      • yprior1 says:

        thanks – and I am really glad I had the time to peek around – I did not realize you were such a great writer (and not trying to throw out too much praise with that – but you have a light style that is all your own with a very positive feel… and I guess I thought you were a photographer and come here to find you have LOTS of writing – so you are both)

      • Well, I’m glad you had time to peek around, too. My blog started as all writing, then I started doing more photography and learned how to get it online, then it veered more towards photography, and now I’m trying to find a good balance of both, often together. I’m really glad you to read that you enjoy it. Thanks.

        janet