The Mistakes of Trotsky

Lyrics

You will pray For a stay Of good fortune … Tio-tio-tio-tio-tinx The platform of the ten Tio-tio-tio-tinx The Tsektran ran And planned the train It’s measures got it running again … Tio-tio-tio-tio-tinx It meant a consistent Planning operation … Tio-tio-tio-tio-tinx You will pray For a stay Of good fortune … But you’d find it hard To say when

Chronology

• Corrected Slogans
  • ? (man) - vocals
  • ? (woman) - vocals
  • Christine Kozlov - vocals
  • Mayo Thompson - vocals, acoustic guitar
• Kangaroo?
  • Lora Logic - vocals, saxophone
  • Gina Birch - vocals
  • Mayo Thompson - vocals, guitar
  • Ben Annesley - bass
  • Epic Soundtracks - drums
  • Allen Ravenstine - sound effects

Retrospectives

Mayo Thompson, 2023

[In the '70s] I couldn’t [...] share [the Congress of Afrikan People's] conviction that Mao was the only right-thinking thinker in the game. I still thought highly of Lenin, and being a war baby, still had some time for Stalin, which lasted until I realized what sort of monster he was. I also found Trotsky interesting but—per "The Mistakes of Trotsky"— found him a sad figure, never knowing when to say "when," finally getting liquidated.

Art & Language, 1981

Tio-Tio-Tio-Tinks is what the Birds say in Aristophanes’ play. This song laments the failure of Trotsky. But the Dictatorship of the Proletariat entails some marginal mockeries and Trotsky is implicated in some of these. (Another song, written at the same time, was a lament for the Kronstadt mutineers.)

Interpretations

"Tio-tio-tio-tio-tinx" from Aristophanes' The Birds is also quoted in "What Are the Inexpensive Things the Panel Most Enjoys? ... An International"

Live recordings

Show
March 23, 1993	video
January 11, 1995
August 2, 1995
October 9, 1999	vocal: Sandy Yang
April 21, 2000	video
March 20, 2005
August 6, 2006
October 15, 2006
December 13, 2006

Various artists compilation

• January 1996: Sonoritie (France)