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Fleetwood Mac — Tusk
Album: Tusk
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3691









Released: 1979
Length: 3:20
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?
Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Why don't you tell me who's on the phone?
Why don't you ask him what's going on?
Why don't you ask him who's the latest on his throne?

Don't say that you love me!
Just tell me that you want me!

Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk! Tusk! Tusk! Tusk!
Tusk!
Comments (500)add comment
tuba!
 Grammarcop wrote:

Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.



Tusk is tsk?
I love this song and this entire album!!! Long live RP!
 dmellis wrote:
March 16, 10 PM on FX. I always think of The Americans when I hear this song now.
 
Me too.  What a great miniseries this was.  Unfortunately it jumped the shark a bit towards the end, but those first few seasons was rock solid Cold War spy drama.
 EdEastridge wrote:


Because it would've been non-airplay friendly had they yelled, "F*CK!!!" as it's Lindsey's portrayal of the breaking point he reached. Whether what he was there to do or as an exclamation of anger and frustration, it's pretty well supposed to be the f-bomb. 


Love it!
I don't care what anybody says, I like this tune!   
Always makes me think of Finding Nemo:
Volcano scene YouTube
 Grammarcop wrote:

Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.


Well, it ends with "Just tell me that you want me", so maybe....

Totally Unacceptable - Start Kissing! 
This has always been an obnoxious song to me.  Starting with the drums. 
I just don't like this song.  {#Grumpy}
 3Chords wrote:

Mick and John rock this!


Not a drummer so maybe some drummers can chime in but Mick seems to be an underrated and inventive drummer.
 EdEastridge wrote:


Because it would've been non-airplay friendly had they yelled, "F*CK!!!" as it's Lindsey's portrayal of the breaking point he reached. Whether what he was there to do or as an exclamation of anger and frustration, it's pretty well supposed to be the f-bomb. 



YEP!!  ...Too Funny!!
 jp33442 wrote:

I love when the USC marching band joins FM in concert




Me too!! My favorite tune on the album!!   
 Grammarcop wrote:

Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.



Because it would've been non-airplay friendly had they yelled, "F*CK!!!" as it's Lindsey's portrayal of the breaking point he reached. Whether what he was there to do or as an exclamation of anger and frustration, it's pretty well supposed to be the f-bomb. 
 Grammarcop wrote:

Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.


Hmmm, it was 1979. Drugs, perhaps, played a part?
I love when the USC marching band joins FM in concert
Were the Mac just looking to annoy us? Like when Old Neil would do twenty minutes of feedback? Well..............they succeeded
The tunes on this album are hit or miss. This is a hit!
did I hear a fart about 130 into this song?
 Grammarcop wrote:

Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.



I feel like the answer to this question is "cocaine" but I am happy to hear other theories!
that drumming rocks
 billybob123 wrote:

I dunno about this song.  I'm not much of a FM fan, and this doesn't help change it much.




Fleetwood Mac was much better before Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham joined, IMHO.
I dunno about this song.  I'm not much of a FM fan, and this doesn't help change it much.
 Grammarcop wrote:

Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.


Tusk, or more usually, just "Tsk" is a very British (and rather old-fashioned) expression of disapproval. It's the sort of thing you say when someone else has said something very stupid.
With that context it actually makes sense with the lyrics.
I recorded this from the radio on a cassette back in high school when it came out and it still sends shivers up my spine.  I think it was/is the drums and kickin's brass horns.
 kurtster wrote:

And 10 CC is the average amount of the male ejaculation of sperm.

Spoonful has several meanings, but mostly it refers to Heroin ...
 
And 'Pearl Jam' ?
 Steely_D wrote:


And, "never gonna do it without the fez on" is about wearing a condom.

Of course - the term "rock and roll" means "sex" too.

THE MORE YOU KNOW...

With the USC Trojan marching band...Trojan being a brand of condom...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 

 Steely_D wrote:
 RabbitEars wrote:

The "Tuskis slang for penis, so the song is basically about sex.

worth a read: 
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/fleetwood-mac/tusk
 

And, "never gonna do it without the fez on" is about wearing a condom.

Of course - the term "rock and roll" means "sex" too.

THE MORE YOU KNOW...
 
And 10 CC is the average amount of the male ejaculation of sperm.

Spoonful has several meanings, but mostly it refers to Heroin ...
Found this song weird when it came out, and now I like it, but it really doesn't easily compare to rock songs.  It would be easier to compare it to differnt marching band outputs.  Yet that makes me feel like it's amazing in how unusual it is.  
I love this song!  It might even be my favorite Fleetwood Mac tune!  Gets me into my groove every single time it gets played
 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?  . . .
 
Hah! That may well be what the other four members of the band were asking but were also thinking "Hey, Lindsay made my bank account really fat; let's just go with it!".  ; )
 kcar wrote:

This track feels like the band was pretty spoiled at this point
.
.
.
I don't know FM very well.
 
Um.
whaaaaat a song, would die in peace if I composed that... Buckingham is a genius
Mick and John rock this!
R.I.P Peter Green, you brought real music to the table. Safe passage
 RabbitEars wrote:

The "Tusk" is slang for penis, so the song is basically about sex.

worth a read: 
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/fleetwood-mac/tusk
 

And, "never gonna do it without the fez on" is about wearing a condom.

Of course - the term "rock and roll" means "sex" too.

THE MORE YOU KNOW...
 RabbitEars wrote:

The "Tusk" is slang for penis
, so the song is basically about sex.

worth a read: 
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/fleetwood-mac/tusk
 

"The "Tusk" is slang for penis"


Where? In junior high school? 

This track feels like the band was pretty spoiled at this point--"Let's make the record company spend a lot of money for this song...We could hire the Stanford Marching Band! Yeah! Who cares what it'll sound like!"

There's a point when a band gets so famous, it can sell anything it half-bakes. 

I don't know FM very well. Was this supposed to be their White Album? 
 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 
In the animal kingdom tusks are not cosmetic, they are actually used for displays of dominance, defense and offense.  It may be a stretch but perhaps they're using the tusk as a symbol of the chaos, unhappiness and suspicion in the song.

She Who Shall Not Be Na-a-a-med.
 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

From Boing Boing's Fifty of the Most Drug-Drenched Albums of All Time: 

"Tusk, which was brilliantly named after Mick Fleetwood’s nose, up which half of Peru was once snorted."
 mrselfdestruct wrote:
Real savage-like.
 
If memory serves, it was the USC Trojan band doing all the music on this one, or at least the percussion.
 unclehud wrote:
As I've said elsewhere:  She Who Shall Not Be Named ruined this band.

And I'll say it again on other Flat Fleetwood cuts.
 
You do know that bands are allowed to change personnel and direction? I think it's cool that FM has had 3 rich, distinct incarnations (yes, I like all incarnations). How many bands can you say that about? 

It was Mick Fleetwood's call to let them join, by the way.  You can blame him.
 Nicer than saying "Fuck!"


Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

Perhaps some inside joke amongst the band members. When I used to do street sets with friends, we'd occasionally cover this and yell, "Busk!"
More polite than yelling "Fuck!"

 
Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

Real savage-like.
 unclehud wrote:
As I've said elsewhere:  She Who Shall Not Be Named ruined this band.

And I'll say it again on other Flat Fleetwood cuts.
 
That seems kind of sad.
At least in this instance, the yelling of 'tusk' is accurate. If the song were named Tusk and the gang yelled 'manual transmission' I'd have to agree, it would be odd. When are Mick and gang not on it?

Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

As I've said elsewhere:  She Who Shall Not Be Named ruined this band.

And I'll say it again on other Flat Fleetwood cuts.
 Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
Perfect segue from Peter Gabriel The Rhythm of the Heat to Tusk!! You sir, are a genius!
 
Likewise, a great follow-up to Gotye's "The Only Way" - seamless transition from one era to another, impressive skills BillG!!  Long Live RP!!
 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 
The "Tusk" is slang for penis, so the song is basically about sex.

worth a read: 
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/fleetwood-mac/tusk
Perfect segue from Peter Gabriel The Rhythm of the Heat to Tusk!! You sir, are a genius!
Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 
A friend and I were playing the album in her car a few years ago, and we started shouting, 'FISH!' instead. It's become a tradition which I've been happy to carry on to this day 
Long Live                                                                                               Radio Paradise
Thank you Fleetwood Mac  for Tusk
For me this is                                  9 - O U T S T A N D I N G
 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

If you're interested a post at 

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/fleetwood-mac/tusk

gives some perspective.
 lizardking wrote:

The Wiki page for this song was enlightening, if not to answer "why the name Tusk?" at least it provided this nugget: 

I'm playing floor toms, and I overdubbed a lot of American Indian wood tribal drums. It's a whole hodgepodge of Kleenex boxes, drums, weird stuff, slapping of lamb chops and things. I got a big leg of lamb in there somewhere – I'm hitting it with a spatula.

— Mick Fleetwood

Long Live RP!!
 
Great find.
Great song!

The Wiki page for this song was enlightening, if not to answer "why the name Tusk?" at least it provided this nugget: 

I'm playing floor toms, and I overdubbed a lot of American Indian wood tribal drums. It's a whole hodgepodge of Kleenex boxes, drums, weird stuff, slapping of lamb chops and things. I got a big leg of lamb in there somewhere – I'm hitting it with a spatula.

— Mick Fleetwood[2]

Long Live RP!!
 Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 
Tusk = Penis

I know it is not much, but it makes more sense than "Manual transmission".

Goo goo g'joob

 
Grammarcop wrote:
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
 

I can't believe this is 40 years old.  The USC band in the video is now eligible for Social Security.
I recognize the valid criticisms, including it being fodder for marching bands, but I still like it.  Always have. For some probably odd reason unknown even to me.  I also thought it was an adventuresome album, following the 2  mega albums that preceded it.  Went out a bit on a limb . . . and probably it was sawed off . . . but still . . .    
 Proclivities wrote:

One of their more profound numbers - a troubled-love song for elephants, walruses, and warthogs the world over.

 
{#Roflol}
i think they inspired this song
 jktravl wrote:
Bill's in a intrinsical mood, rhythm of the heat, tusk and now black magic woman

 
 
Repeated on 11/9/18.  Is this a nod to corporate radio?
With all the recent squabbling and now a lawsuit filed by Lindsey Buckingham about his dismissal, I think that spoiled prima donnas is an apt description of these aging old farts. 
 
It's a political song. Donald Tusk is  the President of the European Council.
Okay, I'm going to ask a stupid question: Why do they yell "Tusk!"?

From the rest of the lyrics I conclude this is a break-up song. To me, yelling "Tusk!" is non-sensical. Yelling "Hockey puck!", "Lobster!", or "Manual transmission!" makes the same amount of sense.
Even if it was a band something akin to Fleetwood Mac, I can't bring myself to do a 2. Sucko-barfo, yes. 
My only sucko-barfo.
{#Bananajam}
That bloody awful drum break. Sounds like Mick fell into his kit.    
LOL!!
Bad dog!! 
These guys sounded so much better when they were Fleetwood Mac.
A-hooga hugg-a hoo!
This song sewed it up for me-  confirming that F.M. had become a silly, irrelevant parody of their own earlier work and would not suck another dollar out of this disgruntled Bear's record-buying budget! 
 LizK wrote:
Why? Why? Why?  I love FM in their many incarnations.  But Tusk, no!

 
Perhaps because your opinion is not universal.
Great series on my local PBS called 'Groundbreaking'. They did a neat story on this song.
Love the Mac. Not my favorite song or album, but I get it. What a great band. Saw them at MSG on the reunion tour and they were transcendent.
Very...tribal. I like it! {#Dancingbanana_2}
Buckingham!
Fave Fmac tune...so different from the rest
Bouncy little number!
 Proclivities wrote:

One of their more profound numbers - a troubled-love song for elephants, walruses, and warthogs the world over.

 

 BCarn wrote:
Meh...never been much of a fan of this one...but there is something catchy.

 
One of their more profound numbers - a 'troubled-love' song for elephants, walruses, and warthogs the world over.
My fave Fmac song...so different, like the horns

Thank you Fleetwood Mac
for   Tusk

For me this is 9 - Outstanding
Bill's in a intrinsical mood, rhythm of the heat, tusk and now black magic woman
 LizK wrote:
Why? Why? Why?  I love FM in their many incarnations.  But Tusk, no!

 
Could not agree more.
I don't know if they needed something to fill the album or if the collective were bored senseless in the studio and threw this tripe together.
Blarrrk (or however you spell the sound for spitting out something distasteful)
Why? Why? Why?  I love FM in their many incarnations.  But Tusk, no!
A rather odd song to get stuck in one's head...
Meh...never been much of a fan of this one...but there is something catchy.
Fight on! Rose Bowl kickoff right now.
 railroadwail wrote:
A great use of the UCLA marching band....only song like it in the world.
 
<nitpicking> It is the USC marching band </nitpicking>

Great song. It came out when I was in marching band in high school. Thought I'd lose my mind. 
This song was in the LA Times recently concerning Alabama vs. USC. 
A great use of the UCLA marching band....only song like it in the world.
"Don't say that you love me!
Just tell me that you want me!"

What a great song. 10 

Excellent song from a wildly varied and interesting album.
 dmellis wrote:

I disagree. The lyrics are silly but the production is very accomplished and worth listening to on headphones. This whole album was underrated. 

 
I respectfully disagree.  The lyrics are anything but silly.  A raw examination of what it feels like when you think your partner may be cheating on you but have no "proof" except your own dead-certain feelings that things have changed.
Bill is a wicked cool music mixologist...
Spoon's Knock Knock Knock followed by FM's percussion centric Tusk. And then, Santana's Migra, opening with an incomparable percussion riff  Good one Bill.  Taken by themselves, the songs are just kind of mmmmmm, but mixed.... genius
I have been a Fleetwood Mac fan since 1967 and own a ton of their music, but I cannot stand this song (if you even want to call it that)
 thewiseking wrote:
Timeless. Sounds as awful now as it did then.

 
Not even that good.
Possibly the most awkward percussion solo ever recorded.
 sktillman wrote:
Tusk? Of all of the amazing Fleetwood Mac songs? Okay... It's interesting, but not hard to find many more accomplished productions from this "new" band, not to mention all of their prior British incarnations... but that's cool...

 
There are another 45 Fleetwood Mac tunes on the RP playlist, many from the pre-Buckingham/Nicks era.
 gratefulgator wrote:
Every time I hear this song, I just wonder: When is the new season of The Americans coming out??

That is all. {#Stupid} 

 
March 16, 10 PM on FX. I always think of The Americans when I hear this song now. What a great opening. I'm not sure but it seemed like a longer extended version. The instrumental parts seemed longer. 
 sktillman wrote:
Tusk? Of all of the amazing Fleetwood Mac songs? Okay... It's interesting, but not hard to find many more accomplished productions from this "new" band, not to mention all of their prior British incarnations... but that's cool...

 
I disagree. The lyrics are silly but the production is very accomplished and worth listening to on headphones. This whole album was underrated. 
Tusk? Of all of the amazing Fleetwood Mac songs? Okay... It's interesting, but not hard to find many more accomplished productions from this "new" band, not to mention all of their prior British incarnations... but that's cool...
And now now now,  a tribute to mayonnaise, mayonnaise, mayonnaise.  
Every time I hear this song, I just wonder: When is the new season of The Americans coming out??

That is all. {#Stupid} 
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Hmmm, to say it's "overrated" suggests that it was highly praised at some point.
When it came out, critics were generally (but not all) negative, saying the album was unfocused and contained too much filler to justify its four sides. Fans were equally skeptical, with sales of the album a mere fraction of its predecessor, "Rumours".
With 35 years of hindsight many feel it is Mac's finest hour, or at least Lindsay Buckingham's.
As is often the case, the truth lies somewhere in between.
The songs were not as "catchy" or "radio-friendly" as its two predecessors, but to me that's what made it worth listening to.
A catchy pop tune is fine for a quick sugar fix, but the great songs/albums push the boundaries a little, challenging you to listen to something that is not instantly likeable, but in the long run yield a more gratifying experience.

 
Any record that followed "Rumors" would face crazy expectations and disappoint on some level. Rumors gave brilliant expression to where the band was emotionally. Tusk was the aftermath. They could have done Rumors 2, had a bunch of hit songs and the record would be viewed as repetitive. The timing was perfect to take big artistic risks.
Timeless. Sounds as awful now as it did then.
 NickDanger wrote:
And to add to the disflavor, it's the USC marching band.  Don't get me started on college football...

 
How 'bout THEM BULLDOGS!!!
{#Hearteyes}
One of the funkiest, grooviest, most beautifully engineered rock songs of all time.
Tusk!
Absolutely love this version. I find it fantastic that they brought in the USC marching band on this one. I'm sure there were a lot of "goose bumps" at the show when the band marched out. Well done.
 below72 wrote:
On_The_Beach - I just read your comment about 'Tusk' from March 13.
Well said on all points. Ya' know...most people comment on music (and just about anything else) just to get a rise out of other folks.  Or they actually believe they are saying something profound. And then they assume their comments are valid. 84.735% of all people are just idiots. As in..."I see dead people, just walking around...and they don't even know their dead.
Again, OTB, you are very insightful.

 

 
Take your own advice.
I honestly think this song was crap and still do.
I don't post to "get a rise out of other folks".
Fleetwood Mac was great back before the the Buckingham/Nicks fiasco joined them.
 Stratocaster wrote:
When you mentioned flutes and band camp, I immediately went to the movie "American Pie". Must be just me.
 
No, it is probably just me who doesn't make those connections.

Still, I'm marching in my head right now!