"Don't Throw Out My Legos" is the fourth track on AJR's third album, Neotheater. It was heard for the first time at a live show in Rebel, Toronto in 2018.
This song is about moving out of your parents' house and growing up, but being unwilling to move on from their childhood. Their childhood is represented in this song by their "Legos".
Ryan Met also said this in an Instagram livestream:
"This one was a fun one to produce. It was a lot of chopping up samples and then recreating samples."
Lyrics[]
My new address
Is hard to remember
So I wrote it on the back of my hand
‘Cause I leave the nest
This coming December
To make it as a grown man
I’m ‘bout to lose
My only defenders
I’m packing up whatever I can
Been waiting for today but
All I can think to say is
Oh, no
Don’t throw out my Legos
What if I can’t let go
What if I come back home
Back home
Oh, no
Don’t throw out my Legos
What if I can’t let go
What if I come back home
Back home
Can we keep my Legos at home?
‘Cause I wanna move out
I don’t wanna move on
People want shirts
With the band name on it
Suddenly we ain’t so bad
Saved up enough
To rent an apartment
Far away from mom and dad
My Christmas card
Looks like a mugshot
‘Cause suddenly I’m getting sad
Been waiting for today but
All I can think to say is
Oh, no
Don’t throw out my Legos
What if I can’t let go
What if I come back home
Back home
Oh, no
Don’t throw out my Legos
What if I can’t let go
What if I come back home
Back home
Can we keep my Legos at home?
‘Cause I wanna move out
I don’t wanna move on
Can we keep my Legos at home?
‘Cause I wanna move out
I don’t wanna move on
It’s cold out there
You’re standing there
You’re trying to face
Your greatest fear
You’re shivering
You’re trembling
It’s warm in here
So come back in
Oh, no
Don’t throw out my Legos
What if I can’t let go
What if I come back home
Back home (x3)
Oh, no
I’ll come by when I’m grown
It won’t be the same, though
I can’t even go home
Go home
Can we keep my Legos at home?
‘Cause I wanna move out
I don’t wanna move on
A vertical "music video" of this song used to exist on the internet, however currently it can only be found on AJRchive.
Don't Throw Out My Legos-How We Made - AJR live - NYC 10-10-19
Live in NYC
AJR - Don't Throw Out My Legos Live 11-5-18
Live at Rebel
AJR - Don't Throw Out My Legos Live 10-18-19
Live in Columbus
Trivia[]
In the music video for "Way Less Sad", Jack can be seen wearing a shirt that says the words "THE BAND NAME" on it. This is a reference to the lyric "People want shirts with the band name on it" from this song. This shirt is also available on AJR's store.
A slowed-down melody of this song's chorus can be heard in "Birthday Party".