There are two differences between the original lyrics by Cub and the version that They Might Be Giants sing on Factory Showroom.
Firstly, instead of singing "Katz's and Tiffany's", Cub sings "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Secondly, instead of singing "The Empire State Where Dylan Lived", Cub sings "The Empire State Where King Kong Lived". Flansburgh apparently misheard the lyrics, at least for the Dylan/King Kong one. I think the change to Katz's may have been intentional, because the Johns are on the record as saying that they felt this song, though it was a cover, reflected their own New York experiences very well. Maybe they changed it to Katz's, a Lower East Side fixture, to better reflect that.
It should be noted that in live performances nowadays, They Might Be Giants sing "King Kong" and not "Dylan", but "Katz's and Tiffany's" remains.
This song is just amazing. When I got into college in New York City, I played this song over and over again for about a week, while bouncing off walls in exuberance. So I know it pretty well now. And I have to say that the accordion adds something that the original song by Cub lacks.
There are two differences between the original lyrics by Cub and the version that They Might Be Giants sing on Factory Showroom.
Firstly, instead of singing "Katz's and Tiffany's", Cub sings "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Secondly, instead of singing "The Empire State Where Dylan Lived", Cub sings "The Empire State Where King Kong Lived". Flansburgh apparently misheard the lyrics, at least for the Dylan/King Kong one. I think the change to Katz's may have been intentional, because the Johns are on the record as saying that they felt this song, though it was a cover, reflected their own New York experiences very well. Maybe they changed it to Katz's, a Lower East Side fixture, to better reflect that.
It should be noted that in live performances nowadays, They Might Be Giants sing "King Kong" and not "Dylan", but "Katz's and Tiffany's" remains.
This song is just amazing. When I got into college in New York City, I played this song over and over again for about a week, while bouncing off walls in exuberance. So I know it pretty well now. And I have to say that the accordion adds something that the original song by Cub lacks.