--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I…" description: "\"I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I got a parrot instead. I think I did that joke backwards.\" — Mitch Hedberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/mitch-hedberg-695_backwards_i-wanted-to-get-a-tape-recorder-but-i-go_616787.png" --- # I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I got a parrot… ![“I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I got a parrot instead. I think I did that joke backwards.” quote by Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/mitch-hedberg-695_backwards_i-wanted-to-get-a-tape-recorder-but-i-go_616787.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/mitch-hedberg-695_backwards_i-wanted-to-get-a-tape-recorder-but-i-go_616787.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/mitch-hedberg-695_backwards_i-wanted-to-get-a-tape-recorder-but-i-go_616787.png) > “I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I got a parrot instead. I think I did that joke backwards.” [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A joke about a tape recorder turned into a parrot highlights absurd humor. **In simple terms:** Absurd twist on expectations. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected twists for humor. Themes humor absurdity surprise Mood playful lighthearted Type comedic entertaining When to use this quote - stand‑up routine - writing jokes - improvisation Key Concepts comedy creative thinking Questions to Reflect On - What makes absurd humor work? - How do you gauge audience reaction? A Different Perspective May confuse audience if too obscure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I used to do little sketches into my cassette tape recorder when I was a little boy. I would just turn it on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/i-used-to-do-little-sketches-into-my-cassette-tape-recorder-when-i/) [Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/) > [... And we talk it out. Lately, I've had Roy Thomas come in, and he sits and makes notes while we discuss it. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/and-we-talk-it-out-lately-i-ve-had-roy-thomas-come-in-and-he-sits-and/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Imagine if Beethoven had a tape recorder. Then you'd know exactly what he meant. Maybe he meant 'Da da da da' instead of 'Boom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/imagine-if-beethoven-had-a-tape-recorder-then-you-d-know-exactly-what/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [It's such a relief for me to sit in front of a tape recorder and not be using it to learn my lines,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/it-s-such-a-relief-for-me-to-sit-in-front-of-a-tape-recorder-and-not/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [When I made my first film, I think the thing was probably helped me the most was that it was such an unusual thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/when-i-made-my-first-film-i-think-the-thing-was-probably-helped-me/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [I could learn how to press 'Record' on a tape recorder and write for a newspaper or a magazine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/i-could-learn-how-to-press-record-on-a-tape-recorder-and-write-for-a/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [So I use a tape recorder a lot to record ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/so-i-use-a-tape-recorder-a-lot-to-record-ideas/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [It is just like your tape-recorder. It records, it reproduces - all by itself. You only listen. Similarly, I watch all that happens, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/it-is-just-like-your-tape-recorder-it-records-it-reproduces-all-by/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Many of my characters first came through to me as voices. That's why I use a tape recorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/many-of-my-characters-first-came-through-to-me-as-voices-that-s-why-i/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [Life is marvelous now because I have a tape recorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-korbut/life-is-marvelous-now-because-i-have-a-tape-recorder/) [Olga Korbut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-korbut/) > [I had wanted a tape recorder since I was tiny. I thought it was a magic thing. I never got one until just before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-had-wanted-a-tape-recorder-since-i-was-tiny-i-thought-it-was-a/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I was broadcast-struck from an early age; I had saved up for a tape recorder and started making programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-rees/i-was-broadcast-struck-from-an-early-age-i-had-saved-up-for-a-tape/) [Nigel Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-rees/) > [In the '60s my friends were interested and we were hearing electronic music coming in on community radio from Europe, so that's where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/in-the-60s-my-friends-were-interested-and-we-were-hearing-electronic/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [With my recovery programme, I have to do a daily inventory of how my day has been. I am terribly dyslexic and have attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/with-my-recovery-programme-i-have-to-do-a-daily-inventory-of-how-my/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Most of our stuff was trial and error. You live with a tape recorder, you turn it on, you play the song and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levon-helm/most-of-our-stuff-was-trial-and-error-you-live-with-a-tape-recorder/) [Levon Helm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levon-helm/) ## More by Mitch Hedberg > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [There was a product on late night TV that you could attach to your garden hose - "You can water your hard-to-reach plants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/there-was-a-product-on-late-night-tv-that-you-could-attach-to-your/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. 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If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I don't get the regular AIDS test anymore. I get the roundabout AIDS test. I ask my friend Brian, "Do you know anybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-get-the-regular-aids-test-anymore-i-get-the-roundabout-aids/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I drank some boiling water because I wanted to whistle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-drank-some-boiling-water-because-i-wanted-to-whistle/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [What's a sesame seed grow into? I don't know we never give them a chance, what the fuck is a sesame?! It's a street...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/what-s-a-sesame-seed-grow-into-i-don-t-know-we-never-give-them-a/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I'm an ice sculptor. Last night I made a cube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-m-an-ice-sculptor-last-night-i-made-a-cube/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I went to a restaurant with my friend, and he said, "Pass the salt." I said, "Screw you! Sit closer to the salt."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-went-to-a-restaurant-with-my-friend-and-he-said-pass-the-salt-i/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I had a bag of Fritos, they were Texas grilled Fritos. These Fritos had grill marks on them. They remind me of summer, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-had-a-bag-of-fritos-they-were-texas-grilled-fritos-these-fritos-had/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I bought a house, it's a two bedroom house, but I think it's up to me to decide how many bedrooms there are. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-bought-a-house-it-s-a-two-bedroom-house-but-i-think-it-s-up-to-me/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Mr. Pibb is a poor imitation of Dr. Pepper. Dude didn't even get his degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/mr-pibb-is-a-poor-imitation-of-dr-pepper-dude-didn-t-even-get-his/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) [Explore all 405 Mitch Hedberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More Backwards quotes > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [I wear T-shirts and backwards hats and buy my shoes at Payless!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-wear-t-shirts-and-backwards-hats-and-buy-my-shoes-at-payless/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [A historian is not always a prophet facing backwards, but a journalist is always someone who afterwards knew everything beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/a-historian-is-not-always-a-prophet-facing-backwards-but-a-journalist/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Why don't you just imagine it never happened..??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/effy-stonem/why-don-t-you-just-imagine-it-never-happened/) [Effy Stonem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/effy-stonem/) > [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) > [In the spiritual life, he who does not advance goes backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/in-the-spiritual-life-he-who-does-not-advance-goes-backwards/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Now, success is not the result of making money; making money is the result of success - and success is in direct proportion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/now-success-is-not-the-result-of-making-money-making-money-is-the/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Can anyone be so foolish as to believe that there are men whose feet are higher than their heads, or places where things may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lactantius/can-anyone-be-so-foolish-as-to-believe-that-there-are-men-whose-feet/) [Lactantius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lactantius/) > [I took a little break - I was coming back to work and the last thing I was going to do was take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-took-a-little-break-i-was-coming-back-to-work-and-the-last-thing-i/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Only a fool walks into the future backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/only-a-fool-walks-into-the-future-backwards/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [We have different expectations for different groups of people. We tend to modulate the degree with which we're forgiving or punitive depending on how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/we-have-different-expectations-for-different-groups-of-people-we-tend/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [You know what, if you play 'She Looks So Perfect' backwards... you just listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/you-know-what-if-you-play-she-looks-so-perfect-backwards-you-just/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/nursing-is-a-progressive-art-such-that-to-stand-still-is-to-go/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“Just like backing out of the driveway… If the driveway was ten miles long, full of rocks and pits, with lethal radiation hovering above,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-thorman/just-like-backing-out-of-the-driveway-if-the-driveway-was-ten-miles/) [Daniel Thorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-thorman/) > [We're not competitor obsessed, we're customer obsessed. We start with the customer and we work backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/we-re-not-competitor-obsessed-we-re-customer-obsessed-we-start-with/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) Browse all 837 Backwards quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to get a tape recorder, but I got a parrot instead. 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