You Need To Hear Patti Smith's Ode To 'Aqua Teen'

I hoped this day would never come, but it’s here. Er, it’s almost here. After keeping it weird on Adult Swim for almost 15 years, the final season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force will draw to a close this Sunday. In honor of "The Last One Forever and Ever (For Real This Time) (We ****ing Mean It)," punk icon Patti Smith recorded "Aqua Teen Dream." This song is not just a song, but a requiem. A very special requiem for a very special show about very special anthropomorphic fast-food menu items and their very special neighbor.

In 2001, the Adult Swim audience was introduced to a goatee’d carton of french fries, a glove-wearing milkshake, a ball of ground meat, and a human with a penchant for green flip fops. We've watched them live, we've watched them laugh, we've watched them love, we've watched them cuss each other out, we've watched them commit heinous acts, and we've watched them defeat many a villain. And now, we must say goodbye. We must bid Frylock, Master Shake, Meatwad, and Carl farewell. All we have left now are memories. And all of the reruns. And a movie. And this heartwarming sendoff courtesy of the great Patti Smith:

I reached out to Meatwad and asked if he'd be down to chat about "Aqua Teen Dream." Sentimental ball of processed meat that he is, he was more than happy to oblige. (And duh, I was incredibly starstruck.) Here's a direct transcript of our conversation:

Hey, Meatwad? How do you feel about "Aqua Teen Dream"?

Oh, really? You feel like dancing to this gorgeous-but-gloomy tune, huh? It's an unexpected reaction, but I'm not going to knock it. You do you.

Darn it. I'm sorry. Meatwad. I didn't mean to pull a Master Shake. Dance away! Dance away! Dance away to lyrics like "A Master Shake/Meatwad, a floating head/And now you're dead/And it's the end"!

Or just strum the strings of a tear-stained guitar. That works, too.

I'm right there with you, buddy. This song has me feeling all of the feels, too. I miss you already, Meatwad.

Images: Adult Swim; huluperfectgif, ifonlywecouldfly, mattersmasher, variouscreams/tumblr