coming out of one's ears

Etymology:

• This phrase was initially used by mothers when they wanted to get their children to stop eating too much of something. Mothers would tell their children that if they ate too much of something it would come out of their ears. Children began putting things in their ears to see if anything was growing out of them. Doctors were frustrated at how bad children’s ears were by the time mothers brought their children to the doctor. In the mid-1900s, folk protest singer/songwriter Len Chandler wrote and sang a song called "Beans in My Ears." He satirically protested against mothers not listening to their children complaining of these ear aches. The song became a hit in 1964 by the Serendipity Sisters. It was soon banned as even more children were putting beans in their ears. In 1966 Pete Seeger included this song when he covered "Dangerous Songs," singing of "Mrs. Johnson's little son Alby." “Alby J” was a satirical reference to LBJ, President Lyndon B Johnson’s initials because he refused to listen to Americans' protests against the Vietnam War. He wasn't listening just like mothers weren't listening to their children complaining of ear aches. Today it's used to mean too much of anything, not necessarily a physical thing, like too much work coming out of your ears.