What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
   (official lyrics)

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
I was brain-dead, locked out, numb, not up to speed
I thought I'd pegged you an idiot's dream
Tunnel vision from the outsider's screen
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

I'd studied your cartoons, radio, music, tv, movies, magazines
Richard said, "Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy"
A smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
Butterfly decal, rearview mirror, dogging the scene
You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You said that irony was the shackles of youth, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
I never understood, don't fuck with me, uh-huh


Crush With Eyeliner
 (official lyrics)


I know you
I know you've seen her
She's a sad tomato
She's three miles of bad road
Walking down the street
Will I never meet her?
She's a real woman-child
Oh my kiss breath turpentine

I am smitten

I'm the real thing (I'm the real thing)
Have you seen her come around?
My crush with eyeliner

I'm in like.
I'm infatuated.
It's all too much-the pressure.
She's all that I can take
What position should I wear?
Cop an attitude? (you faker)
How can I convince her? (Faker)
That I'm invented too, yeah

I am smitten
I'm the real thing (I'm the real thing)
We all invent ourselves
and, uh, you know me

Yeah, she's a sad tomato
She's three miles of bad road
She's her own invention (She's her own invention)
That gets me in the throat
What can I make myself be?
Life is strange, yeah (Life is strange)
What can I make myself be (Fake her)
To make her mine?

I am smitten
I'll do anything (I'll do anything)
A kiss breath turpentine,
my crush with eyeliner

I am smitten
You know me (Yeah, you know me)
I could be your Frankenstein
my crush with eyeliner

I am smitten
I'm the real thing (I'm the real thing)
Won't you be my valentine?
My crush with eyeliner


King Of Comedy

Make your money with a suit and tie
Make your money with shrewd denial
Make your money expert advice,
If you can wing it
Make your money with a power ply
Make your money with a buyout bribe
You can lie, as long as you mean it

I'm not the king of comedy,
Grease the pig, give a squeeze (squeeze me)

Make your money with exploitation
Make it holy with illumination
Say a prayer at every station
Don't forget to ask for mercy
Make your money with a pretty face
Make it easy with product placement
Make it charged with controversy
I'm straight, I'm queer, I'm bi

I'm not the king of comedy,
I'm not your magazine,
I'm not your television

Make your money, make it rich
make it young and make it quick
Make your money on the jukebox, baby,
it's pick up sticks,
Make your enemies make your moves
Make your critics fumble through
Make it smart and make it schmooze
Make it look easy

I'm not the king of comedy,
I'm not your magazine,
I'm not your television,
I'm not your movie screen
I'm not commodity (all together now)
I'm not commodity
I'm not commodity


I Don't Sleep, I Dream
 

I'm looking for an interruption,
do you believe?
You looking to dig my dreams
Be prepared for anything
You come into my little scene
Hooray hooray hip hip hooray
There's one thing I can guarantee:
You won't have to dig, dig too deep

Said leave me to lay, but touch me deep,
I don't sleep, I dream
I'll settle for a cup of coffee, but you know what I really need

Are you looking to drive my dreams?
You here to run my screens?
You come, deliver my demons
Hooray hooray hip hip hooray
Are you coming to ease my headache?
Do you give good head?
Am I good in bed?

I don't know, I guess so
I don't sleep, I dream
I'll settle for a cup of coffee, but you know what I really need

I'm looking for an interruption,
can you believe?
Some medicine for my headache
Hooray hooray hip hip hooray
I'm pitching for a new direction
Pinch me when I wake
Don't tell me my dreams are fake
you leave me to lay, you touch me deep,
I don't sleep, I dream
I'll settle for a cup of coffee, but you know what I really need
Leave me to lay, but touch me deep,
I don't sleep, I dream
I'll settle for a cup of coffee, but you know what I really need


Star 69
 (Official Lyrics)

You don't have to take the bar exam to see
what you've done is ignoramus 103
what've I got to hang my hat on
you don't have a pot to pee in
all this just to be your friend
I was there until the end.
extortion and arson, petty larceny

I know you called - I know you called - I know you called -
I know you called - I know you called - I know you hung up my line
star 69

I know all about the warehouse fire
I know squirrelys didn't chew the wires
3 people have my number
the other 2 were with me.
I don't like to tell-tell but I'm not your patsy.
this time you have gone too far with me.

I know you called - I know you called - I know you called -
I know you called - I know you called - I know you hung up my line
star 69

why'd you put your quarter down on me?
this reads like some dork inside edition hard copy.
I can't be your character witness
I can't be your alibi
doorbell rings it's the FBI
we learned spy vs. spy
you my friend, are guilty as can be.

I know you called - I know you called - I know you called -
I know you called - I know you called - I know you hung up my line
I know you called - I know you called - I know you called -
I know you called - I know you called - I can't be your alibi
star 69


Strange Currencies
 (official lyrics)

I don't know why you're mean to me
when I call on the telephone.
and I don't know what you mean to me
but I want to turn you on, turn you up, figure you out, I want to take you on

These words, "You will be mine."
These words, "You will be mine." all the time.

the fool might be my middle name
But I'd be foolish not to say
I'm going to make whatever it takes,
ring you up, call you down, sign your name, secret love,
make it rhyme, take you in, and make you mine.

These words, "You will be mine."
These words, "You will be mine." all the time. oh

I tripped and fell. did I fall.
What I want to feel, I want to feel it now

You know with love come strange currencies
and here is my appeal:

I need a chance, a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance,
a word, a signal, a nod, a little breath
just to fool myself, to catch myself, to make it real, real

These words, "You will be mine"
These words, "You will be mine." all the time. oh

These words, "You will be mine."
These words, they haunt me, hunt me down, catch in my throat, make me pray,
say, love's confined, oh.


Tongue
 (official lyrics) 

call my name, here I come.
90 to nothing, watch me run.
you call.
I am ashamed to say.
ugly girls know their fate.
anybody can get laid.
you want a room with a fire escape.
I want to tell you how much I hate this.
don't leave that stuff all over me. it pains me.
please just leave it.
I should toss that vanity license plate.
toss that make-up painted face.
box those poems, chocolate cake.
scratch that name on the record player.
please just leave me be.
don't lay that stuff all over me.
it crawls all over. all over me.
call my name, here I come.
your last ditch lay, will I never learn?
caramel turn on a dusty apology.
it crawls all over me.
you turn all over.
it pains me.
please just leave it.


Bang And Blame
 (official lyrics)

If you could see yourself now, baby
It's not my fault
You used to be so in control
You're going to roll right over this one
Just roll me over, let me go
You're laying blame
Take this as no, no, no

You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
It's not my thing so let it go.

If you could see yourself now baby,
the tables have turned
the whole world hinges on your swings
your secret life of indiscreet discretions
I'd turn the screw and leave the screen,
Don't point your finger,
You know that's not my thing

You came to bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
It's not my thing so let it go.

You've got a little worry,
I know it all too well,
I've got your number,
but so does every kiss-and-tell
who dares to cross your threshold,
or happens on your way,
Stop laying blame.
You know that's not my thing.

You know that's not my thing,
You came to bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
It's not my thing so let it go.
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang and bang,
It's not my thing so let it go.

You kiss on me, tug on me, rub on me, jump on me,
you bang on me, beat on me, hit on me, let go on me,
You let go on me.


I Took Your Name
 (official lyrics)

I wore the clothes you wanted.
I took your name.
If there is some confusion, who's to blame?

I signed your living will.
I smiled your face.
I'm ready to close the book on NASA in outer space.

If there is some confusion,
who's to blame?
who's to blame?

I sequenced your arrival.
I sealed your fate.
I pushed the button and erased your master tape.

I wrote the sales pitch.
I threw the brake switch.
I dragged your big-ass Daddy Roth car out of that ditch

If there is some confusion,
who's to blame?
who's to blame?

I crossed your great divide.
I stirred your ocean's tide.
I called your bluff until I blew your circuits wide.

I'll be your albatross,
devil, dog, Jesus, God,
I don't wanna be Iggy Pop but if that's what it takes, hey

If there is some confusion
If there is some confusion
If there is some confusion
who's to blame?
who's to blame?


Let Me In

Yeah, all those stars drip down like butter,
and a promise is asleep,
We hold out our pans, lift our hands to catch them.
We eat them up, drink them all, all, all, all.

Hey, let me in.
Hey, let me in.

I only wish that I could hear you whisper doubt,
mistook for sure, move to a less peculiar ground.
He gathered up his loved ones and he brought them all around
to say "goodbye, nice try."

Hey, let me in. yeah yeah yeah
Hey, let me in. Let me in.

I had it in mind to try to stop you. Let me in. Let me in.
But I've got tar on my feet and I can't see.
All the birds look down and laugh at me.
Clumsy, crawling out of my skin.

Hey, let me in. yeah yeah yeah
Hey, let me in.
Hey, let me in. yeah yeah yeah
Hey, let me in.


Circus Envy

Here comes that awful feeling again
Welcome the ugly animal.
I hold my breath to watch you swing
my high rope acrobat ball and chain,
I'm not a freak, I messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up

I've got my telescope head in the haystack
I'm getting tired of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command

Here comes that awful feeling again
Make way for monster jealousy
The strong man kicked sand into my breakfast cereal bowl
I'd spelled your name with Oatios,
he messed it, messed it, messed it, messed it up

I've got my telescope head in the haystack
I am tired of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command

You mean, mean, meanie.
You tease, tease, tease me.

If I were you I'd really run from me
I'd really really wish that I were you
When I get loose I'll climb a tree
and drop a load on your head
This monster in me makes me retch, you messed it, messed it up

I've got my telescope head in the haystack
I am jealous of your dodgeball circus act
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark
Put pepper in my coffee, I forgot to bark on command

You mean, mean, meanie.
You tease, tease, tease me.

Do you smell jealousy?
Do you smell jealousy, jealousy, jealousy?


You

Let the sun beat through the clouds,
Let me kiss you on the mouth.
All my childhood toys with chew marks in your smile.
Let me hold your syrup close to mine.
And I want you Hollywood and Vine.
And I want you like the movies, touch me now.

I love you crazy, just keep on.
I love you madly, just keep watch.
You wipe my lips, you turn me on.
My attentions are turned to you.

Did I dream you were a tourist
in the Arizona sun?
I can see you there with lunar moths
and watermelon gum.
I woke up in the sleeping bag,
With nowhere else to run.
You're standing in the bathroom
telling me its all in fun.

I love you crazy, just keep on.
I love you madly, just keep watch.
You wipe my lips, you turn me on.
My attentions are turned to you.

I can whisper in your ear.
I can write a calendar year
I can ring around your Saturn smile, a trinal balloon
I have walked the tension wire line,
and I learned to disrespect the signs.
And I want you like a Pisces rising, key the moon.

I love you crazy, just keep on.
I love you madly, just keep watch.
You wipe my lips, you turn me on.
My attentions are turned to you.


B-Sides/Outtakes

Revolution

Your revolution is a silly idea, yeah
All your friends are feeling sad
It's like you need a reason to be feeling bad
You sport an armband when your good and mad

La la la la revolution (the future never happened)
La la la la revolution

I don't know why i'm feeling bad, yeah
I picked up a bad vibration
Oliver North has ran for Senate,
bombed the abortion clinic
Reagan's defense is the deficit
The virus was invented
Black men can't get acquitted
of the crimes that we've committed
The future never happened, it never happened

La la la la revolution (the future never happened)
La la la la, I picked up a bad vibration.

Your revolution is a silly idea, yeah
You tried to look like a punk rock girl,
a whole lotta sneer, and little curl
But I don't have time for your theatrics
Everybody knows that you're a bad actress
We've been sided for way too long, yeah
The scum is rising, yeah.

La la la la revolution (the future never happened)
La la la la revolution (Pick up your bad vibration)
La la la la revolution

What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
  
About an old man misunderstanding the motivations of generations
younger than himself. "I gave him hell" said Stipe at the time.
"Kenneth" is in reference to an incident in which Dan Rather, a CBS
newsreader, in 1986 was followed from the Harriman Institute For The Advanced
Study of the Soviet Union in New York where he'd been researching Gorbachev
as he was about to go to Iceland for a summit between Reagan and Gorbachev.
Two well dressed thugs followed him thinking he was Kenneth Shaffer,
an eloctronics genious who was able to decode Russian TV signals, giving
access to vital defense information. The thugs beat up Rather, demanding
what the frequency was. The phrase became a buzzword on the street.
This started off as mikes tune that was altered by the rest of the band.

Crush With Eyeliner
   
About identity and imitation. The "she" is a drag queen, therefore a "he".
The song concentrates on the protagonists emphatuation with this man.
Peter wrote this tune after playing around with a tremelo amplifier.
It was demoed and then forgotten for 6 months.

King of Comedy
   
Originally written in 1993, called "Yes, I`m Fucking With You", but
Stipe changed his mind about this and instead went for a "Leonard Cohen type thing"
with a lyric about greed and money. It's about business, religion, and the
entertainment industry. It was performed live for the first few weeks
of the tour then mysteriously abandoned. The last song finished for Monster.

I Don't Sleep, I Dream
   
More sexy stuff, about dreaming of someone. Another scary obsessed character.
The song was originated in a studio jam. Peter didn't expect Michael
to come up with anything good in terms of a melody for this.

Star 69
     
About betrayal, and identity. One of the more straight forward
ones on the record. Out and out rock and roll about a phone pest
trying to pressure someone into a crime.

Strange Currencies
   
Velvets tune. Obsession lyrics. Apparently initiated by Bill.
The voice is completely obsessed and believes if he tells the
object of his desire how much he wants her, she will give in.
Live, it was prefaced with a story about being an unattractive
high school student. That could therefore be the story of the lyric:
obsessive adolescent.

Tongue
   
Ladies Choice. This is about a blow job apparently.

Bang And Blame
   
Using love as a weapon. kiss and tell stuff.   

I Took Your Name
  
Abuse of power, identity. Michael says this is the "voice of Satan."
Mentions cartoonist Daddy Roth who drew dragsters. Bills riff.

Let Me In
   
To, for and about Kurt Kobain. Mikes tune.

Circus Envy
   
Jealousy. This is set in a circus.

You
   
Love song, a boy song, so says Michael. Beautiful and disturbing.