What's the frequency, Kenneth?

What's the frequency, kenneth?
r.e.m

"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 f*** with me, uh-huh

from: mikko muinonen <[email protected]>