R.e.m. what's the frequency, kenneth? lyrics

(Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)



"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your benzedrine, uh-huh.

I was braindead, locked out, numb, not up to speed.

I thought I'd pegged you, an idiot's dream

Tunnelvision 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 nenzedrine, 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.