R.E.M. : What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

Lyrics for the R.E.M. song "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" from their "In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988 2003" album. Feel free to browse the rest of our R.E.M. lyrics here, or download the rest of our In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988 2003 lyrics.

Band: R.E.M.
Album: In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988 2003
Song: What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

"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