REM--Monster

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 idiots'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 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 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

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


STAR 69

you don't have to take the bar exam to see
what you've done is ignoramus 103
what've I got I 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
three people have my number 
the other two 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

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 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, haunt me, hunt me down, catch in my throat,
make me pray, say, love's confined, oh.


TONGUE

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
you 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

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 band on me, beat one me, hit on me, let go on me,
You let go on me