In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
[Pharrell]
(Uh, uh)
Hey, yo
(Uh, uh)
All they wanna do is dance
That's all they wanna do
(Uh, uh)
[Common]
Get-Get it
Get-Get it (what?)
Get-Get it (what?)
This is that automatic I stay fresh like I'm wrapped in plastic
Beat goes fast, exceed galactic
Southside boy we Cadillactic Charismatic,
Asiatic, I hustle for mathematics
Cameras, action, stay status
Act the type of yo favorite actress
Gucci, Rocking
Coochies, Popping
Movie, Watching
Booties, Shopping
Body, moving, showing, grooving, styling and being fly
I touch the masses like a Catholic.
Expensive rap shit, my future's backlit
Ain't a act with gack who macks and stacks my
Venac attracts y'all react so let's go, uh
[Chorus: Pharrell]
This is that new shit.
Keep tearing ya mind.
That Universal Mind Control, now move your behind.
You know you like it, it's calling your name.
Nigga, this is that new shit and it don't feel the same.
It's that bang
[Common]
Some pop, some lock, some move robotic.
Like Cash Money, I stay in pocket.
You MC's Ra-Ra-Ra Rock, don't stop it.
Chicks exotic, mix hypnotic?
Superhero-row Boy I'm bionic.
You a fad, I'm another level supersponic?
Girl you bout' it,
You can strip like comic and trance to melodic, techno-tronic
Beats, rocking
Seats, dropping
C, popping
Streets, rocking
Freaking, shaking, money making, styling and being fly.
I'm the one the lady,
Ladies chose to strip and pose to,
Take off their close to,
Toast to the one that goes coast to coast
Don't miss the global focal let's go, uh
[Chorus]
[Common]
Get-Get it
Get-Get it
Get-Get it
I am a Renegade,
I've never been afraid,
Fresh and I'm getting paid the future,
Future of this age.
From the south, so I talk this way.
Twista hate at the Grand Marque,
Rock the fly shit like everyday till the top and im on my way.
Let's go, uh
[Chorus]
(Uh, uh)
Hey, yo
(Uh, uh)
All they wanna do is dance
That's all they wanna do
(Uh, uh)
[Common]
Get-Get it
Get-Get it (what?)
Get-Get it (what?)
This is that automatic I stay fresh like I'm wrapped in plastic
Beat goes fast, exceed galactic
Southside boy we Cadillactic Charismatic,
Asiatic, I hustle for mathematics
Cameras, action, stay status
Act the type of yo favorite actress
Gucci, Rocking
Coochies, Popping
Movie, Watching
Booties, Shopping
Body, moving, showing, grooving, styling and being fly
I touch the masses like a Catholic.
Expensive rap shit, my future's backlit
Ain't a act with gack who macks and stacks my
Venac attracts y'all react so let's go, uh
[Chorus: Pharrell]
This is that new shit.
Keep tearing ya mind.
That Universal Mind Control, now move your behind.
You know you like it, it's calling your name.
Nigga, this is that new shit and it don't feel the same.
It's that bang
[Common]
Some pop, some lock, some move robotic.
Like Cash Money, I stay in pocket.
You MC's Ra-Ra-Ra Rock, don't stop it.
Chicks exotic, mix hypnotic?
Superhero-row Boy I'm bionic.
You a fad, I'm another level supersponic?
Girl you bout' it,
You can strip like comic and trance to melodic, techno-tronic
Beats, rocking
Seats, dropping
C, popping
Streets, rocking
Freaking, shaking, money making, styling and being fly.
I'm the one the lady,
Ladies chose to strip and pose to,
Take off their close to,
Toast to the one that goes coast to coast
Don't miss the global focal let's go, uh
[Chorus]
[Common]
Get-Get it
Get-Get it
Get-Get it
I am a Renegade,
I've never been afraid,
Fresh and I'm getting paid the future,
Future of this age.
From the south, so I talk this way.
Twista hate at the Grand Marque,
Rock the fly shit like everyday till the top and im on my way.
Let's go, uh
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Universal Mind Control Lyrics as written by Chad Hugo Sal Abbatiello
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
What does this song mean? I NEED TO KNOW. It sounds sweet, but I refuse to listen to it until I know what it means!
Basically about the masses being controlled by the media or music. It shapes us and show us how to be and we do as they want. They say what is cool and in and we give in to it. So hes singing about not trying to be as the media wants you to, buying gucci, giving a guy a lapdance in the club and stuff. Be your self, have your own oppinions and don't be affected/hypnotized by the media
Thanks, yeah now I can see it.
the_sentry, now you see it because someone tells you this is what he is saying? wow.
This is exactly the opposite of what zegita is saying in her/his 4th and 5th sentence. The song is about it's ok to do all those things and be fly and NOT "be your self", and NOT have your own opinions and to be affected/hypnotized by the media because this album is about people feeling what HE wants them to feel [good or bad i supppose], you know, mind controlling the listeners. Hence the title.
Yeah, heh heh. I wasn't thinking when I replied to his comment. But I was listening to it a few days after I left the reply and I started thinking, you know, this doesn't make sense at all.<br /> <br /> And then I thought, wait, he's not saying that "Universal Mind Control" is bad, he's saying it's good. And that everyone should listen to him. I stopped listening to the song almost two days after I left that comment.<br /> <br /> But I'm not complaning, I totally deserved to get pwned.
zegita is right and graciouslove, you could be right. What I think is that Common is kind of mocking that mind set that he can control us through music like all the other radio music stars and celebs.
it's called satire.
sick song!!! i dont care what it means
yo what's the deal with that line about twista?