5 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Channel Z Lyrics
I am livin' on Channel Z
Getting nothing but static, getting nothing but static
Static in my attic from Channel Z
Getting nothing but static, getting nothing but static.
Static filling my attic from Channel Z
I don't know---I feel like something's happening
Something good is happening!
I feel love has got to come on, and I want it
Something big and lovely
I want the world to change for me! Gotta get away
Away from Z---Living on the edge of Z
Space junk---laser bombs---ozone holes
Better put up my umbrella!
Giant stacks blowin' smoke
Politicrits pushin' dope
All I know---we've got to change what's happening
Something good could happen
I feel light has got to come through---and I need it
Something big and lovely
I want the world to change for me---gotta get away---away from Z
Living on the edge of Z
Waste dumps---toxic fog---irradiate---and keep it fresh forever
Good old boys---tellin' lies
'Bout time---I got wise
Getting nothing but static
Static in my attic from Channel Z
Gotta tune in---pico waves. Gotta tune out---PCB's
Gotta tune in---market crash. Gotta tune out---polar shift
Gotta tune in---narrow minds. Gotta tune out---space junk
Gotta tune in---pico waves. Gotta tune out---PCB's
Gotta tune in---market crash. Gotta tune out---polar shift
Gotta tune in---narrow minds. Gotta tune out---space junk
Gotta tune in---bombs. Gotta turn out---atomic lasers falling from the sky
Where's my umbrella?
Gonna shoot that static down the drain
Gonna put that static out of my brain
Gonna put up my antennae. FREE!
Hamburger ads!---Pop up in my head---
On the edge of Aquarius---I'm living on the edge
Secret wars!---Take my money away!
I know I feel a change is happening---Something good will happen
I feel love is coming on strong, and I want it
We can make it happen
I want the world to change for me---gotta get away---away from Z
Living on the edge of---ZZZZZZZZ
Channel Z's all static all day forever---time to open your windows,
Let in better weather
Getting nothing but static, getting nothing but static
Static in my attic from Channel Z
Getting nothing but static, getting nothing but static.
Static filling my attic from Channel Z
Something good is happening!
I feel love has got to come on, and I want it
Something big and lovely
Away from Z---Living on the edge of Z
Space junk---laser bombs---ozone holes
Better put up my umbrella!
Giant stacks blowin' smoke
Politicrits pushin' dope
Something good could happen
I feel light has got to come through---and I need it
Something big and lovely
Living on the edge of Z
Waste dumps---toxic fog---irradiate---and keep it fresh forever
Good old boys---tellin' lies
'Bout time---I got wise
Getting nothing but static
Static in my attic from Channel Z
Gotta tune in---market crash. Gotta tune out---polar shift
Gotta tune in---narrow minds. Gotta tune out---space junk
Gotta tune in---market crash. Gotta tune out---polar shift
Gotta tune in---narrow minds. Gotta tune out---space junk
Gotta tune in---bombs. Gotta turn out---atomic lasers falling from the sky
Gonna shoot that static down the drain
Gonna put that static out of my brain
Gonna put up my antennae. FREE!
On the edge of Aquarius---I'm living on the edge
Secret wars!---Take my money away!
I feel love is coming on strong, and I want it
We can make it happen
Living on the edge of---ZZZZZZZZ
Let in better weather
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
This song is about getting away from the media and society (Channel Z). It mentions fast food, pollution, a market crash, space junk, narrow minds, and bombs. The person speaking wants to get away from it all, just get it out of his head. Not much else to say :)
No comment about the lyrics which speak for themselves but check out the video - just how hot is Kate Pierson !?!?!?!?!
No comment about the lyrics which speak for themselves but check out the video - just how hot is Kate Pierson !?!?!?!?!
This is a rather satirical song about how humans know that many of the things we do to the environment are bad but do it anyway. They also warn about the dangers of spinning the truth around so much and sugar-coating things that it makes it impossible to know what the truth is. They are also encouraging others to change the way we are going.
I'm pretty sure the title is inspired by Z Channel, one of the original pay TV networks, which finally died and went off the air right when the B-52s were writing this album. If you were into Z instead of HBO or SelecTV, you were hip—Z picked an eclectic mix of "great films" instead of chasing blockbusters or filling time with cheap T&A, they invented the idea of "director's cuts", they used letterbox instead of pan&scan—and, late at night, they showed B-movies curated for their camp value instead of budget pricing. If you want to hear someone rant about how great they were, look for interviews with Robert Altman or Quentin Tarantino.
Of course Z wasn't all that cool anymore in their last few years. And, when they went off the air, you didn't get static—you got SportsChannel. Even though the title, and maybe the inspiration to write the song in the first place, came from Z Channel, the lyrics aren't really about it at all.
@falcotron Great comment! After watching Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, I wondered if the B-52's knew about the Z. or watched it.
@falcotron Great comment! After watching Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, I wondered if the B-52's knew about the Z. or watched it.