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Friction Lyrics
I knew it musta been some big set-up.
All the Action just would not let up.
It's just a little bit back from the main road
where the silence spreads and the men dig holes.
I start to spin the tale
you complain of my diction
You Give Me Friction
But I Dig Friction
You Know I'm Crazy About Friction
My eyes are like telescopes
I see it all backwards: but who wants hope?
If I ever catch that ventriloquist
I'll squeeze his head right into my fist.
SOMETHING comes tracking down,
What's the prediction?
I'll betcha it's Friction...
Stop this head motion...set the sails.
You know all us boys gonna wind up in jail.
I don't wanna grow up
there's too much contradiction
All the Action just would not let up.
It's just a little bit back from the main road
where the silence spreads and the men dig holes.
I start to spin the tale
you complain of my diction
But I Dig Friction
You Know I'm Crazy About Friction
I see it all backwards: but who wants hope?
If I ever catch that ventriloquist
I'll squeeze his head right into my fist.
SOMETHING comes tracking down,
What's the prediction?
Stop this head motion...set the sails.
You know all us boys gonna wind up in jail.
I don't wanna grow up
there's too much contradiction
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There's a funny moment in this song that never goes recorded in the official lyrics, but Verlaine always muttered it, even in the Eno demos, shortly before launching into the solo. I always thought it was something clever about "Irish snakes" (there are none in that country). But somebody who has better ears than I do posted this on another site, which I like a lot better: "How does a snake get out of its skin? Here's a depiction..."
Always thought that Verlaine deserved to be counted among the two or three greatest rock lyricists of all time. His talent with words becomes all the clearer when you contrast it with Lloyd's lyrics; while Lloyd is just as interesting on guitar, his lyrics stink.
nothing is exactly as it seems
I think this is the essence of the meaning of this song. And I agree with Rocas that it's about the inevitable tension between youth and approaching adulthood and a wish to preserve some of the innocence of youth, or at least not be as much of a hypocrite as "growing up" seems to require. He notices that the constant activity surrounding him seems very unnatural, and from there he realizes that there are forces at work directing everything that happens around him. I think the "ventriloquist" refers to authority figures who have such tight control...
I think this is the essence of the meaning of this song. And I agree with Rocas that it's about the inevitable tension between youth and approaching adulthood and a wish to preserve some of the innocence of youth, or at least not be as much of a hypocrite as "growing up" seems to require. He notices that the constant activity surrounding him seems very unnatural, and from there he realizes that there are forces at work directing everything that happens around him. I think the "ventriloquist" refers to authority figures who have such tight control over people and events in his environment that they restrict his freedom. And he predicts that all of the young men around will have similar problems and feel trapped by these circumstances.
My favourite part is "You complain of my DICK-tion". Genius, no?
Haha, yes I like the wordplay too... I prefer the one in "Careful" though "when you whisper, in my ear, it goes so hard, gets so hard, oh, it gets so hard... to get out of bed".
This song, as envika says, has more to it though. It's a coming of age type thing, or so I interpret it. A lot of Television seems to be themed around in limbo states and the tension (friction) that arises from them, in this case, youth and adulthood.
Wow... I seriously can't believe that no one has commented on this song. It's absolutely amazing, as well as the rest of Marquee Moon.
Marquee Moon is brilliant. This is but one highlight from the album. Love the "F, R, I, C, T, I-O-N" part!
This is my favorite Television song. Such awesome guitar work.
This song is one I listened to as a young man and recently heard it on xm. It is a very underrated rock song that should be listened to by anyone with an iota of love for rock music.The guitar work is AWESOME as Majora said
TUNE!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a Beat poem.So dreamlike.
You complain of my dic-... tiooon....