Transistor Radio Lyrics
Though he turned in his bones twenty years ago,
And he said, "Kid, there's something that I'd like to show you,
Get your things, its time for us to go"
So I grabbed my backpack, my flashlight, and a bag of caramel corn,
I got my bicycle, and the radio, and I had it on the road, I said
"I'm ready for what I'm about to see, Yup"
Through rusty towns and dusty gravel roads
And I said, "Grandpa, where is this thing you wanted to show me?"
He said, "Kid, you got a long way to go"
So I went through canyons, caves and catacombs, I sailed on bicycle boats
I slept in chapels and brothels, I met the nicest folks
I said, "I'm ready for what I'm about to see, Yup"
He said, "Kid, its time for me to go,
And I know that there was something that I wanted to show you,
But its time for you to find it on your own."
"Let me tell you about rage when a signal died that day,
There's nothing out there and I don't care; Its to take my life away
I'm not ready and I don't want to see, Nope"
Yet I keep going to where it seems I'm meant to go
And I finally realized what he wanted to show me
Where I've been, where I am, its the show
Where I've been, where I am, its the show
Where I've been, where I am, its the show
I don't know if I can listen to this song without crying, and I don't know if I'd want to.
I've come to associate this song with the time in my life where I was diagnosed with infertility and came to realize that the treatments for it were out of reach for me. Being a parent was all I had wanted to do with my life. I had fully expected parenthood to become the center of my life, the place from where meaningfulness would flow. And suddenly, that was gone.
I was lost. "Let me tell you about rage when the signal died that day, there's nothing out there and I don't care if they take my life away." And I didn't care. I wanted to die. I wanted to die because I couldn't imagine a life without a child in it. I twas impossible. I couldn't imagine existing another 50 or 60 years without having a child and grandchildren. Life had become utterly meaningless. Utterly pointless.
"I'm not ready, and I don't want to see, nope."
It took me so much work to be able to imagine a new life. Because, for a long time, I didn't want to imagine it. I wasn't ready to let go of all that I had hoped for. But slowly, over time, I became able to envision a life that didn't have a child in it, no, but a life that was meaningful nonetheless. It was a sheer act of will to get through that. It was agony.
It was five years ago this weekend that I tried to kill myself. Five years of reinventing who it is I am and what I'm supposed to be. And I can say now, without a doubt, that I will have a life that matters no matter what. I look back on what I've done in the past five years, the people I've loved, returning to grad school to enter a new profession so that I can help people, becoming true to myself again after years of trying to be something else, the beauty in the world that I've seen, the autumn leaves and the sparking water, the flashes of lightning, the shooting stars in the sky - all that I would have missed out on if I had succeeded in giving up. And I've still got a long way to go.
Where I've been, and where I am, is the show.
i agree as well, those yups and nopes really make you feel like a small child is telling the story. it's heartwarming haha.
Cloud Cult has awesome vocals.
Infected Mushroom had a good quote along the lines of these lyrics:
(paraphrased) "Some people are so set on getting from A to Z that they forget about all of the letters in between"
this song really makes me think i love the 'yup' and 'nop' bits they really make me smile :) i have listened to this song so much recently its unbelieveable! i love it... it makes methink about lifes doesnt always seem to be long enough and jus make the most of it.. thing happen for a reason and maybe were never meant to know why
this song really makes me think i love the 'yup' and 'nop' bits they really make me smile :) i have listened to this song so much recently its unbelieveable! i love it... it makes methink about lifes doesnt always seem to be long enough and jus make the most of it.. thing happen for a reason and maybe were never meant to know why
i'd have to agree with belinda. the yups and nope are lovely. ive been listening to this song over and over and over and over....no joke...theres something to it. i like the hope in it. my favorite line is "let me tell you about rage when a signal dies that day."
Worst vocals? o_O
Incredible song. His vocals fit the mood absolutely perfectly.
this song is sweet and really well written. i love it.
this song is really earnest - imo the best cloud cult have written