Sonic Youth

Genetic

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Genetic Lyrics

[Lee]
let me tell you every thought that i've come to
when i think of all the things that you do
i can't see if you're the only one, it's hard to say
and i think it's all the same to me today
i can see you too
if i could just see you this one time
i sit alone, everyone's at home
i see it, i believe
somehow i know it's true
the genetic [kiss] is to me
i live inside of you
i have heard it said before, it'll never happen
had it drilled in since a kid makes my head spin
i'm still looking for these things that i can't find
thoughts just come and go swirling through my mind
i see me and you
then it's him i'm thinking of
we sit alone, no-one else at home
i taste it, i feel [it]
and now i know it's true
your genetic kiss reveals
i'll always be with you

hey baby it's you i'm thinking of
hey baby who do you love?
don't worry baby i'm watching as you sleep
let me whisper some things for you to keep
there's no perfect idea
there's no perfect [fate/faith]
just little stabs of happiness
sometimes a little too late
so keep your eyes wide open
and noone ???? [know what you're made of?]
remember first thought, best thought
try to stay in love

Submitted by

shut On Dec 24, 2001

Tunic (Song for Karen)

[Lee] 
let me tell you every thought that i've come to 
when i think of all the things that you do 
i can't see if you're the only one, it's hard to say 
and i think it's all the same to me today 
i can see you too 
if i could just see you this one time 
i sit alone, everyone's at home 
i see it, i believe 
somehow i know it's true 
the genetic [kiss] is to me 
i live inside of you 
i have heard it said before, it'll never happen 
had it drilled in since a kid makes my head spin 
i'm still looking for these things that i can't find 
thoughts just come and go swirling through my mind 
i see me and you 
then it's him i'm thinking of 
we sit alone, no-one else at home 
i taste it, i feel [it] 
and now i know it's true 
your genetic kiss reveals 
i'll always be with you

hey baby it's you i'm thinking of 
hey baby who do you love? 
don't worry baby i'm watching as you sleep 
let me whisper some things for you to keep 
there's no perfect idea 
there's no perfect [fate/faith] 
just little stabs of happiness 
sometimes a little too late 
so keep your eyes wide open 
and noone ???? [know what you're made of?] 
remember first thought, best thought 
try to stay in love

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Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.

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Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

shut

Submitter

2001-12-24 00:29:02

8 Meanings

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by exobscura

3y ago

You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline ...

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by kyasarin

23y ago

one of my favorite SY songs. it's too good to be a b-side...

it seems like it's a pretty straightforward love song. it's message seems to be 'seize the day, you never know what will come tomorrow'.

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by RedSpikedWalls

20y ago

no one talk about Sy songs .... except us ...

i always remind of a girl listening to this song ....i even talk to her anymore ...this part of the lyrics remind me more than the rest "your genetic kiss reveals i'll always be with you "

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by Unright

19y ago

Not quite a love song.. There's some bitterness of regret.

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by ratanx

18y ago

"First thought, best thought" was something Ginsberg believed in. In "The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg," Lee is interviewed and mentions this is where he got the line from for this song.

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by Mike Zero

17y ago

This is one of my favs from Dirty (and that says a lot!).

Just my opinion, but I think this song is subtly about sex. I think "genetic kiss" means the guy's load (whether it's Lee or the character the song is about, I dunno). See "Your genetic kiss to me, I'll live inside of you".

Read through the lyrics and you can pick up a few possible references. A more obvious one "Just little stabs at happiness."

My Interpretation

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by ohyesjohncale

14y ago

to me it is either a love song talking about someone (m/f), or it could be about his child? "i live inside of you." "don't worry baby i'm watching as you sleep"... sounds like a mixture of both. the woman he loves, it's not always perfect "i see me and you / then it's him i'm thinking of" AND the child they have. confusion and love.