R.E.M.

Released: November 1, 2019

Songwriter: Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills (R.E.M.) Michael Stipe

Producer: R.E.M. Scott Litt Jo Ravitch

[Intro]
What?

[Verse 1]
"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, ah-ha
I was brain-dead, locked out, numb, not up to speed
I thought I'd pegged you idiot's dream
Tunnel vision from the outsider's screen

[Chorus]
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

[Verse 2]
I'd studied your cartoons, radio, music, TV, movies, magazines
Richard said, "Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy"
You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth

[Chorus]
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
A-ha

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
What!
"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
Butterfly decal, rear-view mirror, dogging the scene
You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth

[Chorus]
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
A-ha
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
A-ha
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You said that irony was the shackles of youth, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You wore a shirt violent green, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
I never understood, don't fuck with me, uh-huh

R.E.M. were an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry.

Berry quit the band in April 1997, as they were getting together to record demos for the album Up. He was not replaced on a permanent basis, but the band used an assortment of drummers in his place.

more tracks from the album

Monster [25th Anniversary Edition]

From the album

Monster [25th Anniversary Edition] (2019)

R.E.M. popular songs

What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? - Live in Chicago / 1995R.E.M.

R.E.M.

Monster [25th Anniversary Edition]