The B-52's

Released: September 8, 1986

Songwriter: Keith Strickland Ricky Wilson (B-52's) Cindy Wilson Kate Pierson Fred Schneider

Producer: Tony Mansfield

Your brain is an ever changing kaleidoscope of moods and colors
We walk in the park but it's melting in the dark
All of a sudden your mood changes
And your face looks like a cake left out in the rain
Is your name MacArthur Parker? Or is it Reba?

Detour thru your mind
Supersaver to your mind

We seem to float by yesterday's child, the new you
The land time forgot and a horse with no mane
As we go further into the gloom
We chance upon a large orange room
A key pops out of your nose, we open the door
And all of a sudden we realize that we are no more

From ear to ear, from here to now
I hear another galaxy spinning around
(Who am I?)
From ear to ear, from here to now
(Where am I going?)
I hear another galaxy spinning around
(How much will it cost?)

A flash of blinding light
And we're in an elegantly appointed doctor's office
It seems that Dr. Aron Butterfly
Wants to dip us in plaster and use us for bookends
We say to the doctor, "No! Please! No!"
And then we get the doctor's bill. What a shock!
\$16,000, and all he wanted to do was dip us in plaster!

(Detour thru your mind)
Who am I? Who am I?
Where have I been?
Where am I going?
(Supersaver to your mind)
How much will it cost?
Do I need any luggage?
Can I bring my mother?

(Drug-free altered mindscape talk)
Oh, wow! I can believe what I see!
Here, try one of these
(Detour thru your mind)
16 magenta butterflies
(Oh, wow!)
Dancing on the back of a maroon octopus
(Supersaver to your mind)
Now it's talking to a hippopotamus
The hippopotamus is cussing us out
Is this a bad dream?!
Help! Help!
This is so groovy!
No, Dr. not another one of those!
What do you mean ten dollars?!
Ouch!

I need to leave my past behind
I need to leave my behind in the past

(Backwards message)
I buried my parakeet in the backyard
Oh no, you're playing the record backwards
Watch out, you might ruin your needle

The B-52’s, (now stylized as The B-52s) are an internationally successful New Wave band also known for their campy fashion. The group’s original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson. Originally, all members of the band played multiple instruments. However, after Ricky Wilson’s tragic AIDS-related death in 1985, instead of hiring a full-time replacement, Strickland transitioned to primarily playing guitar, and the band has used various other musicians for recording and touring purposes.

Their self-titled first album The B-52’s was released to critical acclaim in 1979, spawning the Canadian chart-topping hit “Rock Lobster”, which was also successful in Australia, New Zealand, the US and the UK. Rolling Stone magazine later placed the album at #152 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Their second album, Wild Planet, released in 1980, spawned another minor US hit with “Private Idaho”. Whammy! followed in 1983, giving the band a third minor US hit with “Legal Tender”. Their fourth album, Bouncing Off the Satellites, was recorded and mixed but not yet released when Ricky Wilson died in October 1985. It was nearly a year before the album was released, in September 1986. It is the band’s only album that does not feature a picture of its members on the cover.

more tracks from the album

Bouncing Off The Satellites

From the album

Bouncing Off The Satellites (1986)

The B-52's popular songs

Detour Thru Your MindThe B-52's

The B-52's

Bouncing Off The Satellites