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Teen Age Riot
Sonic Youth Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're it
No, you're it
Hey, you're really it
You're it
No, I mean it, you're it
Say it
Don't spray it
Spirit desire
(Face me) spirit desire (don't displace me) spirit desire
We will fall
Miss me
Don't dismiss me
Spirit desire
Spirit desire, spirit desire, spirit desire

We will fall
Spirit desire
We will fall
Spirit desire, spirit desire, spirit desire
We will fall
Spirit desire

Yeah, everybody's talking 'bout the stormy weather
And what's a man to do but work out whether it's true?
Looking for a man with a focus and a temper
Who can open up a map and see between one and two
Time to get it
Before you let it get to you

Here he comes now
Stick to your guns and let him through
And everybody's coming from their winter vacation
Taking in the sun in an exaltation to you
You come running in on platform shoes
With Marshall stacks to at least just give us a clue
Ah, here it comes
I know it's someone I knew
Teenage riot in a public station
Gonna fight and tear it up in a hypernation for you

Now I see it
I think I'll leave it out of the way
Now I come near you
And it's not clear while you make your way
Looking for a ride to your secret location
Where the kids are setting up a free-speed nation for you
Got a foghorn, and a drum, and a hammer that's rockin'
And a cord and a pedal and a lock, that'll do me for now
It better work out
I hope it works out my way
'Cause it's getting kind of quiet in my city head
It takes a teenage riot to get me out of bed right now
You better look it
We're gonna shake it up to him
He acts the hero
We paint a zero on his hand

We know it's down
We know it's bound too loose
Everybody's sound is 'round it
Everybody wants to be proud to choose
So who's taking blame for the stormy weather?
You're never gonna stop all the teenage leather and cooze
It's time to go 'round
A one-man showdown, teach us how to fail
We're off the streets now
And back up the road on the riot trail

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sonic Youth's song Teen Age Riot are cryptic, filled with wordplay and references that require a bit of unpacking. One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that it's a call for rebellion against the status quo. The opening lines, "You're it/No, you're it/Hey, you're really it/You're it" can be interpreted as a confrontation where individuals are trying to assign responsibility for a cultural impasse that they're facing. The following lines "Say it/Don't spray it" can be interpreted as a call for clarity and precision in communication. The repetition of "Spirit desire" can be interpreted as a collective yearning for something more than the current state of affairs.


The song then shifts to a description of the dominant culture that the youth are rebelling against. The lines "Everybody's talking 'bout the stormy weather" can be interpreted as a reference to the societal anxiety that characterizes the epoch. The lines "Looking for a man with a focus and a temper/Who can open up a map and see between one and two" can be interpreted as a call for a leader who is able to provide direction and clarity in a world that is increasingly complex and uncertain. The song then culminates in a description of a teenage riot, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for a cultural revolution that seeks to overthrow the existing order.


Line by Line Meaning

You're it
You're the one who has to take the lead and make things happen.


No, you're it
No, I'm not going to be the one to take responsibility, you have to do it.


Hey, you're really it
Hey, I'm serious, you're the one who has to lead us through this.


No I mean it, you're it
I'm not joking, you have to take charge and show us the way.


Say it
Speak up and take control.


Don't spray it
Don't just talk about what needs to be done, take action and make it happen.


Spirit desire
We need to have passion and drive to achieve our goals.


(Face me) spirit desire (don't displace me) spirit desire
Face the challenge head-on, don't let anything or anyone get in your way. Maintain your drive and passion.


We will fall
There may be setbacks and failures, but we will keep pushing forward.


Miss me
Don't forget about me or underestimate my importance.


Don't dismiss me
Take my ideas and contributions seriously, don't disregard them.


Everybody's talking 'bout the stormy weather
Everyone is focused on the negative aspects of the situation.


And what's a man to do but work out whether it's true?
We need to evaluate the situation and determine whether the negativity is valid or not.


Looking for a man with a focus and a temper
We need someone who is determined and level-headed to lead us.


Who can open up a map and see between one and two
We need someone who can understand the situation and come up with a clear plan of action.


Time to get it
It's time to take action and make things happen.


Before you let it get to you
Don't let the negative aspects of the situation bring you down.


Here he comes now
The leader has arrived on the scene.


Stick to your guns and let him through
Stay true to your convictions and allow the leader to take charge.


And everybody's coming from their winter vacation
Everyone has been away for a while and is now coming back refreshed and ready to go.


Taking in the sun in an exaltation to you
Everyone is enjoying the good weather and is ready to start something new.


You come running in on platform shoes
You arrive with a bold sense of style and confidence.


With Marshall stacks to at least just give us a clue
You bring the equipment and resources to help us achieve our goals.


Ah, here it comes
The moment of truth has arrived.


I know it's someone I knew
The leader is someone familiar who can guide us towards success.


Teenage riot in a public station
We are going to make a big statement and cause some chaos in a public place.


Gonna fight and tear it up in a hypernation for you
We are going to fight and destroy the old establishment and create a new, better society.


Now I see it
We have a clear vision of what we want to achieve.


I think I'll leave it out of the way
We will eliminate anything that stands in our way.


Now I come near you
We are getting closer to our goals.


And it's not clear while you make your way
The path is not always clear, but we will push forward towards our objectives.


Looking for a ride to your secret location
We are searching for a new place to build our new society.


Where the kids are setting up a free-speed nation for you
We are creating a new society where everyone is free to be themselves and live their lives as they see fit.


Got a foghorn, and a drum, and a hammer that's rockin'
We have the tools and resources we need to build our new world.


And a cord and a pedal and a lock, that'll do me for now
We have everything we need for now to start building our new society.


It better work out
We are counting on our plan succeeding.


I hope it works out my way
I'm optimistic that our plan will succeed.


'Cause it's getting kind of quiet in my city head
We need to do something to shake things up and create change.


It takes a teenage riot to get me out of bed right now
We need a big, dramatic event to spur us into action.


You better look it
Pay attention to what's happening because big changes are coming.


We're gonna shake it up to him
We are going to create a big scene to get the attention of the person in power.


He acts the hero
The person in power is trying to look strong and heroic.


We paint a zero on his hand
We are trying to expose the person in power as a failure and discredit their strength.


We know it's down
We know that the old establishment is failing and must be replaced.


We know it's bound too loose
The old system is breaking down and becoming less effective.


Everybody's sound is 'round it
Everyone is talking about the need for change.


Everybody wants to be proud to choose
Everyone wants to have a say in creating a better future.


So who's to take the blame for the stormy weather?
Who is responsible for the problems in our society?


You're never gonna stop all the teenage leather and cooze
You can't prevent young people from rebelling and trying to make positive changes.


It's time to go round
It's time to take action and effect positive change.


A one-man showdown, teach us how to fail
We need a leader who can teach us how to learn from our mistakes and keep pushing forward.


We're off the streets now
We are no longer just talking about change, we are actually making it happen.


And back up the road on the riot trail
We will continue to make noise and cause chaos until positive change has been achieved.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Steve Shelley, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Kim Gordon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@joaoignacio1978

The people:
1. SY like Ciccone Youth (old video footage)
2. Writer and music critic Harvey Pekar (on Letterman)
3. Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys, hitting the drums)
4. very young Joni Mitchell (It seems, but it isn't Nico)
5. German musician, producer, actor, etc Blixa Bargeld, in a long footage (Einsturzende Neubauten\ The Bad Seeds, 3:43 It's NOT Sid Vicious, It's NOT Sid Vicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
6. German actress Nastassja Kinski (''Paris\Texas'' footage. SY almost got sued by german director Wim Wenders, but everything ended well)
7. Jad Fair (Half Japanese)
8. Patti Smith (several times!)
9. Mark E. Smith (The Fall)
10. Henry Rollins (and The Black Flag, many times)
11. Daniel Johnston (playing accoustic guitar)
12. Neil Young
13. Sun Ra
14. Mike Watt playing an imaginary guitar (Minutemen/Firehose)
15. Iggy Pop (several times, solo and I think, maybe,  from some old footage of The Stooges too, I am not sure)
16. Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat\Fugazi)
17. actor\writer\director\Woody Allen fave, Alan Alda 
18. The band MC5
19. The band Kiss, playing and dancing
20. Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls\The Heartbreakers)
21. D. Boon (Minutemen\ The Reactionaries, walking on a crowd)
22. young Nick Cave (3:35)
23. J. Mascis (Dinossaur Jr.) hitting  
24. Lou Barlow (Sebadoh\Folk Implosion\Dinosaur Jr.)
25. Susanna Hoffs (1:46 in a Bangles video). Susanna is a real punk\alt country rock pioneer from Southern California, important figure from the movement Paisley Underground, with Kendra Smith, Rain Parade, David Roback and Hope Sandoval)
26. Elvis Presley dancing 
27. Novelist, short story writer, essayist, painter, ''father - or grandfather - of Counterulture'', William S. Burroughs. He worked as a sponken word artist with many bands\musicians (3:31)
28. comedian ''Pee-wee Hermann'' (Paul Reubens)
29. singer\songwriter\actor Tom Waits
30. Legend Richard Hell
31. Writer Jack Kerouac
32. Underground fillmmaker and photographer Richard Kern
33. Legendary Lydia Lunch
34. At 0:12, the classic formation of the band Pussy Galore, with Jon Spencer (from the well-known Blues Explosion, and the bassist Cristina Martinez (Boss Hog)
35. Legendary Buffalo Springfield
36. Jeff McDonald (Redd Kross, 0:47)
37. 3:36 James Chance (saxophonist, keyboard player, songwriter and singer, legend from No Wave movement, frontman of  Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, James White and the Blacks, The Flaming Demonics, James Chance & the Sardonic Symphonics, James Chance and Terminal City, James Chance and Les Contortions, and, of course, The Contortions)

And Reference to: 

38. Butthole Surfers (in a poster)
39. Throbbing Gristle (in a t-shirt)

More:
Legalize Pot
Free City



@risraelsen

0:12 Jon Spencer with Pussy Galore
0:20 Richard Hell
0:28 Richard Kern film??
0:37 Bruce Pavitt
0:45 Johnny Thunders
0:46 Jeff McDonald
0:47 Patti Smith
0:54 Pee-wee Herman
1:11 Mark E. Smith
1:28 Black Flag
1:35 KISS
1:39 Iggy Pop
1:41 Harvey Pekar
1:42 Jack Kerouac
1:45 Susanna Hoffs
1:46 MC5?
1:54 Henry Rollins
2:07 The Beach Boys
2:10 Jimmy Page playing guitar with a bow
2:12 Elvis
2:13 Sun Ra
2:23 Iggy Pop
2:27 Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield
2:28 Neil Young (holding yellow beer can, thanks Daman Lidison)
2:37 Jay Mascis swinging his guitar at Lou Barlow
2:42 Daniel Johnston
2:59 Mike Watt
3:25 Joni Mitchell
3:28 Ian McKay (thanks The Healing Company)
3:31 William Burroughs
3:34 Nick Cave (thanks mugre)
3:34 James Chance (thanks Daman Lidison)
3:35 Tom Waits
3:40 D. Boon
3:43 Blixa Bargeld
3:51 Nastassja Kinski (Paris, Texas)

The following are supposedly in the video (according to IMDB), but I couldn't locate them. Maybe you can?

Jad Fair
Lydia Lunch
Alan Alda

Bonus points of anyone can identify whose boots are shown at 1:13



@donat388

Everybody's talking 'bout the stormy weather
And what's a man to do but work out whether it's true
Looking for a man with a focus and a temper
Who can open up a map and see between one and two
Time to get it before you let it get to you
Here he comes now
Stick to your guns and let him through
Everybody's coming from the winter vacation
Taking in the sun in a exaltation to you
You come running in on platform shoes
With Marshall stacks to at least just give us a clue
Ah, here it comes, I know it's someone I knew
Teenage riot in a public station
Gonna fight and tear it up in a hypernation for you
Now I see it
I think I'll leave it out of the way
Now I come near you
And it's not clear why you fade away
Looking for a ride to your secret location
Where the kids are setting up a free-speed nation for you
Got a foghorn and a drum and a hammer that's rocking
And a cord and a pedal and a lock, that'll do me for now
It better work out
I hope it works out my way
'Cause it's getting kind of quiet in my city head
Takes a teen age riot to get me out of bed right now
You better look it, we're gonna shake it up to him
He acts the hero, we paint a zero on his hand
We know it's down
We know it's bound too loose
Everybody's sound is around it
Everybody wants to be proud to choose
So who's to take the blame for the stormy weather
You're never gonna stop all the teenage leather and booze
It's time to go round
A one man showdown, teach us how to fail
We're off the streets now, and back on the road on the riot trail



All comments from YouTube:

@rockettebob

2020... i am 64... this was such a GREAT time of my life...i miss my friends.....bob

@Captain_Maberu

daniel .sievers man. That’s the saddest comment I’ve read in a while. Probably because it’s incredibly relatable. Thanks for that.

@michaellemaster5087

42.....and feel the EXACT same. Thank you for empathizing, sir.

@barbdrake5999

aw :(

@cristianagudelo5499

30 Me 2

@mikefranck612

51 ...same...

55 More Replies...

@charlesalber

This is one of those songs you never want to end

@andymackenzie3176

unlike - "mildred pierce". that sent me screaming out of the house because my brain needed to breathe.

@myRadiotron

Except they left out the beginning. WTF?!

@blacksaxmusic

Theres a longer version

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