Mercury Man
Animal Collective Lyrics

Sounds like machines talking to me on the phone.
The sounds I'm hearing on the phone are so robotic and inhuman that I feel like I'm talking to machines instead of people.

I say but they don't quite get me
Even though I try to communicate with these machines, they don't seem to understand me.

It's hard to make my feelings known.
It's difficult for me to express my emotions when the other party in the conversation is so unfeeling and unresponsive.

Sometimes I wish for a long wave
At times, I wish I had a longer wavelength to help me transmit my signals more effectively and clearly.

When I'm waiting for someone to calm my tone.
I hope that someone will be able to soothe my unsettled mood and help me speak with less agitation.

Bad vibes I've got hold dementia
I'm experiencing some sort of toxic or negative energy that's causing me mental distress and confusion.

When I'm one thousand Hz from home.
At those times, I feel very far away from the place and people I consider to be my 'home base'.

Sometimes I wish for a short wave home
In my more distressed moments, I crave a simpler mode of communication that would allow me to convey my thoughts and feelings more directly and easily.

Two human beings.
The artist is referring to two individuals in a situation together.

I'm upset your upset what's to be done
Both people are feeling upset, and the artist doesn't know what the solution might be.

Old lines. Everybody talking from there homes.
People are communicating from their houses or private spaces, and the conversations are all beginning to feel repetitive and stagnant.

Bad news but your bed will take you
Even though life is difficult and challenging, the comfort of one's own bed can provide some refuge and solace.

If you could only feel what's wrong.
If the other person could understand the singer's emotional state more deeply, they might be better able to offer the support and comfort that's needed.

Sometimes I wish for a hand wave home
At times, I wish I had a simpler way of communicating, such as a signal that could be transmitted with just a wave of the hand.

What a mess what a mess what's to be done?
The situation being described feels like a chaotic mess, and the singer is once again asking for advice or solutions.

You got to slide it off like mercury
The artist is using the image of mercury, which is liquid and slippery, to describe the idea of letting go of one's troubles or problems.

Can I play my parts like mercury?
The artist is asking if they can be flexible and resilient in the same manner as mercury, adapting to new situations and bouncing back from adversity.

Would you let me feel like mercury?
The singer is hoping that someone else will allow them to experience the same sense of fluidity, adaptability, and resilience as mercury.

Can I always be like mercury?
The singer is expressing a desire to maintain their sense of flexibility and resilience in all situations, even when things are very challenging.

We must be somewhere
The artist and the other person are in a specific location, but it's not clear where that might be.

Can't find it (nowhere love)
Both people are searching for something they can't seem to locate or define, possibly a feeling of love or connection.

Is it me?
One or both people is uncertain whether they are responsible for the problems they're experiencing in the relationship.

I keep calling
The singer is continuing to try and establish some form of communication or connection with the other person.

It feels like there's no one there.
Despite their efforts, the artist doesn't feel like they're getting any response or acknowledgement from the other person.