metronome
At the Drive-In Lyrics
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And let loose the oven's breath
Up the volume that
Flirts with the UHF
Swipe the magnet on the audio tape
These arsons of grand larceny
Keep running keep running in place
Severed from the race
Quick to the throat
In this ink cartridge funeral
Marble caps lock
Zip code affiliate
You got a run on your pharmaceuticals
You better change it
Before the night grows old
Set the temperature on delete
Keep running keep running in place
Let's hit the neighborhood today
You got a run on your pharmaceuticals
You better change it
Before the night grows old
Prescriptions filled
Now cut your suit and tie cuticals
You cut your fingernails way too short
What if forensics finds the answers
What if they stole my fingerprints?
Where did I leave my book of matches?
We'll find you
We'll find you
At the Drive-In's song Metronome is a creative, frantic masterpiece that describes a sense of restlessness and unease, with the lyrics painting a picture of someone trying to escape their current situation. The opening lines, "Strike this match / And let loose the oven's breath," immediately set a tone of urgency, with the implication that the singer is ready to ignite something and let it burn. The lyrics that follow are just as intense, with references to arson and theft, and a description of the singer feeling like they're "running in place."
The whole song feels like an attempt to escape, with the singer trying to change things up and break free from the monotony of their life. They suggest turning up the volume on the TV to "flirt with the UHF," and they mention a "pressing need to roam," signaling a desire to explore the world beyond their current surroundings. The references to pharmaceuticals imply that the singer is using drugs to cope with their situation, but even that seems to be losing its effectiveness.
In the final lines, the singer seems to be grappling with the idea of getting caught, wondering if forensics will find their fingerprints and if they'll be arrested for whatever mischief they're planning. But even with that fear hanging over them, they're determined to keep running, to keep trying to escape, because the alternative is too unimaginable.
Line by Line Meaning
Strike this match
Ignite a fire to begin the journey.
And let loose the oven's breath
Turn up the heat and intensify the atmosphere.
Up the volume that
Increase the intensity and power of the music.
Flirts with the UHF
Adjust the frequency to achieve a desired sound.
Swipe the magnet on the audio tape
Rewind the sound and start over.
These arsons of grand larceny
These epic crimes that border on greed and theft.
Keep running keep running in place
Stay active even if there is no progress.
Achilles tendon
Symbol of the artist's weakness, the source of which he needs to identify.
Severed from the race
Removed from the competitive sphere and thus fails to achieve his goals.
Quick to the throat
Speak confidently and directly.
In this ink cartridge funeral
A burial ceremony of symbolic meaning, where something old dies to make way for something new.
Marble caps lock
A reference to a tomb, emphasizing that the artist has reached a dead end.
Zip code affiliate
The singer is trapped in a certain geographical location, without much freedom of movement.
You got a run on your pharmaceuticals
You are running low on medication, which could result in a downward spiral.
You better change it
You need to take corrective action before it's too late.
Before the night grows old
Time is running out, and you need to take action before it's too late to undo damage.
Set the temperature on delete
Erase the old in order to make way for the new.
Let's hit the neighborhood today
Take action, make moves, and tackle challenges head-on.
Prescriptions filled
The singer has addressed his medical issues.
Now cut your suit and tie cuticals
Remove all things that restrict movement, impede performance, or slow you down.
You cut your fingernails way too short
You have made yourself more vulnerable and are exposed to risk; you need to be careful.
What if forensics finds the answers
The character fears being caught for his crimes and wonders if he will be held accountable.
What if they stole my fingerprints?
The singer fears being blamed for something he did not do.
Where did I leave my book of matches?
Protagonist is overwhelmed and unable to keep track of his belongings.
We'll find you
Assurance that the search will continue until they locate the singer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, JIM WARD, OMAR RODRIGUEZ, PABLO HINOJOS, TONY HAJJAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@66shadymilkman
Always loved this song. Especially the last verse: what if forensics finds the answers? what if they stole my fingerprints? where did i leave my book of matches? we'll find you... we'll find you...
@Billy-cl7jf
Wow man... That's heavy dude.
@MrShaneypooh
I don't know what it is about this song, but I always forget about it for years and then come back to it and can't stop listening to it until I forget about it for a few years. This process repeats.
@microgirl3789
Same. And here I am. Again.
@schizophreniagaming4058
And I shall command you to see this. Again.
@thecomfortisnow
Have you heard it again?
@akira-zo4gd
same
@BeckJones1979
Same
@irregularmana6216
Re-listening to some of my old music files, love atdi.
@f1guremeout
... haven't heard this song since high school, good buddy of mine put this on a burn CD, with Bad Religion, Minor Threat, more ATDI, the Buzzcocks, etc. and I never forgot the impact that mix brought to my life...amazing song and that trailing lyric is just amazing and hanuntingly beautiful as ever 🙏🏾