Remote Control
Beastie Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the satellite dish to your joy stick
It's the night of the living cable box
Wires coming up from around the block
Remote control to change the station
But that won't change your situation
Have you seen what I mean
I'm the little gnome that's in your dreams
To take you beyond space and time
Said who is the man making diamonds out of coal
The man pushing buttons on remote control
Re-mote, control
Remote control
Until your back's up against the wall
You never know yourself that much at all
So you've got to share your love with a friend
That's all that you've got left in the end
Living in this city of pure confusion
People mislead by their own illusion
All this action, no satisfaction
We're all linked together like a chain reaction
Play or fold, love is bold
What is the future that will unfold?
Some like it hot, others like it cold
But we all want to hold the remote control
Re-mote, control
Re-mote, control
Re-mote, control
Re-mote, control
Things get hectic quick
All of the sudden I'm in the thick
Too much drama all around
Distractions booming in sensurround
Like a rainy day's Earth won't sit still
Sliding on down a hill
Sometimes life seems to stall
But never be ungrateful y'all
So I got a little something for your pay per view
Like Don King I've got the crazy hair do
We've got cameras on Mars on space patrol
Controlled on Earth by remote control
In "Remote Control," the Beastie Boys describe the impact of entertainment technology on modern life. The song suggests the power of television and cable through vivid imagery of wires and remote controls snaking through the city. The lyrics posit that while these devices may introduce viewers to new perspectives, they don't resolve existential crises or personal issues. The chorus repeats "remote control" as if emphasizing how pervasive and inescapable its influence has become.
The opening lines of the song set the scene: "Things get hectic quick / From the satellite dish to your joy stick." The Beastie Boys then critique the distraction of televisions: "All this action, no satisfaction / We're all linked together like a chain reaction." The second verse suggests that despite the chaos and confusion around us, we can still share love with friends. The final verse adds a bit of levity with references to Don King's hair and Mars space patrols, but the song concludes on a serious note: "Controlled on Earth by remote control."
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Things get hectic quick
Life can quickly become overwhelming
From the satellite dish to your joy stick
We have access to a wide range of media and entertainment options
It's the night of the living cable box
We are surrounded by technology and media that is constantly on and always accessible
Wires coming up from around the block
Cables and wires crisscrossing through our homes and communities
Remote control to change the station
We have the power to change what we are watching or listening to with the press of a button
But that won't change your situation
Changing the channel won't solve bigger problems in our lives
Have you seen what I mean
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
I'm the little gnome that's in your dreams
I am the voice in your head urging you to take action
So I say this rhyme built by design
I wrote this song with intention and purpose
To take you beyond space and time
To help you escape the stress of everyday life
Said who is the man making diamonds out of coal
Who has the power to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary?
The man pushing buttons on remote control
We have the power to control what we consume and how we engage with technology
Until your back's up against the wall
Until you're truly challenged, you may not know your own limits
You never know yourself that much at all
We don't always truly know ourselves until we're tested
So you've got to share your love with a friend
We need to connect with others and show kindness in order to truly experience love
That's all that you've got left in the end
Ultimately, relationships are the most valuable thing we have
Living in this city of pure confusion
Life can be overwhelming and confusing
People mislead by their own illusion
We often deceive ourselves in order to avoid facing difficult truths
All this action, no satisfaction
We can be busy and productive without feeling truly fulfilled
We're all linked together like a chain reaction
Our actions and decisions have a ripple effect on those around us
Play or fold, love is bold
We have to take risks and be vulnerable in order to truly experience love
What is the future that will unfold?
What will happen next is uncertain, and we can't always predict the future
Some like it hot, others like it cold
We all have different preferences and desires
But we all want to hold the remote control
We all want to feel in control of our lives and our choices
Things get hectic quick
Life can become stressful and overwhelming
All of the sudden I'm in the thick
Suddenly, we can find ourselves in the middle of a difficult situation
Too much drama all around
There can be a lot of chaos and conflict in our lives
Distractions booming in sensurround
We can be easily distracted by the noise and stimulation of our environment
Like a rainy day's Earth won't sit still
Rainy days can be a metaphor for instability and unpredictability in life
Sliding on down a hill
Life can sometimes feel like we're losing control and slipping downhill
Sometimes life seems to stall
We can feel stuck and directionless at times
But never be ungrateful y'all
We should always be thankful for what we have, even in difficult times
So I got a little something for your pay per view
I have something to offer that you might find valuable
Like Don King I've got the crazy hair do
I'm confident and unapologetic in my persona and message
We've got cameras on Mars on space patrol
As a society, we have advanced technology that allows us to explore space
Controlled on Earth by remote control
Despite our technological advances, we are still subject to the larger forces of the universe
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM HOROVITZ, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nestor Galaviz
on Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim remix)
dope