Medley
E.K.R. & Nurotic Soundsystem Lyrics


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Ask the girl of the hour by the water towers watch
If your friends took a fall, are you obligated to follow

Time after time after time
If your tired and you're tried you can find me in my room
You can stay if you want and the third time you can't lose

Time after time after time
Time after time after time

If the bulls on his hooves, when you gather friends by the tower
If you try to refuse, will they judge your worth by the hour?

Time after time after time
Time after time after time

Red rain is coming down
Red rain is coming down
Pouring down on me
I come to you defenses down with the trust of a child

Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The trees will bend, the cities wash away
The city on the river there is a girl without a dream

I'm sorry, I'm sorry
Eastern to Mountain, third party call, the lines are down
The wise man built his words upon the rocks
But I'm not bound to follow suit
The trees will bend, the cities wash away
The city in the mountains there is a boy without a dream

I'm sorry, I'm sorry
Did you never call? I waited for your call
These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The ocean sang, the conversations dimmed
Go buy yourself another dream, this choice wasn't mine

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I would swim the ocean deep




Climb the highest mountain peak
I come to you defenses down with the trust of a child

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of E.K.R. & Nurotic Soundsystem's song Medley are quite complex and layered, drawing on themes of friendship, loyalty, judgement and dreams. The opening lines ask the question if one is obligated to follow their falling friends, implying a sense of duty towards those who may be in trouble. However, it is important to note that the lyrics also suggest questioning this obligation rather than blindly obeying it.


The chorus repeats the phrase "time after time", suggesting a sense of weariness and repetition in life. This is followed by an invitation to the listener's private space, which implies a sense of safety and trust. However, the subsequent lines bring back the theme of judgement: will others judge your worth by the hour, and will they gather friends to force their will upon you?


The lyrics then shift to the idea of waiting for a call and feeling driven away by suggestions, setting up a contrast between the people and their dreams. The imagery of the city on the river with a girl without a dream and the city in the mountains with a boy without a dream highlights the pervasive sense of disillusionment and lack of direction.


Overall, the lyrics of Medley are quite intricate and require a careful reading to fully appreciate the depth of meaning behind them.


Line by Line Meaning

Ask the girl of the hour by the water towers watch
Inquire from someone who has the current attention and is situated by a noteworthy location


If your friends took a fall, are you obligated to follow
Are you obliged to follow your companions when they experience a downfall?


Time after time after time
Repetition of time, emphasizing the frequency of a certain action or event


If your tired and you're tried you can find me in my room
If you're fatigued and exhausted, you can come to my place to rest.


You can stay if you want and the third time you can't lose
You're allowed to stay if you wish, and on the third occasion, it's a guaranteed victory.


If the bulls on his hooves, when you gather friends by the tower
If an unfavorable situation arises during a gathering by the tower


If you try to refuse, will they judge your worth by the hour?
Will your worth be judged based on your compliance or refusal?


Red rain is coming down
A metaphorical reference to something undesirable or negative happening


Pouring down on me
The impact or consequences of the negative event are affecting the artist directly


I come to you defenses down with the trust of a child
I approach you in a vulnerable manner, with the purity and trust of a child


Did you never call? I waited for your call
Did you forget to contact me? I was anticipating your call.


These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The multitude of opinions and suggestions are causing me to feel distant or estranged


The trees will bend, the cities wash away
Everything is temporary and subject to change, even the strongest of things.


The city on the river there is a girl without a dream
There is a girl residing in a city by the river who lacks ambition or aspiration.


I'm sorry, I'm sorry
A repeated apology for something that may have caused harm or discomfort.


Eastern to Mountain, third party call, the lines are down
Communication is currently unavailable or disrupted.


The wise man built his words upon the rocks
Knowledgeable individuals build their beliefs or statements on strong foundations.


But I'm not bound to follow suit
But I'm not limited to conforming or replicating their style.


The trees will bend, the cities wash away
Everything is ephemeral and malleable, even the strongest of things.


The city in the mountains there is a boy without a dream
There is a boy living in a mountainous city who lacks any aspirations.


Did you never call? I waited for your call
Did you forget to contact me? I was anticipating your call.


These rivers of suggestion are driving me away
The multitude of opinions and suggestions are causing me to feel distant or estranged.


The ocean sang, the conversations dimmed
As the singer's emotions are heightened, their surroundings become more subdued.


Go buy yourself another dream, this choice wasn't mine
Gather another aim or goal, as this decision was not made by me.


I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
A repeated apology for something that may have caused harm or discomfort.


I would swim the ocean deep
Expression of doing something that requires vast effort or going to great lengths to accomplish something.


Climb the highest mountain peak
Expression of doing something that requires vast effort or going to great lengths to accomplish something.


I come to you defenses down with the trust of a child
I approach you in a vulnerable manner, with the purity and trust of a child.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Mills, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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