This Is a Call
Foo Fighters Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Visiting is pretty
Visiting is good
Seems that all they ever wanted was a brother
This can be a secret
We can keep it good
Even all they ever wanted had a problem

This is a call to all my
Past resignations
This is a call to all

Fingernails are pretty
Fingernails are good
Seems that all they ever wanted was a marking

Them balloons are pretty
Big and say they should
Ever fall to ground
Call the magic marker

This is a call to all my
Past resignations
This is a call to all
This is a call to all my
Past resignations
It's been too long

Minicyn is pretty
Minicyn is good
Seems that all the cysts and mollusks tend to barter

Ritalin is easy
Ritalin is good
Even all the ones that watered down the daughter

This is a call to all my
Past resignations
This is a call to all
This is a call to all my
Past resignations
It's been too long

Fingernails are pretty
Fingernails are good
Seems that all they ever wanted was a marking

Them balloons are pretty
Big and say they should
Ever fall to ground
Call the magic marker

This is a call to all my
Past resignations
This is a call to all
This is a call to all my




Past resignations
It's been too long

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Foo Fighter's song 'This Is A Call' are somewhat abstract and can be difficult to decipher. However, it appears to be a song about the complexities of communication and the need for connection. The opening stanza seems to refer to someone who has a secret, and the desire to share it with a brother, suggesting that people need to communicate their problems openly rather than bottling them up.


The later stanzas refer to other means of communication--fingernails, balloons, magic markers--that can signify connection even without speaking. There's a feeling of urgency to this song, with the repetition of the phrase "This is a call" suggesting that the singer is reaching out but hasn't been heard. The final stanza moves away from direct communication and refers to medication and the idea of a watered-down daughter. This could be interpreted as a comment on the medicalization of mental health and the dangers of overprescribing drugs.


Line by Line Meaning

Visiting is pretty
Being with people you care about is pleasant


Visiting is good
Being with people you care about is beneficial


Seems that all they ever wanted was a brother
It appears that the band members yearned for a closer relationship with someone who understood their creative vision


This can be a secret
Let's keep this to ourselves


We can keep it good
We can maintain a positive connection without exposing it to scrutiny


Even all they ever wanted had a problem
Although they desired a bond, there were obstacles preventing them from achieving it


This is a call to all my Past resignations
The lyrics serve as an appeal to the band's former members who resigned or left


Fingernails are pretty
Physical appearance can be aesthetically pleasing


Fingernails are good
Physical appearance can enhance self-esteem


Seems that all they ever wanted was a marking
It seems that they hoped to leave a lasting impression on others through their musical expression


Them balloons are pretty
Balloons are visually appealing


Big and say they should
Their size and shape have an expectation of being filled with air


Ever fall to ground Call the magic marker
If a balloon pops and deflates, we can use a marker to salvage the moment and continue celebrating


Minicyn is pretty
The word 'minicyn' is likely a made-up term with no literal meaning


Minicyn is good
The made-up term evokes a sense of something pleasing or positive from the band members


Seems that all the cysts and mollusks tend to barter
This line is nonsensical, possibly further emphasizing the use of nonsensical words earlier in the song


Ritalin is easy
Ritalin is a prescription drug used to treat ADHD


Ritalin is good
The effects of Ritalin can be desirable


Even all the ones that watered down the daughter
It's possible this line is deliberately ambiguous or nonsensical


It's been too long
The band members are feeling nostalgic and wish their former colleagues were still present




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dave Grohl

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

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions