Aesthetically, GE is a project that refuses to land in a particular bin at the record store. A mix of vintage sounds, hip hop beats, noir riffs, dreamy vocals, cinematic arrangements and digital twinkle, ‘Cliquety Kliqk’ embraces all of RV’s musical addictions. Radically new yet strangely familiar, General Elektriks is like a friend that you meet for the first time but feel like you’ve known all your life.
Take Back the Instant
General Elektriks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You tried to drag him to the trash
You tried to trade him in for cash
Take back the instant when you blew him off your path
With a kiss reading 20 below zero
Tomorrow is a no-go, a no-go
Cold, cold moment when the first doubt shot through your head
A black ink drip running through your veins
When the lure of men who would be kings
Made you lose the man who was wearing you ring
He didn’t match your luscious thoughts tonight
You couldn’t look him in the eye
Awkward is the embrace when it’s not tight, not tight
And so the jewel you once both had is left crumpled like a collapsed lung
When all you had to do was hang out in the sun, hang out in the sun
Sir, you feel so dignified, your watch is very ornate
But you were just born in the right place
Just born in the right race
You’re climbing Mount Everest now, granting wishes from above
Favors are yours to give, lies are yours to live
Take Back The Instants that lead you to believe
That the earth shakes ‘cuz you’re not happy
That the sun rises ‘cuz you’re not sleepy
You got the loudest parade in town
Clowns, assassins and crooks
You got ladies in see-through gowns
Reading extracts from your books
Beggars are trailing at the back
Waving from the cardboard float
You’re thinking that from up close
Statistics can be such a drag
Your cup is full now, blood is the color of this wine
And it’s dripping from the ceiling, and it’s making the chandeliers ring
And the instant the ballroom overflows
Your thrones turn into your gallows
The lyrics of "Take Back the Instant" by General Elektriks describe a moment of regret and uncertainty, where the singer realizes that they have let go of something valuable in their life. The song talks about the instant when the singer pushed away their partner, trying to trade them in for something else or attempting to leave them behind. The song explores the fleeting nature of time, illustrating how one decision or impulse can alter the course of one's life entirely. The lyrics carry an overarching message of self-reflection, advising the listener to take back control of the moments that have led them astray and to cherish what they have before it's too late.
The lyrics use vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the singer's message. The line "pregnant second dripping through the hour-glass" suggests the weight and significance of the moment and emphasizes its importance. The song also touches upon themes of privilege and self-importance in lines like "You’re thinking that from up close, statistics can be such a drag" and "Beggars are trailing at the back, waving from the cardboard float." These lines suggest that the singer is caught up in their success and fame and losing sight of what's truly valuable.
Line by Line Meaning
Take back the instant when you brushed him off your shirt
Remember the moment when you dismissed him as unimportant
You tried to drag him to the trash
You attempted to get rid of him
You tried to trade him in for cash
You tried to exchange him for money
Take back the instant when you blew him off your path
Recall the moment when you dismissed him from your life
With a kiss reading 20 below zero
You gave him a cold goodbye
Tomorrow is a no-go, a no-go
There's no chance of a future with him
Cold, cold moment when the first doubt shot through your head
You felt skeptical and uncertain for the first time
A black ink drip running through your veins
Your doubts were poisoning you
Pregnant second dripping through the hour-glass
Time was slowly passing, but you still couldn't decide
When the lure of men who would be kings
You were tempted by powerful and wealthy men
Made you lose the man who was wearing you ring
You lost the man you were engaged to
He didn't match your luscious thoughts tonight
He didn't live up to your romantic fantasies
You couldn't look him in the eye
You felt embarrassed and ashamed
Awkward is the embrace when it's not tight, not tight
Your goodbye was awkward and insincere
And so the jewel you once both had is left crumpled like a collapsed lung
Your once-beautiful relationship is now ruined
When all you had to do was hang out in the sun, hang out in the sun
You could have enjoyed your time together instead of focusing on what he lacked
Sir, you feel so dignified, your watch is very ornate
You think you're important because of your wealth and accessories
But you were just born in the right place
Your success is due to your privileged upbringing
Just born in the right race
Your skin color has given you certain advantages
You're climbing Mount Everest now, granting wishes from above
You're at the top of the world and have the power to give others what they desire
Favors are yours to give, lies are yours to live
You have the ability to manipulate others with your power and influence
Take Back The Instants that lead you to believe
Reflect on the moments when you thought you were invincible
That the earth shakes 'cuz you're not happy
Don't assume the world revolves around you
That the sun rises 'cuz you're not sleepy
You are not the center of the universe
You got the loudest parade in town
Everyone is talking about you and your success
Clowns, assassins and crooks
The people praising you are not necessarily good people
You got ladies in see-through gowns
You have female followers who are attracted to your power and status
Reading extracts from your books
They are reciting your words and beliefs
Beggars are trailing at the back
People who are less fortunate than you are following behind
Waving from the cardboard float
They are celebrating you, even though you haven't done anything to help them
You're thinking that from up close
You believe that from your position of power, you can see everything clearly
Statistics can be such a drag
You find data and evidence boring and irrelevant
Your cup is full now, blood is the color of this wine
You have indulged in your success to the point of recklessness
And it's dripping from the ceiling, and it's making the chandeliers ring
Your excesses are causing destruction and chaos
And the instant the ballroom overflows
The moment your excesses become too much to handle
Your thrones turn into your gallows
Your downfall will be caused by your own arrogance and selfishness
Contributed by Emily E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
xx hermana del árbol
Take back the instant when you brushed him off your shirt
You tried to drag him to the trash
You tried to trade him in for cash
Take back the instant when you blew him off your path
With a kiss reading twenty below zero
Tomorrow is a no-go, a no-go
Cold, cold moment when the first doubt shot through your head
A black ink drip running through your veins
Start hello to drift bringing you sleep pain
Pregnant seconds dripping through the hour-glass
When the lure of men who would be kings
Made you lose the man who was wearing you ring
He didn't match your luscious thoughts tonight
You couldn't look him in the eye
Awkward is the embrace when it's not tight, not tight
And so the jewel you once both had is left crumpled like a collapsed lung
When all you had to do was hang out in the sun, hang out in the sun
Sir, you feel so dignified, your watch is very ornate
But you were just born in the right place
Just born into the right race
You're climbing Mount Everest now, granting wishes from above
Favors are yours to give, lies are yours to live
Take Back The Instants that led you to believe
That the earth shakes 'cuz you're not happy
And the sun rises 'cuz you're not sleepy
You got the loudest parade in town
Clowns, assassins and crooks
You got ladies in see-through gowns
Reading extracts from your books
Beggars are trailing at the back
They're waving from the cardboard float
You're thinking that from up close
Statistics can be such a drag
Your cup is full now, blood is the color of this wine
And it's dripping from the ceiling, and it's making the chandeliers ring
And the instant the ballroom overflows
Your thrones turn into your gallows
Blërg
That piano-bass is so frickin awesome. Love this retro stuff
Maeva Marconnet
J'ai découvert ce groupe grace à Boris Jardel (le guitariste d'Indochine) et sérieusement je peux plus m'en passer! Ce groupe est tout simplement génial!
Guillermo De la Rosa
Great song! I just discovered it... Never too late to find cool stuff.
tiemytieplease
these guys are amazing live!!!!
paterscot
Excellant !!! Heureusement quil reste encore de la bonne musique à écouter.
Quentin Déniau
Juste géant, le piano est tout simplement incroyable. Quelle créativité ! :O
Adolf Kackebart
i saw them live , and they are INSANCE AWESOME !
jose francisco hurtado
Muy bueno, mi grupo preferido de 2009
Caty Vial
brillantes!!! me gusto mucho.
Enri
excellente musique, à diffuser!