Dream Machine
Gibby Haynes and His Problem Lyrics
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Dreamming machine
Vibrations from the crt
Get an "yes" with the blink of an eye
I've been down in the midnight sky
Not hiding on the tv screen
The lyrics to Gibby Haynes and His Problem's song "Dream Machine" are inspired by the concept of lucid dreaming, a state where a person becomes aware that they are dreaming and can control the direction of their dreams. The song starts with the repetition of the word "dream" and "dreaming machine" that creates an ethereal and hypnotic mood. The CRT or cathode ray tube mentioned in the lyrics refers to the old-fashioned TV sets, where the image is formed by a beam of electrons striking a phosphorescent surface. The vibrations coming from the CRT are metaphorically described as the power that controls the dream machine.
The second line of the lyrics, "Get a 'yes' with the blink of an eye," could be interpreted as a way to take control of the dream machine. In lucid dreaming, people often use triggers like blinking their eyes to signal their brain that they are in a dream and try to take over the narrative. The line "I've been down in the midnight sky" could represent the dream state, which creates an environment that is different from the waking state, with its own set of rules and possibilities. The last line, "Not hiding on the TV screen," suggests that Gibby Haynes is not passively watching TV but is actively engaging with the dream machine to create his own alternate reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Dream, dream
Yearning to escape reality and enter a dreamlike state
Dreamming machine
A device that induces a dreamlike state in the user
Vibrations from the crt
Sensory stimulations from the machine's screen
Get an "yes" with the blink of an eye
Instant gratification or fulfillment from using the machine
I've been down in the midnight sky
Having spent time lost in thought and escaping reality
Not hiding on the tv screen
Acknowledging that true reality cannot be found solely through media or technology
Contributed by Hannah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevan B
Weird. It’s coming up on the tenth anniversary of my marriage to my ex wife, this song came into my head because of the line “ten years in the blink of an eye.” As the song starts, I notice it was posted the day after my son was born ten years ago. I’m having a weird moment, not déjà vu, almost like I’m doing what the universe wants me to be doing right at this point in time, and for once I’m acutely aware of it. Or maybe I’m just more stoned than normal. Either way, I’m digging it.
13/F/KAYLA
Saw them perform live. Evidently Gib put all kinds of his own money into this album and then got screwed by the label. It's a good record. Too bad the business end shit all over the band.
Chonq Monk
@ThinkerOnTheBus The two brothers in Screaming Trees got in fist fights on stage.
Lex Mysel
You guys real cereal
Kevan B
I get why he yelled at her. Maybe not the nicest way of handling it, but if you’re gonna play in a band, know your shit, practice the songs until you can daydream while playing and not miss a note. If you’re gonna drink or smoke or whatever before you play, don’t get so fucked up that you can’t pull off the set. Hell, Johnny Ramone used to punch the other Ramones if they fucked up at a gig, it coulda been worse.
ThinkerOnTheBus
+13/F/KAYLA
I was fortunate enough to catch them live as well. However, the show began unlike any other I have seen. During the first song, Gibby went off on Abby Travis, the bassist, right in the middle of the song. Gibby was pissed off beyond belief because she was making mistakes and "making him look bad". Luckily, the rest of the show went well . . . at least considering the unconventional commencement. I had never witnessed anything quite like it nor have I ever caught a glimpse of this side of Gibby. Well, there was that one time when no other than little Jonathon Richman hit his limit with the soundman's ineptness, and stop mid-song to storm through the entire crowd to yell obscenities and insults filled with expletives within two feet of the soundman just for added emphasis I am assuming. In an interview on I.R.S. The Cutting Edge, Jonathon claimed that his ideas for songs are borne from everyday experiences in his life. Naturally, I always felt he should write a song regarding this incident. It undoubtedly would be a surefire hit! I keep my ears open, but I have yet to hear such a song.
nini by
Dream, dream
Dreamming machine
Vibrations from the crt
Get an "yes" with the blink of an eye
I've been down in the midnight sky
Not hiding on the tv screen
Awesome Wells
Paul Leary's History of Dogs is also freakin' mad
Andrew Smail
Gibby is God, Allah, Buddha and his work with BHS is pure legend, We both Love you man :)
Ralph Tom
Now he's not God