Incommunicado
Harvey Danger Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish the words would fail me just for once, (just once)
Keep incommunicado, (don't say a word)
Look for the present tense and come to my senses, (come pick me up)
Just like a despera-a-ado.

We talked for twenty minutes,
By the time the party ended, you'd forgotten, oh,
(I was never good with names)
And I'm still thinking about it five years later,

You spoke an unfamiliar dialect (comme ça?)
Two and a half months over.
Next think I knew someone had called for the check (check please)
And you were gone before we turned it over.

I dreamed we were alone all night,
In a house made out of beds,
And nothing happened. (you call that a dream?)

I think about it every time I see you, (me too)
That's when I try to remember,
There were never any terms we could agree to, no no.

Now can I please have a moment of your time?




(Can I please have a moment of your time?)
Before I have the strength to change my mind.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Harvey Danger's song Incommunicado describe a lost love, and the struggle to communicate those feelings. The singer seems to be struggling to come to grips with the fact that they still have feelings for someone they met at a party five years ago. They talk about feeling like a desperado, as they desperately search for a way to communicate their feelings to this person, while at the same time wishing that the words would simply fail them.


The singer then reflects on their initial interaction with this person, where they spoke in a language that was unfamiliar to them. They seem to be searching for some sort of connection, but ultimately cannot find any common ground, and the person disappears before they have a chance to connect any further. The singer then describes a dream they had about being alone with this person all night, but nothing happened. This dream seems to represent the singer's desire for intimacy with this person, even though they don't quite know how to verbalize those feelings.


The chorus of the song serves as a plea for the person's attention, as the singer struggles with the decision to speak up and share their feelings before it's too late. Overall, the song conveys a sense of vulnerability and confusion, as the singer grapples with unresolved feelings for this person.


Line by Line Meaning

I wish the words would fail me just for once, (just once)
I want to stop talking and just be quiet for once


Keep incommunicado, (don't say a word)
Stay silent and don't communicate with me


Look for the present tense and come to my senses, (come pick me up)
Focus on the present moment and help me regain my composure by coming to get me


Just like a despera-a-ado.
Feeling desperate and unsure, like a desperado


We talked for twenty minutes,
We had a conversation that lasted for 20 minutes


By the time the party ended, you'd forgotten, oh,
You forgot about me by the time the party was over


(I was never good with names)
I have trouble remembering people's names


And I'm still thinking about it five years later,
I still remember that moment from five years ago


You spoke an unfamiliar dialect (comme ça?)
You spoke in a language or accent I didn't recognize (like this?)


Two and a half months over.
Two and a half months went by


Next think I knew someone had called for the check (check please)
Suddenly someone asked for the bill to be brought to the table


And you were gone before we turned it over.
You left before we could even pay the bill


I dreamed we were alone all night,
I had a dream that we were alone throughout the entire night


In a house made out of beds,
The house we were in was made entirely out of beds


And nothing happened. (you call that a dream?)
Nothing remarkable or interesting happened, which makes me wonder if it was even a dream at all


I think about it every time I see you, (me too)
I can't help but think about that moment every time I see you, and apparently, you feel the same way


That's when I try to remember,
At that moment, I try to recall


There were never any terms we could agree to, no no.
We never reached any agreements or came to any mutual understanding


Now can I please have a moment of your time?
Can you please give me a moment of your attention?


(Can I please have a moment of your time?)
I am still asking for your undivided attention


Before I have the strength to change my mind.
I need to talk to you before I lose the courage to do so




Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

hdng

Feels so odd hearing this again. I had the download version and then I've been accustomed to the Picture Picture version. Both songs are amazing

jeff gallardo

LOVE ITTTTTTT REMINDS ME OF A HIPSTER MOVIE THAT TAKES PLACE IN SEATTLE I DONT KNOW WHY

Saucy Jimbo

They're from Seattle actually

jeff gallardo

@Saucy Jimbo OOOH DUDE EVEN BETTER HAHA

IlostmyJuul Harris

Wait a second, did you re-release this album? I bought it on compact disc in 2006 and listened to it all night at the Jack London transit station in Oakland after I missed the last bus. I don't remember "Incommunicado."

dakota

this song was originally on the album instead of picture, picture when it was first released but the 2006 rerelease doesnt have this one

Auto_2112

@dakota Shame really, it's a great song.

More Versions