Losing Transmissions
Honeydogs Lyrics
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Under the Radar
Say it again it's not sinking in
Losing transmissions
Family traditions
You can lead a boy to water
And I can't hear a single word you're sayin'
When I'm playin'
Turn the radio down
The signal's fading
Try to listen
Losing transmissions
Winter of '99
Borrowing all the time
Robbed Peter then we sucker punched Paul
Temporarily disconnected
Worse than you expected
Sorry but I'm tuning you out of my addled brain
And I can't hear a single word you're sayin'
When I'm playing
Turn the radio down
The signal's fading
Try to listen
I'm losing transmissions
Broken records [play for free]
Keeps playing
Are you calling my name
I can't hear you
50 yard stare
Is there anyone there
We cruise the stars
But the world ain't ours anymore
Play it again
I always blow it
The check's in the mail
But the cops don't know it
Sorry but I'm tuning you out of my addled brain
I can't hear a single word you're sayin'
When I'm playin'
Turn the radio down
The signal's fading
Signal's breaking
I can't hear a single word you're saying
When I'm playing
Shout out an alert
[in the flaking]
Signal's breaking
I can use [an awaken]
But I tried to listen
Losing transmissions
Losing transmissions
(I can't hear you) Losing transmissions
(I can't hear you) Losing transmissions
The lyrics of Honeydogs' "Losing Transmissions" explore the difficulty of communication and the struggle to truly hear and understand those around us. The opening lines of "Over the airwaves, under the radar, say it again it's not sinking in" suggest that even when someone is repeatedly trying to send a message, it's not always received. The chorus emphasizes this, with the repeated refrain of "I can't hear a single word you're saying when I'm playing. Turn the radio down, the signal's fading. Try to listen, losing transmissions". The singer is distracted and disconnected, lost in his own world and unable to fully engage with those around him, whether it's because he's playing music or simply tuning out.
The second verse delves into the idea of family traditions and generational communication breakdowns, suggesting that some messages just don't get through. The lines "You can lead a boy to water, but you can't make him listen to you" reinforce this idea, that even when someone is trying to impart wisdom, it's not always received. The bridge touches on feelings of disconnection and alienation, with the lines "Is there anyone there? We cruise the stars, but the world ain't ours anymore". In a larger sense, the lyrics seem to be commenting on the isolating effects of technology and modern distractions, and the difficulty of truly communicating and connecting with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Over the airwaves
We're broadcasting our message to anyone who will listen
Under the Radar
Trying to avoid detection or unwanted attention
Say it again it's not sinking in
The message isn't getting through, try repeating it
Losing transmissions
We're having trouble communicating our message
Family traditions
Our past and heritage inform our current state
You can lead a boy to water
You can show someone the way but you can't force them to follow
But you can't make him listen to you
People have to be willing to listen and pay attention to what you're saying
And I can't hear a single word you're sayin'
I'm too distracted or focused on something else to pay attention to you
When I'm playin'
I'm lost in my own world, and not paying attention to external stimuli
Turn the radio down
I need to focus and eliminate background noise
The signal's fading
I'm losing the ability to communicate effectively
Try to listen
I'm attempting to focus and hear what you're saying
Winter of '99
A specific time or era in the past
Borrowing all the time
Constantly in debt or asking for help
Robbed Peter then we sucker punched Paul
We exploited and took advantage of people and situations
Temporarily disconnected
We lost our connection to someone or something for a brief period of time
Worse than you expected
Things turned out worse than anticipated
Sorry but I'm tuning you out of my addled brain
I'm too overwhelmed and stressed to focus on what you're saying
Broken records [play for free]
Repeating the same mistakes or patterns, often at no cost to oneself
Keeps playing
The cycle continues on repeat
Are you calling my name
Do I have a role to play in this situation?
I can't hear you
I'm too distracted and not paying attention to you
50 yard stare
A blank or distant look, often associated with trauma or stress
Is there anyone there
Are there still people who care or who can help?
We cruise the stars
We explore and travel through life, sometimes without direction or purpose
But the world ain't ours anymore
Things have changed and we've lost control or power
Play it again, I always blow it
I'm prone to making the same mistakes or failing in important moments
The check's in the mail, but the cops don't know it
I'm getting away with something or hiding my true intentions
Signal's breaking
The connection or communication is faltering and losing strength
Shout out an alert
I need help or attention, and am calling out for it
[in the flaking]
The message is distorted or unclear
I can use [an awaken]
I'm hoping for a new perspective or realization
Losing transmissions (I can't hear you)
We're still struggling to communicate and connect with each other
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM L. LEVY, NOAH LEVY, TRENT NORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rckrtcrg1
my favorite Honeydogs song. all these years later I still quote "robbed Peter, sucker punched Paul"
Scott Murray
Is there a more perfectly composed, engineered, and performed power-pop gem from the 90s than this song?