Tell Me That I'm Dreaming
James Murphy & Pat Mahoney Lyrics

I pulled into your town, saw two signs: “West and West” Tell me that I'm dreaming
Driving into a surreal dream-like world, the signs are contradicting and confusing, adding to the dream-like feeling of the moment.

Turned down a “No-way street” and saw another sign: “Drive in reverse” or something like it (We talked like men and ate fish at the end of the pier)
The dream takes a clever twist, now presenting a street you can't drive down and a sign telling you to drive in reverse. All this while the singer has a normal, civil conversation and eats by the water's edge.

I tried 2 walk, but how? The rest of U were dancing with pointy shoes on Somebody pinch me, am I? (Na na na na na) (Was I? Did I away the night?)
In a world where everyone is dancing with pointed shoes, the singer feels out of place and questions whether this is truly happening or just a dream.

Nu Shooz, laser breakfast, fast target vehicles Leather house, dreaming, somebody pinch me! (Ouch!)
Listing out random, unrelated phrases, the artist is trying to make sense of the dream-like world and needs a pinch to believe it's not real.

“Can we who man the ship of state deny it is somewhat out of control?” “Can we who man this?” “Can we deny the control?” “Thank you very much. Thank you.”
Repeating a question about the lack of control in the world, it seems no one is really paying attention or acknowledging the issue.

Nightwatchman at a bank made some pirates walk the plank “Oh, I must be dreaming.” Tell me that I'm dreaming One man liked milk, now he owns a million cows “Can you imagine all that milk?” Tell me that I'm dreaming
With even more absurd events happening, like a nightwatchman making pirates walk the plank and a man owning a million cows, the singer's disbelief reaches its peak.

“Tag! You're it! No! It's not funny! It's not funny! Yaaaahh! Not!” One man liked milk, now he owns a million cows (Tell me that I'm dreaming) Out of control One man liked milk, (out of control) now he owns a million cows (Tell me that I'm dreaming) Out of control One man liked milk, now he owns a million cows (Out of control, out of control) One man liked milk, now he owns a million cows (Out of control) One man liked milk (Out of control) Now he owns a million cows (Out of control, out of control) (Out of control) One man liked milk (Out of control) Now he owns a million cows (Out of control) (Out of control, out of control, out of control) (Out of control, out of control, out of control)
The dream becomes a surreal nightmare as the singer is chased and forced to play tag, while the madness of a man owning a million cows intensifies to the point of being out of control.