Band members:
Andrew VanWyngarden (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums)
Ben Goldwasser (keyboards, vocals, guitar)
Matthew Asti (bass, keyboards)
James Richardson (guitar, vocals)
Hank Sullivant (guitar, keyboards)
Will Berman (drums)
You can learn more about MGMT, browse photos, and see the tour schedule at the Official Website.
4
MGMT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My liquid silver arms extended
These waves aren't far apart
Black gold in claw foot tubs unchanging
I am fire, where's my form?
Whisper crimson I intrude
There's light beneath your eyes
New overtones in view
If what they say is true
You are a shadow in the fourth dimension
To float away with you
We see the corners where nothing happens
While we drifted we were one
Ceilings lifted walls were gone
You speak the language of the breeze
All your leaves were meant for me
The love that every person wants to be
Stuck together, I don't like revealing secrets
I'll live inside your lips if you won't laugh
My heaving hands on rotten fruit at last
Fallow fingers, there's a surface I can count on
She'd fit inside my heart and take it over
Till her cape got blown into my red lungs
Either there's a purpose
Or I'm heading out at breakfast
Take a drink, take a drag
One more coffee, ugly hat
No more mirrors, woolen bag
And I am gone
The lyrics in MGMT’s “4th Dimensional Transition” are a stream of consciousness describing a fleeting experience between two people in a moment of timelessness. The feelings and images portrayed are abstract, yet the words suggest a deep emotional connection between the singer and the object of their desire.
The first stanza starts with the singer describing their acceptance of the other person's emotions. They describe their own arms as liquid silver, possibly indicating their willingness to be fluid and adapt to the other person's needs. The second line references objects that are unchanging, suggesting that these objects could represent the constants in the singer's life. The last line, "Endless form, endless time," could signify that the singer and the other person are out of time and space, lost in a moment outside of their everyday lives.
The second stanza is more focused on the other person, who is described as a shadow, flickering in and out of existence. The words "float away" and "corners where nothing happens" evoke a sense of immateriality and a connection between the spirit and the physical world. Together they are "one," transcending the physical world, breaking down barriers and boundaries. The singer admires the other, recognizing that they speak the language of nature, the breeze. The imagery of leaves could be a symbol of life and the renewal it brings.
The last stanza appears to describe some kind of act between the two people, perhaps sexual, and the singer is hesitant to reveal the details, saying they don't like revealing secrets. The sound of the words in this section embodies the sexual energy of the moment, with references to hands on ripe fruit, and fingers that help the singer find their way. The object of their desire is described as a cape-wearing figure who takes over the singer's heart, while the singer is left gasping for air, her cape in his lungs. The final lines appear to indicate that the singer is ready to leave, with references to "heading out at breakfast."
Line by Line Meaning
I feel your racing heart
I sense your excitement and anticipation
My liquid silver arms extended
My arms, like silver, are poised and ready to embrace you
These waves aren't far apart
We are close enough to feel the waves of each other's energy
Black gold in claw foot tubs unchanging
The expensive and unchangeable substance that you possess is dark and almost sinister
I am fire, where's my form?
I am full of passion and intensity, but I am uncertain of how to take shape
Whisper crimson I intrude
I forcefully intrude into your personal space and demand your attention
There's light beneath your eyes
I can see the joy and excitement in your eyes
New overtones in view
There are positive and exciting changes on the horizon
Endless form, endless time
Everything seems infinite and eternal
If what they say is true
If the rumors and theories are correct
You are a shadow in the fourth dimension
You exist in a place where most people cannot comprehend or perceive
To float away with you
To escape reality and enter your world
We see the corners where nothing happens
We observe the areas where there is no activity or movement
While we drifted we were one
As we moved aimlessly, we felt a sense of unity
Ceilings lifted walls were gone
All physical boundaries were removed
You speak the language of the breeze
You communicate using subtle and gentle gestures
All your leaves were meant for me
All the signs of affection and care that you exhibit are directed towards me
The love that every person wants to be
The type of love that every person aspires to have
Stuck together, I don't like revealing secrets
Our close proximity makes me uncomfortable with sharing intimate details
I'll live inside your lips if you won't laugh
I will be silent and ensure that my presence does not disrupt your happiness
My heaving hands on rotten fruit at last
After a long time of waiting, I finally grasp something undesirable
Fallow fingers, there's a surface I can count on
My hands feel empty and unfulfilled, but at least there is something to hold on to
She'd fit inside my heart and take it over
Her presence is so powerful that it consumes me completely
Till her cape got blown into my red lungs
Our close contact has a negative impact on me, causing me to feel suffocated
Either there's a purpose
There is likely an intention or reason behind everything
Or I'm heading out at breakfast
Otherwise, existence is meaningless and fleeting
Take a drink, take a drag
Try to find some comfort in intoxication or addiction
One more coffee, ugly hat
Unimportant physical objects that provide minimal joy
No more mirrors, woolen bag
Removing sources of reflection and vanity, embracing a simpler lifestyle
And I am gone
Accepting eventual departure and embracing the present moment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW WELLS VANWYNGARDEN, BENJAMIN NICHOLAS HUNER GOLDWASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GB_chillin
Enjoy
I feel your racing heart
My liquid silver arms extended
These waves aren't far apart
Black gold in clawfoot tubs unchanging
I am fire, where's my form?
Whisper crimson I intrude
There's light beneath your eyes
New overtones in view
Endless form, endless time
If what they say is true
You are a shadow in the fourth dimension
To float away with you
We see the corners where nothing happens
While we drifted we were one
Ceilings lifted walls were gone
You speak the language of the breeze
All your leaves were meant for me
The love that every person wants to be
Stuck together, I don't like revealing secrets
I'll live inside your lips if you won't laugh
My heaving hands on rotten fruit at last
Fallow fingers, there's a surface I can count on
She'd fit inside my heart and take it over
Till her cape got blown into my red lungs
Either there's a purpose
Or I'm heading out at breakfast
Take a drink, take a drag
One more coffee, ugly hat
No more mirrors, woolen bag
And I am gone
Cassie McMillan
this album, these songs, they make me feel like im high, like im in love, they make me feel extraordinary
Sarra Ogba
@Jay 24 isn't being in love feels like you're tripping in a way?
elconejito99
How about now?!?!
Joey Shabadoo
I remember listening to this in 08 when the financial crisis happened. Something about the album has this feeling of being on the verge of something big, something scary, something uncertain and something new. Like a feeling of the death of something old and the start of something new. Rationally what that was, was probably a hype of a new age of humanism to be killed by the digital age. Now 12 years on i am 30 and here we are again. The stocks have tanked, countries are shut down because of the coronavirus, a another recession is highly likely and we enter a new age. An age where silicon valley companies have exhausted their monarch and something new will be born and replace it. Maybe its a cyber punk decentralised world that we were promised, who knows. Change is an interesting thing.
Polly Olga Yobek
I heard this song at a club and was mesmerized by its sheer awesomeness. I had to Shazam to find out the name of the song and band and I've been a fan of MGMT ever since. And 4th Dimensional Transition is my favorite.
Lyric Guesser
really?!
jesusluvincognito
The most underrated song of this generation maybe
jesusluvincognito
@Audrey Hepburn hahaha thanks I swear it doesn't reflect my maturity level 😂
Just tried to be creative
Ana Rita Carneiro
These lyrics are insanely poetic
Get Up Off Your Goo
Fever dream on acid..