Radio
Pavement Lyrics


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My Radio
It doesn't work
It's been shot up
The wires are burned
Someone yanked it
Just a little too hard

My radio
It doesn't work




It's been shot up
And I can't work

Overall Meaning

The song "Radio" by Pavement is a melancholic yet humorous track that touches upon the decayed state of the society around us. Through the metaphor of a ruined radio, the songwriter highlights the broken communication and disconnection that we experience with the outside world. The lyrics "My radio, it doesn't work, it's been shot up, the wires are burned" reflects not only the physical damage but also the sense of hopelessness that the singer feels regarding the malfunctioning of his communication device. The line "someone yanked it just a little too hard" adds a comical twist to the otherwise gloomy tone of the song while also questioning the recklessness and carelessness of people in damaging things that aren't theirs.


The fact that the song's title is "Radio" and yet the radio in question doesn't work is another layer of irony that adds to the meaning of the track. The singers are frustrated by their inability to connect with the rest of the world, but they see humor in the absurdly broken communication devices they are using. The song also touches upon the theme of nostalgia, as the singer reminisces about the good old days when the radio used to work. Overall, "Radio" is a commentary on the decayed state of societal communication and how it impacts individuals who are trying to connect with the outside world.


Line by Line Meaning

My Radio
The singer is referring to their personal radio device.


It doesn't work
The radio is not functioning and cannot play music or other content.


It's been shot up
The radio has been physically damaged or vandalized by gunshots.


The wires are burned
The internal wiring of the radio has been destroyed, possibly due to exposure to heat or electrical damage.


Someone yanked it
Another person pulled on the radio device with force. This could have led to physical damage or disconnection of wires.


Just a little too hard
The pulling of the radio device was excessive and not necessary, leading to potential damage.


And I can't work
The singer is possibly indicating that they themselves cannot work or function without the use of their radio device, either due to a dependency on it or as a personal coping mechanism in their life.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Scott Kannberg, Stephen Joseph Malkmus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Jannan44

Pigs, they tend to wiggle when they walk
The infrastructure rots
And the owners hate the jocks
With their agents and their dates
If the signatures are checked
You'll just have to wait
And we're counting up the instants that we save
Tired nation so depraved
From the cheap seats see us
Wave to the camera
It took a giant ramrod
To raze the demon settlement
But high-ho silver, ride
High-ho silver, ride
Take another ride to see me home
Listen to me
I'm on the stereo stereo
Oh my baby baby baby baby babe
Gave me malaria hysteria
What about the voice of Geddy Lee
How did it get so high?
I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy?
(I know him and he does)
And you're my fact-checkin' cuz
(Aww)
Well focus on the quasar in the mist
The Kaiser has a cyst
And I'm a blank want list
The qualms you have and if they stick
They will drown you in a crick
In the neck of a woods
That was populated by
Tired nation on the fly
Everybody knows advice
That was given out for free
Lots of details to discern
Lots of details
But high-ho silver ride
High-ho silver ride
Takes another ride to make me
Oh, get off the air
I'm on the stereo stereo
Oh my baby baby baby baby baby babe
Gave me malaria hysteria



All comments from YouTube:

@peachy-wd6ci

i love how lazy and careless they initially sound but the lyrics are always so genius it’s just perfect

@shanearnold7781

I love the fact that Bob is basically a Wild Card for what he'll be doing in any given song; from lugging around the band's cash bag (his first job with them), to being their unneeded second drummer, to his random guitar appearance here, to his awesome vocal appearances. He's simultaneously the most and least important member of the band, and the best mascot for any band ever.

@johnybaltimore3687

almost like he's in Phish.

@scherryvalentine9673

Shane Arnold The transient tambourine man for Foxygen was pretty good mascot.

@ohfoolishworkerbee

You forgot keyboardist!

@TheFibreman

Erotic Volvo / Misty's Big Adventure though

@kingdowner2112

@Scherry Valentine Bez from Happy Mondays was a pretty good mascot too his job was basically to take Ecstasy and dance

22 More Replies...

@radiopenis1011

This is the most Pavement sounding Pavement song ever

@Kitchyyy

Nice username

@whut-da

Unfair. Ne Plus Ultra Pavement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GqGNmcjWDY

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