Remote Control
Phil Manzanera Lyrics
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Compassion leads to many lies and trying to apply it will just drive you mad
It's only destiny calling with the usual show
Get out while you've got time, make up your heart and find the kind of folk who really love.
You want to know how to tell them apart
You want to know how to feel in your heart
Too bad for you that they don't do a five day course in caring you could play the part
You're still itching for that great panacea
But first you got to be alone and think what kept your friends contented all those years.
Something about their eyes
I thought you couid tell by now
Remote control, off and jump now
Remote control, pull out the wires
Remote control, off and jump now
Remote control, pull out the wires.
Want to know a secret, most people are that bad
Compassion leads to many lies and trying to apply it will just drive you mad
It's only destiny calling with the usual show
Get out while you've got time, make up your heart and find the kind of folk who really love.
You want to know how to tell them apart
You want to know how to feel in your heart
Too bad for you that they don't do a five day course in caring you could play the part
You're still searching for the ones who were near
You're still itching for that great panacea
But first you got to be alone and think what kept your friends contented all those years.
Something about their eyes, I thought you could tell by now
Remote control, off and jump now
Remote control, pull out the wires
Remote control, off and jump now
Remote control, pull out the wires.
Remote control
Remote control
Remote control
Remote control
Remote control
Remote control . . .
The lyrics of Phil Manzanera's song "Remote Control" express a cynical view of how people relate to each other. The opening lines state that most people are "that bad," which sets a condemning tone for the rest of the song. According to the lyrics, compassion leads to lies, and trying to apply it will "just drive you mad." The chorus repeats the phrase "Remote control, off and jump now / Remote control, pull out the wires," suggesting that the only way to escape the negativity and artificiality of human relationships is to cut one's ties with the people who are causing it.
The existential message of the song is that one must find "the kind of folk who really love" and "think what kept your friends contented all those years." The song suggests that finding true love and contentment is a difficult and lonely process that requires introspection and self-evaluation. The repeated lines "Something about their eyes" and "I thought you could tell by now" might convey a sense of frustration or disappointment with how long it takes to discern who is truly worth trusting and loving.
Line by Line Meaning
Want to know a secret, most people are that bad
There's a secret that most people are not good, and it is not well known
Compassion leads to many lies and trying to apply it will just drive you mad
Being compassionate often leads to dishonesty, and trying to be compassionate can be mentally exhausting
It's only destiny calling with the usual show
Opportunities come and go, and it's nothing special or unusual
Get out while you've got time, make up your heart and find the kind of folk who really love.
Take advantage of your opportunities while you can, and surround yourself with people who genuinely love you
You want to know how to tell them apart
You're wondering how to distinguish between different types of people
You want to know how to feel in your heart
You want to know how to feel emotionally about different people
Too bad for you that they don't do a five day course in caring you could play the part
Unfortunately, there is no quick course to teach you how to care for people
You're still searching for the ones who were near
You're still looking for people who used to be in your life
You're still itching for that great panacea
You still have a desire for a solution that will solve all of your problems
But first you got to be alone and think what kept your friends contented all those years.
Before you can find solutions to your problems, you need to introspect and figure out what made your friends happy for so long
Something about their eyes
There's something about people's eyes that can tell you a lot about them
I thought you could tell by now
I believed that you already knew how to look at people's eyes and understand them
Remote control, off and jump now
Turn off the remote control and take action immediately
Remote control, pull out the wires
Disconnect the remote control altogether
Remote control
The metaphor of remote control is used throughout the song to represent the act of taking control of your own life
Contributed by Evan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.