The band is best known for their 1996 hit "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand."
Years active:
1985–1991 (as I-Rails)
1991–1994 (O'Connor solo)
1996–present
Chain Reaction
Primitive Radio Gods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the physicists are wrong
And the world is just a chain reaction...
I dare to look at the fuckers that shook at the sound
Coming down getting pound
Into the third dimension...
I'm just a goddamned chain reaction
I was born on the seventh of May on an overcast day
Into a world that never saw me coming...
One day when I could left home
To get in touch with a phone
(It's a koan) So don't expect to get it...
I'm just a goddamned chain reaction
Oh no...Oh yeah...Alright...
I walk soft and I carry a stick
About the size of the tries
That it takes to get a decent hooker...
My shit's clean like a washing machine
I'm alive, it's a fact you can't attack
And now I'm taking over...
I'm just a goddamned chain reaction
Oh no...Oh yeah...Alright...
Submitted by Michael Hack
The lyrics to Primitive Radio Gods' song "Chain Reaction" strike an otherworldly tone with its references to an "astroplain" and a world that defies physics theory. The singer dares to confront those who are shaken by a mysterious sound, seemingly coming from another dimension. The repetition of the phrase "I'm just a goddamned chain reaction" reflects the singer's feeling of being caught up in a larger force, both in terms of the strange phenomena they experience and their own existence.
The second stanza starts with a curious verse detailing the singer's birth on May 7th, on an overcast day. They suggest that the world was unprepared for their arrival, which could either be taken in a literal or figurative sense. The verse turns more surreal with a mention of a phone "koan," a term from Zen Buddhism that refers to an unsolvable riddle. This reinforces the idea of the singer's connection to a realm beyond the physical.
The third and final stanza has the singer literally carrying a stick, which is compared in size to the treads on a tire. This gives a sense of the singer's power or influence, although it's not clear what their exact goals are. They assert that their "shit's clean like a washing machine," implying a sense of purity or integrity. Much like the earlier stanzas, this section ends with a repetition of "I'm just a goddamn chain reaction," leaving the song's meaning open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I got caught in an astroplain
I found myself in a hypothetical plane of existence beyond the physical realm
And all the physicists are wrong
The scientific explanations of reality don't align with my current experience
And the world is just a chain reaction...
The universe is a series of connected causal events
I dare to look at the fuckers that shook at the sound
I confront those who were afraid of or intimidated by my presence
Coming down getting pound
I'm coming down hard and strong
Into the third dimension...
Entering into the realm of physical, tangible reality
I'm just a goddamned chain reaction
I am simply one event leading to the next in the grand scheme of existence
Oh no...Oh yeah...Alright...
An expression of mixed emotions, feeling both uncertain and confident
I was born on the seventh of May on an overcast day
I came into existence on a specific date and under a particular set of weather conditions
Into a world that never saw me coming...
My birth was unexpected and came as a surprise to those around me
One day when I could left home
At some point in my life, I possessed the ability to leave home
To get in touch with a phone
I attempted to connect with someone via telephone
(It's a koan) So don't expect to get it...
This is a riddle or cryptic statement meant to be contemplated, not directly understood
I walk soft and I carry a stick
I move carefully and cautiously, but am prepared to defend myself
About the size of the tries
The stick is similar in size to the equipment used for getting a good catch in fishing
That it takes to get a decent hooker...
In order to get a good result, one must have the right tools and approach
My shit's clean like a washing machine
My actions and intentions are pure and legitimate
I'm alive, it's a fact you can't attack
My existence is undeniable and cannot be disproven or undermined
And now I'm taking over...
I am seizing control of my own destiny and commanding the situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN O'CONNOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind