Science Fiction
Radon Lyrics

Little green men coming out of paint cans
Imagining alien life forms making their way into our world through ordinary objects.

Phosphate mines and Slaked Lime, 1966, he was sixteen
Describing the setting of Central Florida in the mid-1960s, when phosphate mining was a major industry.

It's Central Florida in the era of the dragline
Further emphasizing the focus on phosphate mining and its techniques in Central Florida at the time.

Play it over the pit and dig up more of that green shit
Encouraging the continuation of mining practices to extract valuable minerals from the earth.

And trade it with the Russians, who are traditionally hated
Referencing the political climate of the time, and the notion of profiting from foreign markets.

You can imagine that after a few years that you'd run out of things to say
Commenting on the potential for monotony and exhaustion in a repetitive job like mining.

And I'll be here every day
Acknowledging the singer's persistent presence in this environment.

Phospho~Gypsum, Radon-222, The daughters watch over you
Referencing the harmful byproducts of mining, and the hazards involved in the job.

On a transformer four stories high it walks like a cripple and turns on its base
Describing the machinery used in mining, which can be cumbersome and difficult to operate.

Diggin' up that Dicalcium Phosphate
Reiterating the focus on mining valuable minerals from the earth.

Travel the blacktop and you won't have far to go to find an alien civilization
Suggesting that the world is full of unexpected and unfamiliar things, both in terms of extraterrestrial life and mundane experiences like encountering mining operations while driving.

A creature from a creation that's from outer space
Continuing the theme of otherworldly existence and experiences.

Sixty foot high for miles around; One million tons of Phospho~Gypsum tailings rise to the sky
Visualizing the massive scale of the mining operation and its aftermath.

Nearly half the world's fertilizer once lay beneath the overburden
Highlighting the economic and environmental impact of the mining industry.

It got taken off this sandbar, And now there's something that's left behind
Commenting on the long-term effects of mining practices on the landscape and ecosystem.

'what are you takin' about? I'll clean it up later. No, that's not the way it is at all, I'm not a miner I don't care
Reflecting on the lack of accountability and responsibility among those involved in the mining industry, and the potential for environmental damage to be ignored or downplayed.

Man, that's pant of the system, I'm punk, But who's gonna indict the Wall Street Journal, just me and Bob Ray
Expressing a sense of disillusionment with systems of power and authority, and doubting the effectiveness of individual actions in bringing about significant change.

It's just part of the system here on the surface of the planet
Resigning oneself to the perceived inevitability of harmful practices like mining in our world.

And the day has come when there's only work left
Suggesting that the focus on economic productivity has eclipsed other priorities, including environmental and social concerns.

There's unlimited sunshine in a bottle of Tropicana
Trying to find some positivity in the world amid such overwhelming issues and challenges.

With his friends and his 'Spooky Tooth' 8-track flipped upside down, Drivin' in his Mercury Monterey down to Lithia Springs
Painting a vivid picture of a young person trying to navigate the complexities of the world in his own way, and seeking out new experiences and connections.

Saying that if we could take the tailings, And build a building for the New York Stork Exchange, Then we could tell everyone about How we live in a state that digs Radon by the ton And you'll be mine
Imagining a utopian scenario where waste from a harmful industry can be repurposed for good, and the artist's desire to connect with others around shared experiences while also establishing a level of control or ownership over them.