Tinfoil Hats
Rocky Votolato Lyrics


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He reminded me that the only way to
Keep aliens from reading
Your mind
Is to wear a tinfoil hat friend and wear it all the time

Life keeps on changing
Tell it to stay still but it won't listen
I just want you near me like you are now for good
Transistor

Tape recorder, tell me about everything that I've lost
I know
You've got it all stored somewhere
At least I'm keeping my

Fingers crossed
Life keeps on changing
Tell it to stay still but
It won't listen

I just want you near me like you are now for good
Kid I'm gonna be with you longer than the world can stand cause
There's a light that's stronger
Shinning out of your eyes I see it

And it won't be long now
Life keeps on changing
Tell it to stay still
But it won't listen





I just want you near me like you are now for good

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rocky Votolato's "Tinfoil Hats" talk about the need to protect one's thoughts and emotions with a physical barrier to prevent unwanted intrusions. The singer mentions a friend who reminds him that the only way to prevent "aliens from reading your mind" is to wear a tinfoil hat constantly. This reference to extraterrestrial interference could be interpreted as a metaphor for the overwhelming influence of external factors on an individual's psyche. The singer seems to be looking for a way to resist this influence, to keep a sense of autonomy in a world that keeps on changing, despite his efforts to keep it still.


The second half of the song seems to be aimed at a particular person, perhaps a lover or a child. The singer wants this person to stay close to him and promises to be with him/her for as long as possible, even "longer than the world can stand." He perceives a radiant light shining out of the person's eyes, indicating that he/she possesses a quality that inspires him to keep going despite his fears and anxieties. The mention of a "transistor tape recorder" could be a nostalgic reference to a time when memories could be preserved in a tangible way, contrasting with the unsettling transience of life.


Line by Line Meaning

He reminded me that the only way to
He reminded me that the sole way to


Keep aliens from reading
Keep extraterrestrial beings from scanning


Your mind
Your thoughts


Is to wear a tinfoil hat friend and wear it all the time
Is to wear a hat crafted from thin aluminum foil, my friend, and wear it constantly


Life keeps on changing
Life is in a continuous state of flux


Tell it to stay still but it won't listen
I urge it to halt, but it disobeys


I just want you near me like you are now for good
I desire your proximity to me, just as you are now, forever


Transistor
Transistor


Tape recorder, tell me about everything that I've lost
Recorder of magnetic tape, inform me of everything that has been lost to me


I know
I am aware


You've got it all stored somewhere
You have preserved everything in someplace


At least I'm keeping my
At the very least, I am maintaining


Fingers crossed
Fingers crossed


Kid I'm gonna be with you longer than the world can stand cause
Child, I am going to be with you for a greater duration than the world can tolerate because


There's a light that's stronger
There exists a light that is more robust


Shinning out of your eyes I see it
I perceive it radiating out of your eyes


And it won't be long now
It will not take long now




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocky Votolato

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