Time Machine
Roger! Lyrics

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I gotta get back to 2016 and warn everyone
of the trash and trouble I've seen
So many dead and so many dumb
I'm here to tell you that the choice we made
Was the wrong one, definitely the wrong one

I wanna go back, take me back
Get me out of here.

Take me back to 2008 and celebrate a time that felt hopeful
People were looking forward, not back
Somehow it felt like we were on the right track
Oh, take me back

I wanna go back, take me back
Get me out of here.

Take me back to 91, I wanna watch
Nirvana open for Sonic Youth
No cell phones, no You Tube
People have fun making out in a phone booth
Bumps in the bathroom

I wanna go back, take me back
Get me out of here.

Take me back to 72
Bennies and ludes and rock n roll was still true
T-Rex, The Stones and Big Star
Smoking a doob in the back seat of my car
Of my car

I wanna go back, take me back
Get me out of here.

I wanna go back, take me back
Get me out of here.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roger!'s song "Time Machine" convey a yearning to escape from the present and travel back in time to different eras. The song begins with a desire to return to 2016 and warn people about the bleakness and foolishness that the singer has experienced. They express a sense of disappointment and regret, believing that the choices made were undoubtedly wrong. Through these lyrics, the singer expresses a longing to go back, to be removed from the current situation and find solace in the past.

In the second verse, the focus shifts to the year 2008, a time that felt hopeful and forward-looking. The singer reminisces about a time when people were optimistic, and there was a sense of progress. The contrast between the hopefulness of the past and the disillusionment of the present is evident in these lyrics.

The lyrics then take us further back in time to 1991, where the singer longs to witness a concert where Nirvana opened for Sonic Youth. The mention of no cell phones or YouTube reflects a desire for a simpler time when people could enjoy experiences in the present without the constant distraction of technology. The lyrics also mention people having fun and being intimate in a phone booth, emphasizing a sense of freedom and spontaneity.

Finally, the song transports us to the year 1972, where the singer yearns for the era of rock 'n' roll, mentioning T-Rex, The Stones, and Big Star. The nostalgic imagery of smoking a joint in the back seat of a car highlights the rebellious and carefree nature of that time.

Overall, "Time Machine" explores a longing for different periods in history, where the singer believes things were better or more authentic. It reflects a sense of disillusionment with the present and the desire to escape its troubles.

Line by Line Meaning

I gotta get back to 2016 and warn everyone
I have a strong desire to return to the year 2016 in order to alert and caution everyone about the distressing and problematic situations I have witnessed.

of the trash and trouble I've seen
Referring to the unpleasant and chaotic experiences and events that I have encountered.

So many dead and so many dumb
There have been numerous deaths and a significant amount of ignorant individuals, contributing to the overall negative state of affairs.

I'm here to tell you that the choice we made
My purpose is to communicate that the decision we collectively made was undoubtedly the incorrect one.

Was the wrong one, definitely the wrong one
Emphasizing that the chosen path was unquestionably the incorrect and misguided choice.

I wanna go back, take me back
Expressing a strong desire to return to a previous time period.

Get me out of here.
A plea to be removed from the current situation or environment.

Take me back to 2008 and celebrate a time that felt hopeful
Transport me to the year 2008, where I yearn to experience a period filled with optimism and a sense of promise.

People were looking forward, not back
During this time, individuals were focused on the future and moving ahead, rather than dwelling on the past.

Somehow it felt like we were on the right track
There was a collective feeling that we were progressing in a positive and correct direction.

Oh, take me back
An emotional plea to be taken back to a specific time in the past.

Take me back to 91, I wanna watch
Transport me to the year 1991, for the purpose of witnessing and experiencing something specific.

Nirvana open for Sonic Youth
Referring to the desire to witness the band Nirvana as the opening act for Sonic Youth, creating a desire for a memorable musical experience.

No cell phones, no You Tube
A time where mobile phones and the video-sharing platform YouTube did not exist, implying a simpler and less digitally interconnected era.

People have fun making out in a phone booth
Illustrating the idea that individuals enjoyed engaging in romantic activities, such as kissing, within the confines of a phone booth.

Bumps in the bathroom
Referring to the engagement in illicit drug usage within bathrooms, specifically the act of snorting drugs.

Take me back to 72
Transport me back to the year 1972.

Bennies and ludes and rock n roll was still true
During this time, the prevalence of amphetamines (bennies), sedatives (ludes), and authentic rock and roll music was prominent, creating an atmosphere of authenticity and pleasure.

T-Rex, The Stones and Big Star
Referring to the music groups T-Rex, The Rolling Stones, and Big Star, representing the influential and iconic bands of that era.

Smoking a doob in the back seat of my car
Portraying the act of smoking marijuana (doobie) in the rear seating area of an automobile, evoking a sense of rebellion and carefree behavior.

Of my car
Emphasizing the connection to the personal vehicle, emphasizing the location and the desired experience that accompanied it.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Alex Garza, Gabe Garcia, Ricky Landeros

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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