Transparent Radiation
Spectrum Lyrics


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Selfless man slip by my side
Uttering words about the turning tide, and
She slowly furnishes my continuous ride
Towards insanitary bits of hide
Hair quite long and lavender-dyed
Split nostrils are green open wide
Velvet breasts with crimson legs astride
Uttering words about a turning tide
And she asks me can I ever provide

Transparent radiation
Transparent radiation
Oh, radiation
Transparent radiation

My liquid head open to the rain
I walk through a bushel and a peck of grain
I hear in my ear a hurricane
And speak to the man about a train
Touch with my hand an aeroplane
Eyes wide open on the coast of Maine
Red signs outside which I contain
Some sensuality that I can't explain, ah
Some sensuality that I can't explain

Transparent radiation
Transparent radiation
Oh, radiation
Transparent radiation

Tables bearing the fruits of Lent
Styrofoam people quite violent
Clear light blowing right out of my tent
Ozone over our continent
Expert men not knowing what they meant
They all eat babies for nourishment
Funny bird with her forehead bent
Slogans tell me that I can rent
Ah, yes they tell me that I can rent

Transparent radiation
Transparent radiation
Oh, radiation
Transparent radiation

Uttering words about a turning tide
Some sensuality that I can't explain

Transparent radiation
Transparent radiation
Oh, radiation
Transparent radiation

Ozone over our continent
Yes they're tellin' me that I can rent





Transparent radiation
Oh, radiation

Overall Meaning

"Transparent Radiation" by Spectrum is a psychedelic rock song that features surrealistic and fragmented lyrics. The lyrics are separated into distinct stanzas, each containing images that seem disconnected from one another. The first stanza begins with an enigmatic line about a "selfless man" who is "slipping by my side." This man is followed by a woman who has long lavender-dyed hair, green nostrils, velvet breasts, and crimson legs astride. She asks the singer if he can "ever provide," but it's unclear what she means by this. The repetitive line "uttering words about a turning tide" is repeated throughout the first and last stanzas, which might suggest a theme of uncertainty and change.


The second stanza shifts to a different series of surrealistic images. The singer describes walking through a "bushel and a peck of grain" while listening to a hurricane and speaking to a man about a train. He touches an airplane and sees wide-open eyes on the coast of Maine. The stanza ends with the line "Some sensuality that I can't explain," which may suggest a feeling of being overwhelmed or mystified by sensory experiences.


The last stanza brings the two sets of images together, ending with the repeated lines "Some sensuality that I can't explain" and "Yes they're tellin' me that I can rent." This might suggest that the singer is experiencing a sense of detachment or lack of control over his own experiences - whether sensory, intellectual, or social - but is being pressured or directed by outside forces.


Line by Line Meaning

Selfless man slip by my side
I notice a man standing next to me who seems to be very kind and generous


Uttering words about the turning tide, and
This man is speaking to me about the changing trends happening around us


She slowly furnishes my continuous ride
I am being accompanied by a woman who is always there for me, supporting me


Towards insanitary bits of hide
We are heading towards filthy places that are hidden from sight


Hair quite long and lavender-dyed
The woman accompanying me has long hair that is colored in lavender shade


Split nostrils are green open wide
The woman's nostrils appear wide and vividly green in color, creating an unusual sight


Velvet breasts with crimson legs astride
The woman's breasts seem to be plush, velvety, and her legs are positioned in a way to take control of the situation


Uttering words about a turning tide
Again, the woman starts talking about the changes happening around us


And she asks me can I ever provide
She is questioning me if I am capable of fulfilling commitments


Transparent radiation
The air contains a clear radiation, which is not visible but can be felt


Oh, radiation
Reiteration of the presence of radiation in the air


My liquid head open to the rain
I am exposed to the pouring rain which is affecting my senses and vision


I walk through a bushel and a peck of grain
I'm moving forward through a vast amount of grain


I hear in my ear a hurricane
The wind is roaring and deafening me


And speak to the man about a train
I converse with the man once again, this time discussing transportation using a train


Touch with my hand an aeroplane
I am physically touching an airplane that is nearby


Eyes wide open on the coast of Maine
I am looking towards Maine's coast with great excitement and interest


Red signs outside which I contain
I am in possession of red signals that dictate my actions


Some sensuality that I can't explain, ah
There are certain erotic feelings that are beyond my understanding and explanation


Tables bearing the fruits of Lent
Tables are carrying food items that are eaten during the Lent season


Styrofoam people quite violent
I spot characters made of styrofoam who appear to be aggressive and threatening


Clear light blowing right out of my tent
A bright light shines inside my tent and is blowing outwards


Ozone over our continent
The ozone layer is hovering over our continent


Expert men not knowing what they meant
I meet people who are experts in their field but seem to lack clarity and understanding of their own expertise


They all eat babies for nourishment
These experts are believed to resort to cannibalism in order to fulfill their nutritional needs


Funny bird with her forehead bent
I come across a bird with a peculiarly bent forehead


Slogans tell me that I can rent
I am exposed to various advertisements that suggest I can rent various things


Uttering words about a turning tide
Once again, someone talks about the trend shifts happening around us


Some sensuality that I can't explain
Reiteration of the inexplicable erotic feelings experienced earlier


Ozone over our continent
Reiteration of the presence of ozone layer hovering over our continent


Yes they're tellin' me that I can rent
Reiteration of the advertisement suggesting renting various things




Contributed by Violet Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

raganga

Still great! Thank You Sonic!

Whitenacho

Very well done! I cover this as well on acoustic guitar but without the keyboard accompanyment. It's a bitch to play because it's all bar chords. Good finger strenthener.

Propolizei

F A N T A S T I C !!!

PHAEDRIDER

great stuff! i never get to see hippies in the park playing this!lol

Brain Productions Booking

fuckin great!!

pscyche3000

@vad64shelby3500 this is a spacemen 3 song and pete continues to play it live as sonic boom or his other band spectrum also the other half of spacemen 3, jason pierce aka spiritualized also play it on their set as its one of the most popular spacemen songs and its on their album the perfect prescription

fabLA59

awsome, totally awsome, thanx very much cheers from france

R Decline

@pscyche3000 This is a RED KRAYOLA song and pete continues to COVER it live as sonic boom....

JuanKallot

tassled clark piece on pete. Respect.

oneshotseattle

@vad64shelby3500 you'll find it on Spacemen 3's masterpiece, Perfect Prescription

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