Tone Burst
Stereolab Lyrics


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What you decide to be is what you are
Your only way ahead your way to go far
Your reasons that you do who you really are
The decisions in your head it will be far

Prejudice does no service to you
Break your shackles it's up to you
Be your own master owe it to you
Self-doubt inner you, I believe
It's hard in this cruel world to be who you are
It might mean hardship it might take a while
Struggle, conflict, causes they all have their power

Don't let anyone hurt your heart
Your desire...broken truths blew
But you don't see what we will use upon you
Refuse to blink when that thing wants you to

You can't take your life hypnotized
Don't let anyone hurt your heart
You have an evil side of you
We can live apart in the end
What I decide to be is what I am
What you invest with it is in my command
My reasons that you do won't ?deal? with romance

I wanna stress myself to be who I am
?Toss 'em off? is the best I can do
Why kill a man to achieve other things?
To explain, very cruel

Self-doubt inner you, I still bleed
I don't let anyone hurt my heart




Don't want to be taken apart
I have innocence in the end

Overall Meaning

The song "Tone Burst" by Stereolab is a reflection on individualism and the pressures that come with it. The first stanza suggests that one's identity is determined by their own choices and the decisions they make. The lyrics encourage us to break free from societal norms and prejudices that restrict us from becoming our true selves. The lines "It's hard in this cruel world to be who you are, It might mean hardship it might take a while, Struggle, conflict, causes they all have their power" remind us that embracing our individuality requires courage and may lead to challenges or conflicts.


The second stanza reflects the challenges that come with having an individual identity. It encourages us to protect our hearts and not allow anyone to hurt us. The lines "Don't let anyone hurt your heart, Your desire...broken truths blew, But you don't see what we will use upon you, Refuse to blink when that thing wants you to" suggest the importance of standing firm in the face of outside pressures that try to mold us into something we are not. The lyrics seem to be citing the fact that despite the challenges there is always hope for self-discovery and preservation of one's inner innocence.


Line by Line Meaning

What you decide to be is what you are
The choices you make define who you are


Your only way ahead your way to go far
Your path to success is determined by your actions


Your reasons that you do who you really are
Your motivations reveal your true self


The decisions in your head it will be far
Your internal thoughts and choices have far-reaching consequences


Prejudice does no service to you
Discrimination harms both the victim and the oppressor


Break your shackles it's up to you
You have the power to free yourself from limiting beliefs and social constructs


Be your own master owe it to you
You have a responsibility to yourself to take control of your life


Self-doubt inner you, I believe
The artist empathizes with the internal struggle of self-doubt


It's hard in this cruel world to be who you are
The world can make it difficult to express one's true self


It might mean hardship it might take a while
Being true to oneself can be a difficult and lengthy process


Struggle, conflict, causes they all have their power
Challenging situations have the power to shape and strengthen us


Don't let anyone hurt your heart
Protect yourself from emotional pain caused by others


Your desire...broken truths blew
Your aspirations may be obstructed by obstacles and falsehoods


But you don't see what we will use upon you
Others may use your vulnerabilities to their advantage


Refuse to blink when that thing wants you to
Stand firm in the face of pressure to conform or look away


You can't take your life hypnotized
Don't let yourself be controlled by external influences


You have an evil side of you
Everyone has the capacity for darkness within themselves


We can live apart in the end
Ultimately, we are all individuals with unique experiences and perspectives


What I decide to be is what I am
The singer takes responsibility for their own identity


What you invest with it is in my command
Others cannot dictate or influence the artist's sense of self


My reasons that you do won't ?deal? with romance
The artist's motivations are not fueled by romance or love


I wanna stress myself to be who I am
The artist desires to express their true self


?Toss 'em off? is the best I can do
The singer will discard anything that inhibits their self-expression


Why kill a man to achieve other things?
The artist questions the morality of sacrificing a life for personal gain


To explain, very cruel
To justify such actions would be callous and unjust


Self-doubt inner you, I still bleed
The singer still struggles with self-doubt


I don't let anyone hurt my heart
The singer remains guarded against emotional pain


Don't want to be taken apart
The artist wishes to remain whole and intact as an individual


I have innocence in the end
The artist believes that their true self is pure and untainted




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LAETITIA SADIER, TIMOTHY JOHN GANE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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