Telekinesis is the songwriting vehicle of Michael Benjamin Lerner, whose mu… Read Full Bio ↴Telekinesis is the songwriting vehicle of Michael Benjamin Lerner, whose music splits the difference between summery indie rock and buoyant power pop. A multi-instrumentalist who usually plays all the instruments on his Telekinesis recordings, Lerner achieved a classic pop sound on early efforts like 2009's Telekinesis! and 2011's 12 Desperate Straight Lines, but shifted his focus to vintage synth pop on 2015's Ad Infinitum, while 2019's Effluxion struck a balance between the two sides.

Based in Seattle, Lerner handled most of the instrumental duties on his band's debut, Telekinesis!, which was produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and released in spring 2009. Telekinesis then launched a tour in support of the record, with auxiliary members Chris Staples, David Broecker, and Jonie Broecker filling out the lineup. On the 2010 EP Parallel Seismic Conspiracies, Lerner took over production duties, but for his next full LP, 12 Desperate Straight Lines, he was back to working with Walla. For the tour that accompanied the release, Lerner formed a new band with Jason Narducy on bass and Cody Votolato on guitar. Lerner's third outing under the Telekinesis moniker, 2013's Dormarion, found the one-man band enlisting the help of Spoon drummer/producer Jim Eno.

Lerner spent the next two years immersing himself in the world of vintage synths and keyboards in anticipation of the band's retro synth pop-heavy fourth studio album, Ad Infinitum, which dropped in September 2015. Lerner struck a balance between the clean electronic textures of Ad Infinitum and the more organic approach of his earlier work on the album Effluxion, released in February 2019.

Biography by Andrew Leahey

I Got You
Telekinesis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Train's speeding over the tracks
I can't see through the fog
I can't see where you're at

Take every sin from your heart
And put it to good use
Let it out from the start

Oh I got you
Oh I need you
It's easy to believe what you do

Oh I got you
Oh I need you
It's easy to believe in the truth

We'll tear the air from your lungs
The picture isn't clear
Doesn't show anyone

Black turns to gray in the sun
It always fades away
The colors bleed and they run

Oh I got you
Oh I need you
It's easy to believe what you do

Oh I got you

Oh I need you
It's easy to believe in the truth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Telekinesis's song "I Got You" have a vague and mysterious quality to them. The song opens up with the singer describing a feeling of uncertainty, as though he is on a speeding train that is shrouded in fog and he can't see where he is going. Then he seems to address someone, asking them to take "every sin from [their] heart" and put it to good use. The meaning behind this line is open to interpretation, but it could be interpreted as the singer asking someone to own up to their past mistakes and use them to learn and grow as a person.

The lyrics then take a slightly darker turn as the singer describes "tearing the air from [the listener's] lungs," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for taking someone's breath away or suffocating them in some way. However, the tone of the song remains positive and reassuring throughout, as the singer continues to repeat the chorus that he has the listener and needs them.

Overall, "I Got You" seems to be a mysterious yet reassuring song that encourages listeners to trust in the relationships that they have built in their lives, even if they are unsure of what the future holds.

Line by Line Meaning

Train's speeding over the tracks
Life is moving fast and can be overwhelming.

I can't see through the fog
I'm unsure of what is ahead and feel lost.

I can't see where you're at
I'm disconnected from you and can't find you.

Take every sin from your heart
Let go of everything holding you back.

And put it to good use
Use your experiences to help others.

Let it out from the start
Be honest with yourself and others from the beginning.

Oh I got you
I'm here for you.

Oh I need you
I rely on you.

It's easy to believe what you do
I trust your actions and intentions.

It's easy to believe in the truth
The truth is clear and straightforward.

We'll tear the air from your lungs
Challenging situations will take your breath away.