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
Please Ask for Help
Telekinesis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm not gonna help you up
It takes so long to turn me around,
When I think nothing could be wrong
And then you can't hear me and I can't hear you,
And then you wander downtown 'bout a quarter to two,
Well with your head held low and not a thing to do you,
Gotta give me some time with those one's and two's
You're like a puzzle that can't be solved,
Missing pieces never fill the gaps...
You got the salt and I got the wound,
But, all you gotta do is ask...
And there's a glint in your eye, you curl your lip
Now when you go to shut the door
And I can't see shit
And when you start I can't stop,
Nothing for me to grip
And when i try to get away,
You always give me the slip
Oh-Oh!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
The lyrics to Telekinesis's song "Please Ask for Help" are about the struggles of a relationship where one person wants to help the other, but the other is not willing to ask for help. The first verse sets the tone for the song by saying that the singer is not going to let the other person down, but they are also not going to be the one to constantly help them up. The second verse highlights the miscommunication between the two individuals, where they cannot hear each other and end up going in different directions.
The chorus emphasizes the main message of the song, which is that the other person needs to ask for help if they want it. The singer compares the relationship to a puzzle that cannot be solved, indicating that there are missing pieces and gaps that need to be filled. However, they also say that all the other person needs to do is ask, and they will be there to help. The final verse depicts the frustration of trying to leave the relationship, but always getting pulled back in.
Overall, the song captures the difficulty of being in a relationship with someone who does not want to ask for help, and the frustration that can come with it. The singer is willing to be there for the other person, but they need to take the first step and ask for assistance.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not gonna let you down,
I won't disappoint you, but I'm not going to actively assist you either.
But I'm not gonna help you up
I won't put forth any effort towards your progress.
It takes so long to turn me around,
Changing my opinion or attitude is a slow process.
When I think nothing could be wrong
I am under the impression that everything is going smoothly.
And then you can't hear me and I can't hear you,
A breakdown in communication has occurred.
And then you wander downtown 'bout a quarter to two,
You are aimlessly wandering late at night.
Well with your head held low and not a thing to do you,
You appear to be lost and frustrated.
Gotta give me some time with those one's and two's
I need to focus on my music, give me some space.
You're like a puzzle that can't be solved,
Your behavior is unpredictable and hard to understand.
Missing pieces never fill the gaps...
The more time that passes, the less likely it is that I will understand you.
You got the salt and I got the wound,
You are causing me pain and I'm unable to retaliate.
But, all you gotta do is ask...
If you need help, just ask and I'll do what I can.
And there's a glint in your eye, you curl your lip
Your expression hints at something sinister.
Now when you go to shut the door
You are closing me out of your life.
And I can't see shit
From my perspective, everything is unclear and confusing.
And when you start I can't stop,
Once you've begun something, it's difficult to put an end to it.
Nothing for me to grip
I don't feel in control of the situation.
And when i try to get away,
I attempt to distance myself.
You always give me the slip
But you manage to elude me.
Oh-Oh!
An exclamation of frustration.
Please ask for
A plea for communication and honesty.
Please ask for
A repetition of the aforementioned plea.
Please ask for help!
Please don't hesitate to ask for assistance.
Please ask for
Another plea for openness and honesty.
Please ask for
A repetition of the previous plea.
Please ask for
Yet another request for communication.
Please ask for
A final plea for honesty and help.
Please ask for help!
An urgent request for assistance.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Lerner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Agostino Gallo
I'm not gonna let you down,
But I'm not gonna help you up
It takes so long to turn me around,
When I think nothing could be wrong
And then you can't hear me and I can't hear you,
And then you wander downtown 'bout a quarter to two,
Well with your head held low and not a thing to do you,
Gotta give me some time with those one's and two's
Oh-Oh!
You're like a puzzle that can't be solved,
Missing pieces never fill the gaps...
You got the salt and I got the wound,
But, all you gotta do is ask...
And there's a glint in your eye, you curl your lip
Now when you go to shut the door
And I can't see shit
And when you start I can't stop,
Nothing for me to grip
And when i try to get away,
You always give me the slip
Oh-Oh!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Please ask for
Please ask for
Please ask for help!
Sean Berndt
I've been listening to this song since I first heard it on MLB 2K12. More people should know about it. It's so good.
leonelp51
same here, its amazing, still playing the 2k12
Christian Devitt
Good ol mlb 2K12. That’s where I first heard it from too
Sean Berndt
@Christian Devitt thanks for the blast from the past
Christian Devitt
@Sean Berndt you’re welcome man. It’s always good to go back to good memories
FractalFox840
how i heard it for the first time
Luiz Netto
Essa música e muito perfeita, a vibe me contagia o clipe é incrível bem vintage amo demais ❤️❤️
Viera Amanda
Tony Hanks Pro skater Hd, sempre vai fica na memoria
flankenstein5000
had panick attack at 2 am so i went for a walk in calgary and this song was playing on a speaker downtown by a bunch of benches.for whatever reason it calmed me right down
dfgdfb sdfvv
cool man