Hyperactive!
Thomas Dolby Lyrics
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At the tender age of three
I was hooked to a machine
Just to keep my mouth from spouting junk
Must have took me for a fool
When they chucked me out of school
'Cause the teacher knew I had the funk
But tonight I'm on the edge
Better shut me in the fridge
'Cause I'm burning up (I'm burning up)
With the vision in my brain
And the music in my veins
And the dirty rhythm in my blood
They are messing with my heart
And they're messing with my heart
And they're messing with my heart
Won't stop messing with me
Ripping me apart
Hyperactive when I'm small
Hyperactive now I'm grown
Hyperactive and the night is young
And in a minute I'll blow
Semaphore out on the floor
Messages from outer space
Deep heat for the feet
And the rhythm of your heartbeat
'Cause the music of the street
It isn't any rapattack
It isn't any rapattack
I can reach into your homes
Like an itch in your headphones
You can't turn it up
I'm the shape in your back room
I'm the breather on the phone
And I'm burning up
But there's one thing I must say
Before they lock me up again
You'd be safer at the back
When I'm having an attack
Hyperactive when I'm small
Hyperactive now I'm tall
Hyperactive as the day is long
Hyperactive in my bones
Hyperactive in your phones
Hyperactive and the night is young
Hyperactive when I'm small
Hyperactive now I'm grown
Hyperactive 'til I'm dead and gone
Stand up, hyperactivate
Get up, hyperactivate
Wise up, hyperactivate
London, hyperactivate
The song "Hyperactive" by Thomas Dolby portrays the artist's journey from his childhood to present life. The lyrics of the song reveal his experiences and feelings of being a misfit in his earlier years. The song starts with the artist talking about his childhood, where he was always full of energy and had an overactive imagination. He talks about being ostracized by his teachers and peers for being different, but now he embraces his uniqueness as he experiences "dirty rhythms in his blood" and "visions in his brain."
The chorus of the song features the artist talking about feeling like he is being ripped apart and tormented by something, possibly society's strict expectations of conformity. Despite this, he continues to be hyperactive, unable to control his energy or his passion for music. The artist paints a vivid picture of his musical prowess, possessing the ability to reach into people's homes, influence the rhythm of their heartbeats, and leave an imprint on their minds.
Overall, "Hyperactive" is a song about being different, embracing one's uniqueness, and transcending societal expectations. The song encourages listeners to stand up and "hyperactivate" their lives, living boldly and passionately regardless of what others may think.
Line by Line Meaning
At the tender age of three
When I was only three years old
I was hooked to a machine
I was connected to a machine against my will
Just to keep my mouth from spouting junk
So that I wouldn't say nonsense
Must have took me for a fool
They underestimated my intelligence
When they chucked me out of school
When they expelled me from school
'Cause the teacher knew I had the funk
Because the teacher knew I had rhythm and style
But tonight I'm on the edge
But today I'm excited and anxious
Better shut me in the fridge
You might want to cool me down
'Cause I'm burning up (I'm burning up)
Because I'm feeling intensely excited
With the vision in my brain
With a vivid idea in my mind
And the music in my veins
And the music flowing through my body
And the dirty rhythm in my blood
And the funky rhythm that is part of me
They are messing with my heart
They are affecting my emotions
Won't stop messing with me
They won't stop disturbing me
Ripping me apart
Causing me distress
Hyperactive when I'm small
I was hyperactive when I was young
Hyperactive now I'm grown
I'm still hyperactive as an adult
Hyperactive and the night is young
Feeling hyperactive and excited because it's still early
And in a minute I'll blow
And soon I will be very expressive and lively
Semaphore out on the floor
Many dancing signals are being sent out on the dancefloor
Messages from outer space
It seems like I'm receiving communication from outer space
Deep heat for the feet
The powerful and alluring rhythm of the music makes you want to dance
And the rhythm of your heartbeat
The music and your heartbeat seem to be working together
'Cause the music of the street
The music from the world outside
It isn't any rapattack
It's not just a rap attack
I can reach into your homes
I can affect you even in your own home
Like an itch in your headphones
Like an annoying feeling or sensation in your headphones
You can't turn it up
You can't ignore it
I'm the shape in your back room
I'm like an unexpected form that you find lurking in your back room
I'm the breather on the phone
I'm the unseen person breathing on the other end of the phone line
But there's one thing I must say
But I have one important thing to say
Before they lock me up again
Before they institutionalize me again
You'd be safer at the back
You will be out of the line of fire if you stand at the back
Hyperactive as the day is long
I'm hyperactive all day long
Hyperactive in my bones
I feel hyperactivity deeply within me
Hyperactive in your phones
I can cause hyperactivity even through your phone
Hyperactive 'til I'm dead and gone
I'll be hyperactive until I die
Stand up, hyperactivate
Get up and be hyped
Get up, hyperactivate
Stand up and be hyped
Wise up, hyperactivate
Become more knowledgeable and be excited
London, hyperactivate
People in London, get excited and hyped up
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Thomas Dolby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mrPauljacob
Dolby is so underrated
@jagdpanther1944
because other music is over-rated
@Malegys
surely you mean "Dubly"?
@tapsanelikettu2985
Not by me
@sambillingsley2377
No it's not you can't say that
@peggyfranzen6159
Yeah!
@christiansabin871
Also props to the female backing singer- she killed it!! 💯🔥
@email5023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adele_Bertei
@erockpatton
Adele Bertei is the woman singing do a google images search real quick for me.
@Jimothyp
Incredible track all over but that vocal absolutely makes it. I remember for the longest time trying to figure out how it’d been processed to make it sound like that and my mind being blown seeing her do it live on the Old Grey Whistle Test