George was featured on Season 6 of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry on HBO. He was the 2006 Youth Speaks Grand Slam Poetry Champion, 2006 Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam Champion, and performed in a record six consecutive Youth Speaks Grand Slam Finals. The last three of those audiences, all topping out at over 3,000, were the largest ever for poetry slams anywhere in the world. In 2009 Watsky was one of three poets who performed live on FOX at the NAACP Image Awards in honor of Russell Simmons’ lifetime achievement award.
George has made strides to bring his poetic sensibilities to the theater world. His one-man show So Many Levels has been presented in Boston, San Francisco, Vermont, and at the Hip Hop Theater Festival Critical Breaks series in New York City. He has also been featured at the San Francisco and Washington, DC arms of the Hip Hop Theater Festival. He played the title character and co-wrote a 2004 adaptation of Dante’s Divine Comedy for the Living Word Festival and his stage play Harold’s Fall or King Will is the recipient of the 2009 Rod Parker Playwriting Fellowship.
Tiny Glowing Screens Part 2
Watsky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And while you be, be true
And if you won't, fuck you
Burn your clothes
Open the wine
Close your eyes
Freeze time
Synchronize your watches and pour us a couple scotches
People still as statues can't catch you, turn pockets empty
If they're packed with plenty move some to ones lacking any
While I take a crack at hacking the bank to jack em to cover high debts
You're screening floating bullets with a butterfly net,
If there's any screaming pause it and cut out sound, deposit the slugs underground
I'm positive that we don't fuck around
No we go scooping up the diesel that's leaking a sinking tanker
Forever stuck at anchor like beetles get stuck in amber
Halted like the thaw of the iceberg that shoulda sank her
Halted right beside the temperature spike and the spread of cancer
And all my peoples' engagements and babies my friends are making
We quit getting lamer. Days quit getting later, life quits being labor, quick
You should come through to our party, dude bring your crew bring your army
Youth is inside of the heart, the future can never harm me
We're never tardy (freeze, freeze, freeze,)
Late or early don't worry we'll wait 'cause we're in no hurry to see the pearly gates
I sit outside and watch the pigeon shit and tiny airplanes hanging in the sky
And then I hit a McCartney show and trip off how his arm is superglued to his guitar
And then I enjoy the lovely view and stand there for a month or two, my headphones looping Love Me Do on repeat
Paul might not die if we try to wall of this diorama. We'll buy all the time we want
And then spend it all to move this crowd
To join as converts to the church of blessed concerts
And then conjure up some conversation
Yes, I'm proud
My country is my heart and so in every combination
We all rep a common nation
That is how
I know that all we lepers and we shepherds join together now in holy congregation, everybody
Stop right now
I want to hear the church bells ring
I want to see the fog roll in
I don't mind the muddy water
I don't mind the ocean wind
Show me i'm alive right now
Even if you gotta prick this skin
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Open up your eyes
Some days I throw my hands up like this shit right here is hopeless
But today I throw my hands up like this shit right here's the dopest
I'll never sew my family's holes up saying hocus pocus
So I focus love on what is whole and chase my magnum opus
There's so much more life before I leave this skin behind me
Right now I'm feeling finer than Aliya in the 90s
Yeah, today I'm feeling firmly like my faith could never burn me
Like I'm apt to move that mountain just by glaring at it sternly
San Francisco used to seem bigger than Jupiter
From the view of an atom, the human body's a universe
How impossibly big it be (1-2-3-4) this symmetry
This brutality (2-2-3-4) and beauty and synergy
And beyond what we'll live to see,
I know nothing limit me
Just take everything ever, and we are that times infinity
The lyrics of Watsky’s song “Tiny Glowing Screens Part 2” explore themes of existentialism, escapism, and the human condition in the age of technology. The first two lines of the song express the idea that nothing matters, and so it doesn’t matter if nothing matters. This sense of nihilism is countered by an appeal to authenticity in the second line, where the listener is exhorted to “be true” to themselves. This theme of authenticity is continued throughout the song, as the singer encourages the listener to burn their clothes, open the wine, and freeze time, all in service of being true to oneself.
The song then takes a turn towards escapism, as the singer describes how he and his friends are like “statues” avoiding the problems of the world by “scooping up the diesel that’s leaking a sinking tanker.” The theme of escapism is reinforced by the repeated request to “freeze” and by the image of the singer sitting outside watching the world go by. However, the singer also acknowledges that this escapism is temporary, as he sings about the importance of chasing one’s “magnum opus” and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing matters, so it doesn't matter if nothing matters
The concept of anything having meaning or purpose is subjective, so worrying about it is futile
And while you be, be true
Be authentic and genuine in all you do
And if you won't, fuck you
If you can't be true to yourself, then I have no interest in interacting with you
Burn your clothes
Symbolically burn away the past and start anew
Open the wine
Celebrate life and its pleasures
Close your eyes
Meditate and find inner peace
Freeze time
Take a moment to appreciate the present and all it has to offer
You're officially welcome to grab your crotches
Be bold and confident in expressing yourself physically
Synchronize your watches and pour us a couple scotches
Get ready to enjoy life with others and share a drink or two
People still as statues can't catch you, turn pockets empty
Don't let those who are stuck in one place hold you back, and don't stress about money
If they're packed with plenty move some to ones lacking any
If you have more than you need, share with those who have less
While I take a crack at hacking the bank to jack em to cover high debts
Instead of worrying about debts, focus on creative solutions to make money
You're screening floating bullets with a butterfly net
Protect yourself from harmful thoughts or situations with unconventional methods
If there's any screaming pause it and cut out sound, deposit the slugs underground
Avoid conflict and negativity, and don't let them influence you
I'm positive that we don't fuck around
We are serious and dedicated about our goals and aspirations
No we go scooping up the diesel that's leaking a sinking tanker
We are proactive about fixing problems before they get worse
Forever stuck at anchor like beetles get stuck in amber
Don't get trapped or let yourself be stuck in one place for too long
Halted like the thaw of the iceberg that shoulda sank her
Be mindful of the slow, gradual changes that can lead to greater issues
Halted right beside the temperature spike and the spread of cancer
Be aware of the environmental and health risks around you
And all my peoples' engagements and babies my friends are making
Celebrate the milestones and accomplishments of others in your life
We quit getting lamer. Days quit getting later, life quits being labor, quick
Life only gets better if you actively make it so. Don't waste time or energy on things that don't matter
You should come through to our party, dude bring your crew bring your army
Join us in celebrating life and all its joys
Youth is inside of the heart, the future can never harm me
Age is just a number, and what matters most is your mindset and attitude
We're never tardy (freeze, freeze, freeze,)
We are always on time and prepared for what life has to offer
Late or early don't worry we'll wait 'cause we're in no hurry to see the pearly gates
Don't worry about rushing through life, because we have all the time in the world to enjoy it
I sit outside and watch the pigeon shit and tiny airplanes hanging in the sky
Take time to appreciate the small, seemingly insignificant details in life
And then I hit a McCartney show and trip off how his arm is superglued to his guitar
Enjoy the beauty and passion of music and art
And then I enjoy the lovely view and stand there for a month or two, my headphones looping Love Me Do on repeat
Take pleasure in the beauty of nature and life's simple pleasures, and cherish them for as long as possible
Paul might not die if we try to wall of this diorama. We'll buy all the time we want
Don't accept limitations or constraints on your dreams and aspirations
And then spend it all to move this crowd
Use your time and energy to inspire others and make a positive impact on the world
To join as converts to the church of blessed concerts
Find unity and joy through shared experiences and a love of music
And then conjure up some conversation
Create meaningful connections with others through thoughtful conversation
Yes, I'm proud
Embrace your accomplishments and take pride in who you are
My country is my heart and so in every combination
My identity is deeply rooted in my nationality and culture
We all rep a common nation
We are all unified by our shared experiences and background
That is how
This is how it is
I know that all we lepers and we shepherds join together now in holy congregation, everybody
Despite our differences, we can come together as a community and support each other
Stop right now
Take a moment to pause and appreciate the present
I want to hear the church bells ring
Experience the beauty and spirituality of life
I want to see the fog roll in
Take pleasure in the beauty and mystery of nature and the world around you
I don't mind the muddy water
Accept and even appreciate the less pleasant aspects of existence
I don't mind the ocean wind
Embrace the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of life
Show me i'm alive right now
Remind yourself that you are alive and have the power to shape your own destiny
Even if you gotta prick this skin
Take risks and make sacrifices in pursuit of your goals
Open up your eyes
Be aware and present in every moment
Some days I throw my hands up like this shit right here is hopeless
Some days it feels like there is no hope or purpose
But today I throw my hands up like this shit right here's the dopest
Today, I choose to see the beauty and potential in everything
I'll never sew my family's holes up saying hocus pocus
I won't lie or deceive my loved ones, and will be honest about my intentions and actions
So I focus love on what is whole and chase my magnum opus
I choose to focus on love and positivity, and pursue my greatest dreams and aspirations
There's so much more life before I leave this skin behind me
There is an infinite amount of possibility and opportunity in life
Right now I'm feeling finer than Aliya in the 90s
I feel absolutely incredible and unstoppable
Yeah, today I'm feeling firmly like my faith could never burn me
I feel confident and secure in my beliefs and values
Like I'm apt to move that mountain just by glaring at it sternly
I feel capable of overcoming any challenge or obstacle in my path
San Francisco used to seem bigger than Jupiter
The world used to feel immense and overwhelming to me
From the view of an atom, the human body's a universe
When we look closely, we can appreciate the incredible complexity and beauty of the most simple things
How impossibly big it be (1-2-3-4) this symmetry
The elegance and order of the universe is astonishing and impossible to comprehend
This brutality (2-2-3-4) and beauty and synergy
The world is both harsh and beautiful, and these dimensions work together in interesting ways
And beyond what we'll live to see,
There is so much more to the world and universe than we will ever be able to experience
I know nothing limit me
I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to
Just take everything ever, and we are that times infinity
The possibilities for existence and creation are infinite and limitless
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SirTilley
this song takes me to a place that no other song has ever taken me, its really hard to explain
@ineshorvat4665
I know exactly what you're talking about
@MrParkour101
***** Slam poetry.
@SethAaronMyers
Austin Casper spoken word
@MrParkour101
Seth Myers That's debatable
@epicdizzle.
It's slam poetry, what he does best. :)
@maxdudey
0:07 .... There's 7 billion 46 million people on the planet.
1:41 .... There's 7 billion 47 million people on the planet.
Watsky is beyond clever.
@jacklomas4218
to this day i never get fed up of this. it's just so powerful and emotional that it just summarizes so much about life in general.
@PaganSamurai
Used this as my monologue in my Theatre class. Did pretty well.
@caf110
Nyce