Cellphones Dead
Beck Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Strange ways coming today
I put a dollar in my pocket
And I threw it away
Been a long time
Since a federal dime
Made a jukebox sound
Like a mirror in my mind
To comb my worries Fix my thoughts
Throw my hopes
Like a juggernaut walks
Now let-down souls
Can't feel no rhythm
Sorry entertainers
Like aerobics victims
Hybrid people
Light a wooded matchstick
Toxic fumes from the
Burning plastic
Beats are broken
Bones are spastic
Robots talkin'
With a southern accent
Voodoo curses
Bible tongues
Voices comin'
From the mangled lungs
Give me some grit
Some get-down shit
Don't need a good reason
To let anything rip

Radio's cold
Soul is infected
One by one
I'll knock you out
God is alone
Hardware defective
One by one
I'll knock you out

Mr. Microphone making
All the damage felt
Like a laser manifesto
Make a mannequin melt
There's people phonin' in
Like it's unlimited minutes
Going through the motions
Just to say that they did it
Treadmill's running
Underneath their feet
So they feel like they're going somewhere
But they're not
So let's put boots
On the warehouse floor
Comin' to you
Like a rope on a chain store
Throwing equipment
From a moving van
Grab a microphone
Like a utility man
Now fix the beat
Now break the rest
Make a kick drum sound
Like an S.O.S.
Get a tow-truck
Cause it's after dark
And the dance floor's full
But everybody's double-parked!

Cell phone's dead
Lost in the desert
One by one
I'll knock you out
Eye of the sun
Is out of its socket
One by one
I'll knock you out
One by one

This jam is real, that's right

Eye of the sun
Eye of the sun
Eye of the sun

Ah

Overall Meaning

Beck's song Cell Phones Dead is a commentary on the dehumanizing effects of technology on modern society. The song paints a picture of a world where people are alienated from each other, unable to connect on a deeper level due to the pervasive influence of cell phones and other devices. The opening lines suggest that something strange is happening in the world, perhaps a type of social upheaval or insidious cultural shift. The singer is depicted as being frustrated and disillusioned with the state of society, as evidenced by his tossing a dollar away and the subsequent line about the lack of federal dimes. He remembers a time when music provided a mirror for his own thoughts and emotions, but now it seems as if he is surrounded by people who have lost touch with the rhythms of life. The lyrics also touch on themes of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, with the singer feeling let-down and unable to find solace in the entertainment industry.

The second half of the song sees the singer becoming more proactive and determined to change the situation. He urges listeners to get up and dance, to "throw some equipment from a moving van," and to "grab a microphone like a utility man." The message is one of empowerment and individualism, with the singer insisting that he doesn't need a good reason to let loose and be himself. The closing lines about the "eye of the sun" being out of its socket are perhaps a reference to the disorienting effects of modern life, with people feeling lost and adrift in a sea of technological distractions.

Overall, Cell Phones Dead is a powerful commentary on the damaging effects of technology on modern society. The lyrics are at times humorous and satirical, but there is a deeper message to be found in the song about the importance of human connection and authenticity.

Line by Line Meaning

Strange ways coming today
Weird and unusual things are happening today

I put a dollar in my pocket
I carried some money in my pocket

And I threw it away
But I wasted my dollar

Been a long time
It's been a while

Since a federal dime
I haven't seen a ten-cent coin in a while

Made a jukebox sound
The music from the jukebox made me feel a certain way

Like a mirror in my mind
It was like reflecting on my own thoughts and feelings

To comb my worries
I tried to alleviate my worries

Fix my thoughts
I tried to improve my mental state

Throw my hopes
I abandoned my hopeful aspirations

Like a juggernaut walks
I carried on relentlessly like an unstoppable force

Now let-down souls
People who are disappointed and disillusioned

Can't feel no rhythm
They can't sense any synchronization or flow

Sorry entertainers
Entertainers who have failed to live up to expectations

Like aerobics victims
They are like victims of '80s-era workout fads

Hybrid people
People who are a combination of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds

Light a wooded matchstick
When someone lights a wooden matchstick

Toxic fumes from the
Dangerous smoke produced by the

Burning plastic
Burning plastic material

Beats are broken
The rhythm is disrupted and unsteady

Bones are spastic
My movements are uncontrolled and shaky

Robots talkin'
Artificial intelligences communicating

With a southern accent
Speaking as if they're from the southern US, despite being machines

Voodoo curses
Hexes and curses invoking supernatural powers

Bible tongues
Languages from religious texts

Voices comin'
Sounds that I can hear

From the mangled lungs
From people's damaged, ruined organs

Give me some grit
I want some tough, unrefined music

Some get-down shit
Some groovy and funky tunes

Don't need a good reason
I don't require justification

To let anything rip
To rock out and let loose

Radio's cold
The music on the radio is uninspired

Soul is infected
The music is not moving me emotionally

One by one
Individually

I'll knock you out
I'll defeat you or put you to sleep

God is alone
A higher power is isolated and removed

Hardware defective
Machines are not operating properly

Mr. Microphone making
The Mr. Microphone brand is making

All the damage felt
Causing real harm and pain

Like a laser manifesto
Making a strong and ultimately destructive declaration

Make a mannequin melt
To make something fake or superficial disappear or be destroyed

There's people phonin' in
People are calling in

Like it's unlimited minutes
As if there's no time limit on their calls

Going through the motions
Without any real intention or passion behind their actions

Just to say that they did it
Just for the sake of being able to say they did it

Treadmill's running
The rat race is in full swing

Underneath their feet
Beneath the individuals caught up in it

So they feel like they're going somewhere
So that they have a sense of progress or momentum

But they're not
Even though it's an illusion

So let's put boots
Let's take action and do something about it

On the warehouse floor
In the midst of our work or labor

Comin' to you
Approaching you

Like a rope on a chain store
Like something that is hanging or dangling

Throwing equipment
Discarding various tools and instruments

From a moving van
While in transit

Grab a microphone
Pick up the mic

Like a utility man
In the role of a handyman or multi-use gadget

Now fix the beat
Correct the rhythmic structure

Now break the rest
Disrupt the remaining elements

Make a kick drum sound
Create an impactful booming noise

Like an S.O.S.
Like a distress call

Get a tow-truck
Acquire assistance or support

Cause it's after dark
It's nighttime

And the dance floor's full
The club is packed with people

But everybody's double-parked!
But everyone is waiting or procrastinating at the same time

Cell phone's dead
The mobile device lacks battery

Lost in the desert
Without communication in a remote area

Eye of the sun
The center or most powerful part of the sun

Is out of its socket
It is no longer where it's supposed to be

This jam is real, that's right
This music is authentic and genuine

Ah
An indefinite exclamation

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beck Hansen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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