What’s The Frequency Kenneth?

Words & Music:

R.E.M.

D    A    G [2x]

 

A           D          Bm               G              A    D   A   G

"What's the frequency, Kenneth, is your Benzedrine, uh-huh?

A     D           Bm          G               A    D    Bm    E

I was brain-dead, locked-out, numb, not up to speed

G                           A

I thought I'd pegged you an idiot's dream

G                      A

Tunnel vision from the outsider's screen

D       A          D      G         A      A    G    A

I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

D            A                    D       G        A    A    G    A    D

You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

 

I'd studied your cartoons, radio, music, tv, movies, magazines

Richard said, "Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy"

A smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth

You said that irony was the shackles of youth

You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh

I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

 

Bm   A [repeat 3x]  A    G    A

 

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh

Butterfly decal, rearview mirror, dogging the scene

You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth

You said that irony was the shackles of youth

You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh

I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

 

D             A             D           G         A

You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

G          A

I couldn't understand

You said that irony was the shackles of youth, uh-huh

I couldn't understand

You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh

I couldn't understand

D       A          D       G         A          A    G    A   D

I never understood, don't fuck with me, uh-huh