Talk Shows On Mute

Album: A Crow Left Of The Murder (2004)
Charted: 43
Play Video
  • Take a bow, pack on powder
    Wash them out with buzzing lights
    Pay an audience to care
    "Impress me" personality

    Still and transfixed
    The electric sheep are dreaming of your face
    Enjoy you from the chemical
    Comfort of America

    Come one, come all
    Into 1984
    Yeah, three, two, one
    Lights, camera, transaction

    But quick, your time is almost up
    Make all forget that they're the moth
    Edging in towards the flame
    Burn into obscurity

    Still and transfixed
    The electric sheep are dreaming up your fate
    And judge you from the card castle
    Comfort of America

    Come one, come all
    Into 1984
    Yeah, three, two, one
    Lights, camera, yeah
    Come one, come all
    Into 1984
    Yeah, three, two, one
    Lights, camera, transaction

    Lights, camera, transaction

    Come one, come all
    Into 1984
    Yeah, three, two, one
    Lights, camera, transaction

    Your foundation is canyoning
    Fault lines should be worn with pride
    I hate to say so much more
    You're so much more
    Endearing with the sound turned off Writer/s: Ben Kenney, Brandon Boyd, Christopher Kilmore, Jose Pasillas II, Michael Einziger
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

  • Jaycee Roxas from ManilaI thought it was COCAINE.
  • Derek from NcWhat about the line “still and transfixed the electric sheep are dreaming of your face” which is a reference to Phillip K Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
  • Anna from New York, Nyawsome song. i just listen to it when i'm going through a hard time and it just calms me like its trying to tell me something. i love incubus.
  • Alice from Danville, CaHas anyone else noticed that the first letters of "Come one, come all, into nineteen eighty-four" can stand for cocaine?
  • James from New York, NyRumor also has it that Brandon received the book 1984 by George Orwell from a fan before a gig in New York in September of 2001. Having some influence on this song as well.
  • Poop from Poopville, MoWhat about this guitar solo... its just so tasty and delicious.... the song flows perfectly into and out of it, not too long, not too short, quite delectible to say the least.
  • Joshua from Reno, Nvat face value the song seems to be about excess and cultural dilution in the 80's. on a symbolic level it's about the government control and constriction of the publics rights.
  • Scott from Lexington, MaI would just like to point out to Johann that Reagan was in fact president in 1984 (He was president from 1981 to 1989), Richard Nixon was in office during Watergate. I would just like to say that this song is great! It is one of my favorite songs from Incubus.
  • Johann from Ascel, HiReagen wasn't president in 1984... he resigned in 72 after the Watergate scandal.
  • Hmmm from Los Angeles, CaI love this song because of its message and its tune. 1984 is a great book to read if you already haven't read it. It foreshadows the future if we fail to establish democracy and protect it. It's a great reference for different bands to use. I know that Rage Against the Machine has used it a couple of times.
  • AnonymousThis song is about:
    Come
    One
    Come
    All
    Into
    Nineteen
    Eighty-four.
  • Nate from Aurora, IlARE YOU KIDDING ME? Incubus has never created a bad song...they rock..not that i care what you think
  • Jerry from Somerville, TnUntil this song I hated the band . I hope they continue not to suck
  • Lawrence from Staten Island, NyJust an insight. Talk Show on Mute is about the political landscape of the Reagan Administration.... Reagan was president in 1984.... "The electric sheep are dreaming of your face." We were all sheep, following our presidential "actor". "Pay an audience to care
    'Impress me' personality".....Reagan lowered taxes and his personality carried his administration...... The song is about Reagan making us feel comfortable while he was screwing us big time.... "Your foundation is canyoning" is a line at the end of the song.....Meaning the foundation of America was drowning with Reagan as President in 1984.... "Endearing with the sound turned off" means he had a likeable personality but hid many things from the American voters...more so then most presidents..... in his speeches, he spoke to us, with the "sound turned off" meaning we loved what he had to say, but he didnt speak the truth...it may also mean we didn't realize what he was doing to the hard working Americas...and we decided to stay mute....

    You can say the same for most politicians....but Reagan sticks out a lot...
  • Erika from Yuma, Azwell people should really just stop worrying about the future and act on the present.Whats the point in saying "oh ill just do my laundry tommorrow"then a month later you wonder why your closets are empty and your laundry baskets are full.
  • Billy Ross from Hagerstown, Mdthis is my favorite incubus song of all-time
  • Travis from Lawrence, KsWow, you read too much into things. While it may entail the use of media by the government, as well, the song is a general reproach of the thoughtless state of society, particularly in America. More specifically, it points out the entertainment industry for redundantly pounding us into submission. The references to 1984 create a picture for the way mass media controls our everyday lives, just as Orwell's futuristic government did. If you doubt me, just watch the Ryan Seacrest Show and all of its pointless banter.
  • Hans from Oakdale, Cathe line " Electric sheep are dreaming of your face" is a refernce to the science fiction masterpiece, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. The basis for the film Bladerunner was taken from the novel. Excellent read, very thought provoking
  • Coby from Fruitland, IdTalk Shows on Mute refers to the government falsling guiding people. The very first few lines talk about how polititions let only certain people into their interviews (pay an audience to care) and how they manipulate to get places. It also indirectly refers to the Patriot Act, which deprives people of some of their given liberties so that the government can further investigate terrorism and moniter internet, e-mail, and other activities that would be essential to terrorism. George Orwell wrote his book, 1984, in the late forty's and was a grim outlook of his views of what the future would be like. In his book the government deprives its people of any personal privacy.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."