Album: The Sophtware Slump (2000)

License This Song 

• I found your house and I saw your car
  But I've no idea where you are
  From the dial-a-view
  
  Tire scraps on the federal roads
  Look like crash landed crows
  From the dial-a-view
  
  Hello welcome to dial-a-view
  To locate the area in which you wish to observe
  You must program in the longitude and the latitude
  For a closer more detailed picture
  Use either the zoom or micro-zoom controls
  Good luck
  
  I dream at night
  Of going home someday
  Somewhere so far away
  So dream alright
  I know it's going to take some time
  I'm going home someday
  
  Fifteen years is almost done
  And I don't recognize anyone
  From the dial-a-view
  
  My home my friends and you
  I watch them fade but what can I do?
  From the dial-a-view
  
  Hello welcome to dial-a-view
  To locate the area in which you wish to observe
  You must program in the longitude and the latitude
  For a closer more detailed picture
  Use either the zoom or micro-zoom controls
  Good luck
  
  I dream at night
  Of going home someday
  Somewhere so far away
  So dream alright
  I know it's going to take some time
  I'm going home someday
  
  I dream at night
  Of going home someday
  Somewhere so far away
  So dream alright
  I know it's going to take some time
  I'm going home someday
  
  I dream at night
  Of going home someday
  Somewhere so far away
  So dream alright
  I know it's going to take some time
  I'm going home someday Writer/s: JASON LYTLE
  Publisher: DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

• Toe from NorcalI thought it was a real telescope service in the hills near Modesto. I thought Jason was spying on his old High School girlfriend and friends. He left them behind but wonders if he should come home.
• Tom from A, Belgiuma dial-a-view is the concept of video over a dial-up (telephone) network, directly (videophone) or indirectly like a service similar to pay-per-view, but requested over the phone, and viewed on, for example, a television. the information viewed can also be anything, a movie, or in the miners case, probably, satellite images. a dial-a-view is not a device, but an old concept (idea), not used anymore due to things like internet and digital telivision.
• Edward from Yums, Az"I found your house and saw your car but i have no idea where you are... from the Dial-a-View"
  
  It is Google Earth!
• Edward from Yums, AzThe "Dial-a-View" is some kind of a "pay per view" device that the protagonist frequents in order to get some kind of contact (a view) of his home, his former self... it is empty, cheap escapism but his only refuge from the torments of his present state. Like the coal miner who drinks his wages at the Company bar, he is trapped plunking his wages into a machine like a boy filling an arcade game with quarters... we get an idea that it isn't a sure thing... that it is hit or miss ... the female voiceover says "...good luck!"
  
  great fricking song.
• Kelly from Fort Lauderdale, Fli live in san francisco but can see my parents house in fort lauderdale through the long-latd map internet site. technology and the soul have absolutely no place together ("so far away" is where the soul's home is and it is eons away from this cold physical plane). Technology is neat but it is inversely proportional to your true growth potential- alienated is right, Rachel.
• Mike from Bedford, EnglandI think the Dial-A-view is some kind of arial spying system. maybe syping is not the right word - think of a live version of multimap. As the song says you select you longtitude and the latitude and then zoom in to look at the person you want. i think the guy is lonely and uses the dial-a-view to look up these people he has grown apart from. Perhaps?
• Rachel from London, Englandthe way i understand it (literally), the hero is in a sort of "work farm" which provides a kind of telescope that you can use to view your family, friends etc.
  however, i think the dial-a-view is a metaphor for the way the hero feels i.e. alienated, and for how he views the world like a "ghost", without establishing any real contact with "family" and "friends"
• Fabien from Rennes, Francebut what do you think the "dial-a-view" is ?

More Songfacts:

I Guess That's Why They Call It The BluesElton John

"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" by Elton John was written for the sister of actress Rene Russo. Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics, was married to Rene's sister, Toni.

Pump Up The JamTechnotronic

The woman "singing" in the video for Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam" didn't speak English. She was used just for her look, and also appeared on the album cover.

Amber311

The 311 song "Amber" is likely about Nicole Scherzinger, who was dating the band's lead singer Nick Hexum.

Streets Of PhiladelphiaBruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen's "Streets Of Philadelphia" won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1994, beating out Neil Young's "Philadelphia," which was also written for the movie Philadelphia.

Hey Ya!OutKast

Outkast's "Hey Ya" was the first song in history to rack up one million downloads.

Thinking About YouCalvin Harris

"Thinking About You" was the ninth track from Calvin Harris' 18 Months album to enter the UK singles Top 10. No other artist has obtained so many hits from one LP - Michael Jackson was the previous record holder with seven Top 10 tunes from both his Bad and Dangerous sets.

Editor's Picks

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.