Static is the eleventh and final listed track on Mutations.
Description[]
Static first appeared on stage as "Plague". It did not appear on Odelay, pretty obviously. A few years later, Beck used the music from Plague as "Static", and changed the words. Plague did share a few lines, however ("who are you fooling when the fools are right?"). It also had lines that reference other songs on Odelay ("puzzles and pagans" on "Jack-ass")
The first verse appears to paint a portrait of someone feeling hopeless, beat down and weary. This really quickly paints a picture of a man with his head down, sick of making attempts at improvement. With the addition of the "Who you fooling if the fools are right?" really make this song a downer. This song seems to be about being depressed. Those depressive feelings are harsh, and tricky, and will "pacify your mind," leaving you "stranded with a broken engine". All the static, noise, pollution, information pacifies your mind. Makes it hard to think, feel, be. To just want to lock yourself inside for a day.
Beck does hint at hope in the song, though. Tiny slivers of hope, "shock electric wave" being the key one. The moment of inspiration that can help you get out of the blues, finally motivate you, and keep you going forward.
Lyrics[]
Static[]
It's so easy to laugh at yourself
When all those jokes have already been written
Seems like another vain attempt
To let yourself fall out of the oven
Holy mountains, they look so tired
And it's a perfect day to lock yourself inside
Who're you fooling if the fools are right?
It's the same thing but it's almost as different
Hard to tell when it pacifies your mind
And leaves you stranded with a broken engine
Lazy desert looks so mangled
Let me drown in a convalescent bliss
Get up from your bed of rest
It's been a long time since you've lived
But the static in your mind leaves you hollow and unkind
With a shock electric wave turns you on
You've been flunked out of the devil's house
Delinquent hygienes are so abrasive
And some distortion that's never been known
On the treadmill, you'll be running forever
Holy mountains, they look so tired
And it's a perfect day to lock yourself inside
We go, we go
Plague[]
Taking off for the (inaudible)
(inaudible)
Who would gamble such a (inaudible)
Lady luck will never rest her head
Wild cards (inaudible)
(inaudible)
(inaudible)
Feel the testaments of puzzles and pagans
Upon the treadmills of the borderlines
They're waiting for the (inaudible)
They're lonesome (inaudible)
While the (inaudible)
There's a plague, just let yourself go
The chances are lost (inaudible)
And the travels like a (inaudible)
Who could turn on her face
With a shock electric wave
(inaudible)
I don't mean it, but it's all the same
There's (inaudible)
Who are you foolin' when the fools are right?
You can make it flat as the (inaudible)
One dimension, a vacant lot
Kill the jukebox one more time
Listen[]
Static
Trivia[]
- "Static" is also the name of an unreleased track from around 1995.
Tracks
- 1: Cold Brains - 3:41
- 2: Nobody's Fault but My Own - 5:02
- 3: Lazy Flies - 3:44
- 4: Canceled Check - 3:14
- 5: We Live Again - 3:05
- 6: Tropicalia - 3:20
- 7: Dead Melodies - 2:36
- 8: Bottle of Blues - 4:56
- 9: O Maria - 3:59
- 10: Sing It Again - 4:19
- 11: Static - 5:18
- 12: Diamond Bollocks - 6:02 (unlisted)
B-Sides
Black Balloon • Diamond in the Sleaze • Electric Music and the Summer People • Halo of Gold • One of These Days • Runners Dial Zero