Tranquilize Lyrics
Time it tells, living in my home town
Wedding bells, they begin easy
Live it down, baby don't talk that much
Baby knows, but baby don't tease me
In the park, we could go walking
Drown in the dark, or we could go sailing
On the sea
[Verse 2: Lou Reed, Brandon Flowers & Lou Reed]
Always here, always on time
Close call, was it love, or was it just easy?
Money talks when people need shoes and socks
Steady, boys, I'm thinking she needs me
I was just sipping on something sweet
I don't need political process
[Pre-Chorus: Brandon Flowers, Brandon Flowers & Lou Reed]
I got this feeling that they're going to break down the door
I got this feeling they they're going to come back for more
See, I was thinking that I lost my mind
But it's been getting to me all this time
And it don't stop dragging me down
[Chorus: Brandon Flowers & Lou Reed]
Silently, reflection turns my world to stone
Patiently, correction leaves us all alone
And sometimes I'm a travel man
But tonight, this engine's failing
I still hear the children playing
Kick the can, kick the can, skip and blackjack
Steal a car and ring a round-rosey
Rock and roll, candy land, boogeyman
Run away and give me your sneakers
[Verse 3: Brandon Flowers & Lou Reed, Brandon Flowers]
Acid rain, when Abel looked up at Cain
We began the weeping and wailing
A hurried high from pestilence, pills and pride
It's a shame, we could've gone sailing
But heaven knows, heaven knows everything
Tranquilize
[Pre-Chorus: Brandon Flowers & Lou Reed]
I got this feeling that they're going to break down the door
I got this feeling they they're going to come back for more
See, I was thinking that I lost my mind
But it's been getting to me all this time
And it don't stop dragging me down
[Chorus: Brandon Flowers & Lou Reed]
Silently, reflection turns my world to stone
Patiently, correction leaves us all alone
And sometimes I'm a travel man
But tonight, this engine's failing
And I still hear the children playing
Dead beat dancers come to us and stay
[Outro: Lou Reed]
'Cause I don't care where you've been
And I don't care what you've seen
We're the ones who still believe
And we're looking for a page
In that lifeless book of hope
Where a dream might help you cope
Where the Bushes and the bombs
Are tranquilized
About
Released as the first track of the compilation album Sawdust, Tranquilize and its many interpretations has stumped fans and critics alike. However, likely due to it’s dark tone and collaboration with legend Lou Reed, it is deemed one of the band’s greatest works.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Brandon Flowers said the following, in an interview with Time Out Chicago, about working with Lou Reed:
I’m not lying, we were scared at first, too. He does get a little bit of satisfaction in that. He really melted the ice. He showed Ronnie [Vannucci, Killers drummer] tai chi. I sat at a piano and showed him that the chord progression to “I Will Survive” is the same as “Perfect Day.” He laughed. He broke down. He’s really a nice guy."
- 1.Tranquilize
- 2.Shadowplay
- 5.Sweet Talk
- 8.Show You How
- 9.Move Away
- 11.Who Let You Go?
- 14.Daddy’s Eyes
- 16.Romeo and Juliet
