Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DBI was tuning in the shine on the light night dial
Doing anything my radio advised
With every one of those late night stations
Playing songs bringing tears to my eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
When the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe
They really think we're getting out of control
Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me
I wanna bite that hand so badly
I want to make them wish they'd never seen me
Some of my friends sit around every evening
And they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference
And the promise of an early bed
You either shut up or get cut up, they don't wanna hear about it
It's only inches on the reel-to-reel
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
Tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel
Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, radio
| JIan (Phoenix, AZ, USA) | Posted: Apr 29, 2013 - 16:03 rdo wrote: Elvis Costello does not sing, he rants. Discuss.  |
| tkelley | Posted: Apr 12, 2013 - 06:00 This sequence is for the folks who were about to say how the Ramones have no real influence on modern music.....oops! |
| somnium | Posted: Apr 12, 2013 - 05:58 That's two in a row... are we going to get Queen's "Radio gaga" next? |
| bb_matt (Hampshire, England) | Posted: Apr 12, 2013 - 05:57 Another great mix from Bill! - I'm stealing this one. Ramones, Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio into this song, works fantastically ! |
| Toke (Bournemouth UK) | Posted: Mar 29, 2013 - 13:41 ziakut wrote: Normally like Elvis Costello...but I just find this a bit inane and annoying. Yes needs 'Toni Basil'' to come in on the chorus lol |
| ziakut (Slightly North of Obvlivion) | Posted: Mar 11, 2013 - 19:20 Normally like Elvis Costello...but I just find this a bit inane and annoying. |
| Carl (The Summit City) | Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 17:23 rdo wrote: Elvis Costello does not sing, he rants. Discuss. EC does it all, including this, which I consider at a fringe of his output (not necessarily the fringe where I want to be). |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 17:20 Elvis Costello does not sing, he rants. Discuss. |
| zair99 (In Cognito) | Posted: Oct 23, 2012 - 18:42 Okay, I've changed my mind. It sounds more like someone is squeezing a rat. |
| jhorton (Trailer Park on Cape Cod) | Posted: Oct 23, 2012 - 18:41 Total crap. |
| apd (Toronto, On) | Posted: Sep 22, 2012 - 06:06 Bartho wrote: I want to bite the hand that feeds me.....I want to bit that hand so badly! Gotta love that inflatable mattress sound !!! I think It's the background singers whispering "Listen, listen" but I prefer your version. |
| apd (Toronto, On) | Posted: Sep 22, 2012 - 06:05 msymmes wrote: I'd love a ticket to see him at Casino Rama, here, just north of Toronto shortly. Not your average Casino venue - this place has fantastic acoustics. I think he will blow the roof off the place. Rama has good acoustics? Srsly? |
| Kaisersosay (Mighty Mighty Bostown) | Posted: Sep 22, 2012 - 06:05 thank christ,,, music to wake me up and get me moving....... |
| Bartho (Holland, MI - USA) | Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 18:25 I want to bite the hand that feeds me.....I want to bit that hand so badly! Gotta love that inflatable mattress sound !!! |
| zair99 (In Cognito) | Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 18:25 I think a bird got stuck in my left speaker! |
| Phlegmaticman (270 miles south of Paradise, CA) | Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 15:34 I love these "radio" sets on RP. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Jun 01, 2012 - 15:34 Godlike !!!!! One of the few tens in my books. |
| handyrae (Zero Point Field) | Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 08:00 Ray-o, ray-o. |
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 07:58 lemmoth wrote: And yet to me it sounds like the beginnings of one of the tightest and powerful bands on the planet - EC and the Attractions, and one of the most brilliant lyricist and expressive vocalists of the last 40 years. Saw EC with the Attractions in the early 80s and, man, that was indeed one tight and polished band. Severely under-rated. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Mar 16, 2012 - 16:25 lemmoth wrote: And yet to me it sounds like the beginnings of one of the tightest and powerful bands on the planet - EC and the Attractions, and one of the most brilliant lyricist and expressive vocalists of the last 40 years. He is brilliant. I would put him in a very exclusive class with Pete Townshend, David Byrne, Leonard Cohen. Who else? |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Mar 16, 2012 - 16:22 I'd love a ticket to see him at Casino Rama, here, just north of Toronto shortly. Not your average Casino venue - this place has fantastic acoustics. I think he will blow the roof off the place. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Mar 16, 2012 - 16:18 Possibly his best work ever. But too much other good stuff followed right up until this day to really proclaim that this, his first anthem, is really his best. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Mar 16, 2012 - 16:18 PA1749 wrote: I try to keep an open mind, but I've never been able to connect with Costello. I guess we are just on totally different wavelengths. This just sounds like noise with really bad vocals. 1 And yet to me it sounds like the beginnings of one of the tightest and powerful bands on the planet - EC and the Attractions, and one of the most brilliant lyricist and expressive vocalists of the last 40 years. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Mar 16, 2012 - 16:16 Brilliant song that summarizes what horrible crap commercial radio always tried to sell us. I wish RP was around in '78 - Bill is not a "fool trying to aneasthesize the way that we feel" - that's for sure. |
| handyrae (Zero Point Field) | Posted: Feb 27, 2012 - 12:31 Bone wrote: Great track that continues to nag me with the question... ...what is that sound??? Bike tire pump? Rubber Duckie w/ laryngitis? Sounds like the sound small woodland creatures make when my cats catch one, bring it in the house and "play" with it. And yes, we do our best to repatriate them to the outdoors. |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: Jan 26, 2012 - 19:47 cc_rider wrote: Um, that's Elvis Costello. Revered by critics, reviled by unbelievers.. |
| whomhow (changeable) | Posted: Jan 13, 2012 - 03:14 PA1749 wrote: I try to keep an open mind, but I've never been able to connect with Costello. I guess we are just on totally different wavelengths. This just sounds like noise with really bad vocals. 1 totally agree! This song also sounds as retro in bad meaning of this word.2. |
| PA1749 (Room 106) | Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 08:10 I try to keep an open mind, but I've never been able to connect with Costello. I guess we are just on totally different wavelengths. This just sounds like noise with really bad vocals. 1 |
| MiracleDrug (Earth) | Posted: Nov 10, 2011 - 15:13 EVERY DAMN TIME I've ever been in a band that played this live, the dance floor was FLOODED with people...  |
| hencini | Posted: Oct 23, 2011 - 18:03 *Great* song... And what a set here: I Heard Ramona Sing —> Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio —> Radio, Radio... Wonder what's next? Radio Ga Ga? : ) |
| gazinroze (England) | Posted: Sep 22, 2011 - 02:25 I was there. This brings back the whole thing. The time. Like I was there, again. I'm getting old. |
| Propayne (Richmond VA) | Posted: Jul 21, 2011 - 08:31 Had tickets to see Elvis perform right here in Richmond last night, but Mr. Costello got sick. Of course, it is also hotter than the hinges of hell here (show was outdoors). Anyway, rescheduled for August 1st! Get better Elvis!! |
| gabrielle7nt (okidoki) | Posted: Jun 19, 2011 - 16:17 Bone wrote: Great track that continues to nag me with the question... ...what is that sound??? Bike tire pump? Rubber Duckie w/ laryngitis? Hehehe I vote for the duckie. |
| (former member) | Posted: May 05, 2011 - 16:50 What a concise condemnation of a large group of folks: Some of my friends sit around every evening And they worry about the times ahead But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference And the promise of an early bed |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Mar 03, 2011 - 13:53 Bone wrote: Great track that continues to nag me with the question... Um, that's Elvis Costello....what is that sound??? Bike tire pump? Rubber Duckie w/ laryngitis? |
| Bone (Divided States of Sanity) | Posted: Feb 13, 2011 - 16:13 Great track that continues to nag me with the question... ...what is that sound??? Bike tire pump? Rubber Duckie w/ laryngitis? |
| alaken (Missoula, MT) | Posted: Jan 13, 2011 - 09:38 Bill, the song was released in '78, so it wasn't really a comment on 80's radio? Incidentally, Elvis got himself banned from Saturday Night Live for years by playing this song in his first appearance, after promising he wouldn't: http://videosift.com/video/Elvis-Costello-Radio-Radio-SNL IMO there was never a better rock band than EC & Attractions circa 1978. Good times! |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Jan 13, 2011 - 09:34 crockydile wrote: One geek that needs his ass kicked.  What's his donkey done to deserve that? Poor thing :(  |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Oct 28, 2010 - 14:12 Posting some dubious lyrics - if anyone can fill in the blanks or correct these, it'd be appreciated... I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial Doing anything my radio advised With every one of those late night stations Playing songs bringing tears to my eyes I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver When the switch broke 'cause it's old They're saying things that I can hardly believe They really think we're getting out of control (CHORUS) Radio is a sound salvation I wanna bite the hand that feeds me Some of my friends sit around every evening (REPEAT CHORUS) Wonderful radio |
| Bocephus (Boulder, CO) | Posted: Oct 10, 2010 - 16:26 hard to believe this was once considered a controversial song. |
| twcarlin (too far, and not far enough) | Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 15:39 ArnoDick wrote: One of my favourite songs of all time. Same here. |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 15:38 lmic wrote: And let us not forget KABL for most excellent coverage of the standards! p.s. KPOO? LOL I applied for a DJ gig at KPOO. Waaaaay too square for them.  Man did that place reek. |
| vandal (arriving somewhere, but not here. . .) | Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 15:38 Always makes me think of seeing The Detours in Boise ID during the early 80's. . . |
| HonduranRed (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) | Posted: Jun 04, 2010 - 22:02 h8rhater wrote: SNL actually released this performance on their "Saturday Night Live: 25 Years Of Musical Performances, Vol. 1" CD back in '99. ..is that when the Beastie Boys were scheduled to perform and they started to play Sabatoge, but then jumped off stage and Elvis and his band jumped on? that was one of the coolest things I've seen on TV...music wise anyway. |
| james_of_tucson (Tucson AZ) | Posted: Apr 20, 2010 - 11:08 This is suffering more than most tracks from compression artifacts of streaming. There is some high frequency content that's really impacted in a very obvious way. I guess that's the nature of the best, but I don't usually notice it so much. |
| upgal | Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 12:58 jacksonpauls wrote: i find this guy's voice exceedingly annoying, i'd like to hear his songs less frequently. yes, yes, yes!!! |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: Mar 01, 2010 - 21:52 I'd vote for this for Radio Paradise's theme song. |
| marca17 (Brooklyn, NY) | Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 10:34 nice transition from the ramones. |
| lmic (Harmless Little Bunny) | Posted: Jan 15, 2010 - 20:56 andrewimft wrote: Yeah, I live too far north of the city to get reception for KFOG. I used to like that, and KPOO public radio had great music shows back in the '80's when I lived in SF. KPOO had the best 50's and doo wop music And let us not forget KABL for most excellent coverage of the standards! p.s. KPOO? LOL |
| lmic (Harmless Little Bunny) | Posted: Jan 15, 2010 - 20:51 Would fit well next to The Kinks' "Rock'n'Roll Fantasy" :) |
;){kind=link}