“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released as the lead single from their ninth studio album, “Monster,” in 1994. The title of the song refers to an incident in 1986 when news anchor Dan Rather was attacked on the streets of New York City by a man who kept repeating the question, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” The phrase became a bizarre and infamous pop culture reference.

R.E.M.’s song, written by band members Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, doesn’t directly address the incident but incorporates the mysterious and surreal nature of the event into its lyrics. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” features a dynamic rock sound and is one of the more notable tracks from the “Monster” album.

R.E.M. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? Lyrics

“What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
I was brain-dead, locked out, numb, not up to speed
I thought I’d pegged you an idiot’s dream
Tunnel vision from the outsider’s screen

I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

I’d studied your cartoons, radio, music, TV, movies, magazines
Richard said, “Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy”
A smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth

You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

“What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
Butterfly decal, rearview mirror, dogging the scene
You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth

You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh
I couldn’t understand

You said that irony was the shackles of youth, uh-huh
I couldn’t understand
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I couldn’t understand
I never understood, don’t fuck with me, uh-huh