Written by: Beck Hansen
Versions:
- Timebomb
Available on Timebomb.
CreditsBrian Lebarton: Drum Machine, Guitar, Hand Claps, keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Darrell Thorp: Engineer
Drew Brown: Engineer
Beck Hansen: Hand Claps, keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Bob Ludwig: Mastering
Ken Andrews: Mix
Brianna Bell: Vocals (Background)
Elisha Skorman: Vocals (Background)
Kimi Reichenberg: Vocals (Background)
Sage Mears: Vocals (Background)
Tiffani Fest: Vocals (Background)
Unofficial Versions: [show/hide]
- Timebome [Wartones Mix] (4:14)
CreditsWartones: Remix - Boy Bomb (The Illuminoids Mashup) (3:14)
CreditsBeck Hansen: Mashed
M.I.A.: Mashed
The Illuminoids: Remix (Mashup)
Lyrics:
Timebomb [Version (a)]:
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
Na na na na
We got a warning light
We got a warning light
We pull the plug out and we
Na na na na
Timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going tick tick tick tick
Timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
Tick tick tick
Na na na na
We got a red alert
We got a red alert
We cut the power and we
Na na na na
It's a timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going tick tick tick tick
It's a timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going tick tick tick tick
We're going sideways
Highways
Riding on an elevator
Cold just like an alligator
Now my brain is out of date
Fighting and lightning
And tightening above the buckles
On an Autobahn timebomb
Tick tick tick tick
Bah bah ba ba ba ba
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
Na na na na
We got a red alert
We got a red alert
We pull the plug out and we
Na na na na
We got a cigarette
We got a cigarette
We got a ziggerut
Na na na na
Timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going
Bah bah ba
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
Na na na na
We got a warning light
We got a warning light
We pull the plug out and we
Na na na na
Timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going tick tick tick tick
Timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
Tick tick tick
Na na na na
We got a red alert
We got a red alert
We cut the power and we
Na na na na
It's a timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going tick tick tick tick
It's a timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going tick tick tick tick
We're going sideways
Highways
Riding on an elevator
Cold just like an alligator
Now my brain is out of date
Fighting and lightning
And tightening above the buckles
On an Autobahn timebomb
Tick tick tick tick
Bah bah ba ba ba ba
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
We got a timebomb
Na na na na
We got a red alert
We got a red alert
We pull the plug out and we
Na na na na
We got a cigarette
We got a cigarette
We got a ziggerut
Na na na na
Timebomb ticking
Timebomb ticking
It's a timebomb ticking
Going
Bah bah ba
The Song:
Beck began playing this live in June, 2006. Presumably it will be on the album due in the fall.
UPDATE: My presumption was incorrect--it was not on The Information!
UPDATE UPDATE: But in 2007, on the spring tour of Japan and Australia, Beck started playing the song again.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: In August, 2007, it was that Beck will be releasing "Timebomb" as a single. It will be available as a downloadable single, and as a limited edition vinyl. The announcement says it is "a song for bonfires, blackouts, and the last hurrah of summer."
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: The song came out and did really well for Beck, especially as just a one-off non-album track.
"Timebomb" is not a song that is overly open to much analysis, just a high-energy stream of images and wordplay. Beck's melody is repetitive and clicks along like a timebomb. Brian LeBarton is a force on the song; he and Beck have a small handful of songs they did together, and this was by far the most successful (and best).
Beck began playing this live in June, 2006. Presumably it will be on the album due in the fall.
UPDATE: My presumption was incorrect--it was not on The Information!
UPDATE UPDATE: But in 2007, on the spring tour of Japan and Australia, Beck started playing the song again.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: In August, 2007, it was that Beck will be releasing "Timebomb" as a single. It will be available as a downloadable single, and as a limited edition vinyl. The announcement says it is "a song for bonfires, blackouts, and the last hurrah of summer."
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE: The song came out and did really well for Beck, especially as just a one-off non-album track.
"Timebomb" is not a song that is overly open to much analysis, just a high-energy stream of images and wordplay. Beck's melody is repetitive and clicks along like a timebomb. Brian LeBarton is a force on the song; he and Beck have a small handful of songs they did together, and this was by far the most successful (and best).
Live:
Played live 66 times:
Earliest known live version: June 14, 2006
Latest known live version: July 30, 2019
...
2014
Beck played "Timebomb" at 13 of his 57 gigs on the Morning Phase tours of 2014. Interestingly it was at the final 13 shows. The song did not sound drastically different, most of the band was on synthesizers and Beck rapped over them. He did rap more aggressively than the relatively laidback vocals on the studio recording, which I think I actually prefer. It was a fun song for them to do, and they all clearly enjoyed playing it.
Played live 66 times:
June 14, 2006
June 15, 2006
June 20, 2006
April 8, 2007
April 9, 2007
April 16, 2007
June 25, 2008
June 27, 2008
June 30, 2008
July 1, 2008
...and 56 more.
June 15, 2006
June 20, 2006
April 8, 2007
April 9, 2007
April 16, 2007
June 25, 2008
June 27, 2008
June 30, 2008
July 1, 2008
...and 56 more.
Earliest known live version: June 14, 2006
Latest known live version: July 30, 2019
...
2014
Beck played "Timebomb" at 13 of his 57 gigs on the Morning Phase tours of 2014. Interestingly it was at the final 13 shows. The song did not sound drastically different, most of the band was on synthesizers and Beck rapped over them. He did rap more aggressively than the relatively laidback vocals on the studio recording, which I think I actually prefer. It was a fun song for them to do, and they all clearly enjoyed playing it.