Lyrics:Chain Reactionary [Version (a)]:
Changing the way
Every link in the chain
The switchman sways
The course of the day
He's losing his mind
Every line to the wrong lane
A passage of chance
And outcome's the same
One day you'll go by (and you'll make that choice)
Today you'll go by (in a rush)
Feels like yesterday (and you're coming back)
Remember you used to say (you're spread too thin)
You with the butter heart
One time lucky to no effect
(Fly away, I try to fly away)
Three times a charm it's the butterfly defect
(Butterfly defect)
Missing your chance is a link in the chain
To choose not to see a missed opportunity
For lack of a better word
One day you'll go by (and you'll make that choice)
Today you'll go by (in a rush)
Feels like yesterday (and you're coming back)
Remember you used to say (you're spread too thin)
You with the butter heart
You'll go by one day
You'll go by today
Feels like yesterday
Remember you used to say
The chain reactionary stands back
And keeps you in your tracks
I'm going in circles
You again
One day you'll go by (and you'll make that choice)
Today you'll go by (in a rush)
Feels like yesterday (and you're coming back)
Remember you used to say (you're spread too thin)
You with the butter heart
The Song:This is a song by the musician Adanowsky, who released it on his 2023 album,
The Fool. Adanowsky is the name used by Adán Jodorowsky, the son of Alejandro Jodorowsky, a famous film director. Beck is a movie lover and fan; one of Alejandro's more-known films is
Holy Mountain, which Beck name-checks in "Static" on
Mutations.
The album is a mix of songs in English and Spanish (Jodorowsky is a more-known musician in Mexico, I believe). Beck sings a duet here, each getting a verse and splitting the chorus. The song has a chill vibe to it, and though he's not a credited writer, some of the lines do have a Beck-ness to them. It's a good fit for him as a guest.
Jodorowsky told
Rolling Stone how Beck got involved. He wrote the song and asked their mutual friend, Sean Lennon, if Beck might want to do it. Sean passed it on and Beck agreed. Jodorowsky was also friends with long-time friend of Beck, Michel Gondry, who filmed the video for the song.