[Mark Hoppus:]
Stop banging away on my kaleidoscope
Stop draining the color out of my scene
Just play me something I can dance to
I can dance to anything you wanna sing
So lock me up in a studio
Fill it up with sound and scenarios
Stop blocking the driveway with your car
Put the butterfly in the bell jar
[Tom Delonge:]
It’s the first time that I’m worried
Of a bad dream, of a journey
On the highway, through the valley
It’s a long road through the night
It’s a long road
[Mark Hoppus:]
Hear a stranger’s voice in the front yard
Let the hours tick past the deadline
Get another stamp in your passport
Wash your breakfast down with some red wine
Delete the progress on your game
Try to fall asleep while your ears ring
From the loudest songs on your mixtape
I can dance to anything you wanna sing
[Tom DeLonge:]
No reason, no action
No silence, no help here
Nobody came running up
By my side
It’s the first time that I’m worried
Of a bad dream, of a journey
On the highway, through the valley
It’s a long road through the night
It’s the first time that I’m worried
Of a bad dream, of a journey
On the highway, through the valley
It’s a long road through the night
It’s a long road to get it right
It’s the first time that I’m worried
Of a bad dream, of a journey
On the highway, through the valley
It’s a long road through the night
It’s the first time that I’m worried
Of a bad dream, of a journey
On the highway, through the valley
It’s a long road through the night
It’s a long road to get it right
To get, to get, to get it right
To get, to get it right
To-to-to get, to get it right
Exploring the Layers of ‘Kaleidoscope’
Blink-182’s “Kaleidoscope” captures the restless energy and emotional turbulence of navigating young adulthood. The song’s imagery of a kaleidoscope losing its color reflects a longing for vibrancy and meaning in life. Mark Hoppus’s verses evoke a sense of frustration and the desire to find joy, while Tom DeLonge’s parts add vulnerability and uncertainty about the future. The recurring motif of a long journey through the night symbolizes the struggle to find clarity and purpose. Ultimately, the track is a relatable reflection on coping with change, searching for connection, and striving to “get it right” despite feeling lost or anxious.
Song Credits
- Artists: Blink-182
- Songwriters: Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker
- Release Year: 2011
- Label: DGC, Interscope Records