Lost in Translation

### Writer(s)

DJ Beef, Winfred Lovett, Danny Parra, Mikey Margott, Zach Abels, Jeremy Freedman, Jesse Rutherford & Brandon Fried

### Producer(s)

The Neighbourhood
Danny Parra

"**Lost in Translation**" is a song by American alternative band The Neighbourhood from their fourth studio album, Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones. It was released as the album's third single on September 24, 2020, which was a single day before the album released. It serves as the third track on the album.

## Background

> "*Brandon [Fried], the drummer in our band, he’s a great musician. He really got into making beats, crate-digging, and finding samples on the internet and record stores. Me and Danny [Parra, producer], who produced the record with us, were sitting around one night just looking at a folder of all of Brandon’s samples. We were playing with different racks, and then “Wish That You Were Mine” by The Manhattans ran. We then took it apart and mixed it in with what we had been working on, and the rest of it just came together. Every time I hear that shit drop, I feel like it’s what this band has been trying to do from the inception of the whole project—mixing all of these genres together. But I feel like we just did it in a way that’s less juvenile. And we grew up with it, so that’s what should happen*." Jesse Rutherford with Apple Music
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## Song meaning

The song contrasts a funky, pop sound with the song’s central theme: communication problems between Chrome and his partner. The title is likely a reference to the 2003 romantic comedy-drama film *Lost in Translation*, as the lyrics embody similar themes to the unrequited love and sexual tension found between characters Bob and Charlotte.

## Music video

The music video, featuring Chrome and the Mono-Tones performing inside a disco ball and frontman Jesse Rutherford’s girlfriend Devon Lee Carlson, was released alongside the single on September 24, 2020.

## Lyrics

[Intro]

I wonder if they see that you don't belong to me

Wish that you would be mine (Mine)

Wish that you would be

[Chorus]

I've been gettin' lost in translation

Trouble keepin' up communication

We were havin' fun, now I can't wait to be done

Feels like I'm the only one that's sick of playin'

[Verse 1]

Baby, why you gotta keep me hangin'?

It's like an apple of temptation, oh yeah

You let me get a bite, out of sight, out of mind

Until I found a bruise on the other side

[Pre-Chorus]

Time (Time), ooh, do it to me one more

(Do it to me, do it to me, do it to me one more time)

[Chorus]

I've been gettin' lost in translation

Trouble keepin' up communication

We were havin' fun, now I can't wait to be done

Feels like I'm the only one that's sick of playin'

[Verse 2]

Sick (Ooh, I'm)

Tired of people tellin' me "Be patient"

Hey, tryin' to light the fire with no flame (No flame)

Tryna figure out what you're sayin' to me

I wish I didn't need you to explain (Ooh)

[Pre-Chorus]

Time (Time), ooh, do it to me one more

(Do it to me, do it to me, do it to me one more time)

Time (Time), ooh, do it to me one more

(Do it to me, do it to me, do it to me one more time)

[Chorus]

I've been gettin' lost in translation

Trouble keepin' up communication

We were havin' fun, now I can't wait to be done

Feels like I'm the only one that's sick of playin'

I've been gettin' lost in translation

Trouble keepin' up communication

We were havin' fun, now I can't wait to be done

Feels like I'm the only one that's sick of playin'

[Outro]

Oh no, no, no, woo

Do it to me, do it to me, do it to me one more time (One more time, oh, oh)

Do it to me, do it to me, do it to me one more time

## Trivia

* The intro samples “Wish That You Were Mine,” a 1973 song by American R&B group The Manhattans.