Cover art for Dashboard by Modest Mouse
Jan. 16, 20071 viewer51.2K views

Dashboard Lyrics

[Intro]
Well, it would've been, could've been worse than you would ever know
Oh, the dashboard melted, but we still had the radio


[Verse 1]
Oh, it should've been, could've been worse than you would ever know
Well, you told me about nowhere, well, it sounds like someplace I'd like to go
Oh, it could've been, should've been worse than you would ever know
Well, the windshield, it was broken, but I love the fresh air, you know
(The dashboard melted but we still had the radio, oh)

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Well, it would've been, could've been worse than you would ever know, oh
(The dashboard melted but we still have the radio, oh)
Oh, we talked about nothing which was more than I wanted to know
Oh-oh-oh-oh, now here we go!

[Verse 2]
Oh! It would've been, could've been worse than it had even gone
Well, the car was on blocks, but I was already where I want
(It was impossible, we ran it good, we ran it good, oh)

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Why should we ever even ever really even get to know?
(It was impossible, we ran it good, we ran it good, oh)
Oh, if the world don't like us it'll shake us just like we were a co--
Oh-oh-oh-old, now here we go!
[Chorus]
Well, we schemed and we schemed, but would always blow it
We've yet to crash, but we still might as well tow it
Standing at a light switch to each east and west horizon
Every dawn one yells, "Surprise," and in the evening one's consoling, sayin'
"See it wasn't quite as bad as—"

[Bridge]
Well, it would've been, could've been worse than you would ever know
I was patiently erasing and recording the wrong episodes
After you had proved my point wrong
It wasn't like I'd let it go, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
I just wanted to catch the last laugh of this show


[Verse 3]
Yeah, it would've been, could've been worse than you would ever know
Oh, the dashboard melted, but we still have the radio
(The dashboard melted, but we ran it good, we ran it good)
Hard-wired to conceive, so much we had to stow it
Even needs have needs, tiny giants made of tinier giants
Don't wear eyelids so I don't miss the last laugh of this show
(The dashboard melted, but we still have the radio, oh)

[Pre-Chorus 3]
Well, we could've been, should've been worse than you would ever know
(The dashboard melted, but we still have the radio, oh)

Well, you told me about nowhere, well, it sounds like some place I'd like to go
Oh, oh, oh, oh, now here we go!
[Chorus]
Well, we schemed and we schemed, but would always blow it
We've yet to crash, but we still might as well tow it
Standing at a light switch to each east and west horizon
Every dawn one yells, "Surprise," and in the evening one's consoling, sayin'
"See it wasn't quite as bad as—"

[Outro]
Hey, it would've been, could've been worse than you would ever know!

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About

This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation

Dashboard is a hit song released by American rock band Modest Mouse off their 2007 album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. The song makes multiple references to Plane, Trains, and Automobiles and the lines relate to the human condition.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What accolades did the single achieve?
Genius Answer

“Dashboard” peaked at #5 on the Alternative Songs chart and #61 on the Hot 100 chart—the band’s highest charting track on the Hot 100 chart.

What did Johnny Marr say about writing the track?
Genius Answer

In a February 2008 interview with Uncut Marr said:

On the first night we (Marr and Isaac Brock) just set up two amps opposite each other and just got louder and louder and improvised. I just started playing “Dashboard,” which I’d been playing a few weeks before and forgotten about. And he instantly started improvising the lyrics, which knocked me out. To see someone produce those lyrics just off the top of his head is amazing: I’ve never seen it done in such a way.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Background Vocals
Bass Guitar
Upright Bass
Assistant Engineer
Recording Engineer
Recorded At
Sweet Tea Studio, Oxford, MI, U.S.A.
Release Date
January 16, 2007
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