Before digital bonus tracks or deluxe editions, vinyl lovers had a secret language all their own—etched right into the runout grooves of their records. These tiny inscriptions, nestled between the last song and the label, have long been a space for cryptic phrases, inside jokes, and rebellious declarations. From modern-day vinyl pressings by LCD Soundsystem going back to Joe Walshe, the messages range from cheeky to profound, rebellious to ridiculous. Here’ a dive into some of the most iconic, surreal, and poetic etched-out messages that have graced the grooves—none of them explicit, all of them unforgettable.
“SEE U IN 5 YEARS” – LCD Soundsystem (American Dream D-side)
James Murphy gave us this playful farewell—only to return sooner than expected. A nod to the band’s self-aware brand of irony and their ever-elusive retirement.
“NEW YORK I LOVE YOU BUT YOU’RE BRINGING ME DOWN” – LCD Soundsystem (The Long Goodbye)
Etched over 10 sides of their farewell box set, this full lyric unspools like a love letter and a lament to the band’s home city.
“DON’T DISILLUSION ME” / “I’VE ONLY GOT RECORD SHOPS LEFT” – Joy Division (Love Will Tear Us Apart)
Factory Records never missed a chance for enigmatic melancholy. This etched confession perfectly matches the aching romance of the A-side.
“WELCOME LUCY… 12-3-82 10:12 AM” – Joe Walsh (You Bought It – You Name It)
A surprisingly tender moment for a rocker known more for sarcasm and swagger.
“ARENA ROCK IS THE NEW WAVE / PUNK ROCK IS THE NEW NOSTALGIA” – Minutemen (Double Nickels on the Dime)
The hardcore scene loved the groove message, and the Minutemen delivered a deadpan manifesto straight from the SST school of wit.
“FREE SLY STONE” / “FREE JAMES BROWN!” – Primal Scream (Loaded EP)
Pressed by Porky himself, these two sides are a rallying cry and a tribute to two soul legends amid the early ’90s acid house explosion.
“HELLO WATERFACE” / “GOODBYE WATERFACE” – Neil Young (Tonight’s the Night)
This cryptic greeting-and-farewell bookends an album steeped in loss, mourning, and ghostly grooves.
“DO WHAT THOU WILT / SO MOTE IT BE” – Led Zeppelin (Immigrant Song 7″)
Zep’s nod to Aleister Crowley’s occult teachings—equal parts cosmic wisdom and classic rock mystique.
“IF LOVE IS THE ANSWER YOU’RE HOME” – Daft Punk (Random Access Memories)
A bit of vinyl zen from the robots, making your turntable feel like a warm philosophical hug.
“NEVER LET YOUR MONSTER LAY DOWN / FROM THE POLACK WHO SAILED NORTH” – Hans Zimmer (Interstellar OST)
Even film scores have their cryptic charm. These etchings on the Interstellar soundtrack sound like space-age bedtime stories.
“GUARANTEED BRAND SPANKIN’ WHO / WHO IS JOE SUIT?” – The Who (Face Dances)
The Who’s grooves aren’t just for music—they’re for riddles too.
“THE CHICKEN WON’T STOP / THE CHICKEN STOPS HERE” – Joy Division (Still)
Nonsensical? Maybe. Memorable? Absolutely. A glimpse into the band’s surreal humor beneath all that gloom.
“TO LIFT A GLASS… LOVE FROM RUDI!” – Paul McCartney (Wonderful Christmastime)
A sweet toast sealed forever in vinyl, McCartney’s message is as warm and melodic as the track itself.
“DANCE ROCK IS THE NEW PASTURE / CHUMP ROCK IS THE NEW COOL” – Minutemen (Double Nickels on the Dime)
Sharp as ever, Minutemen’s groove scribbles are post-punk poetry.
“LUNCHEON COUNTER OF THE DELI KIND / CALL IT IN THE AIR” – Joe Walsh (But Seriously, Folks…)
A mix of deli wisdom and fate-driven instruction, Walsh’s humor lives in every inch of vinyl.
“IT USED TO BE SECRETS! I COULDN’T GIVE THEM AWAY / WHAT MADE YOU LOOK HERE?” – Jane’s Addiction (S/T)
A perfect pair of fourth-wall-breaking etchings from a band built on mystique and mischief.
“WATCHING LOVE GROW – FOREVER / HOW I WISH WE WERE HERE WITH YOU NOW” – Led Zeppelin III
Tender, wistful, and a little bit ghostly. Classic Zeppelin sentimentality.
“I THINK I’VE GOT EUTHANASIA / ANYWAY I’VE GOT TO GO NOW” – Depeche Mode (Love In Itself 2)
Two lines, equal parts techno paranoia and poetic withdrawal.
“FALLING, SHIRLEY EVERY TIME I SQUARE OFF AGAINST SOMEONE’S GOD…” – Hüsker Dü (Zen Arcade)
No one said punk had to be simple. Hüsker Dü gave us cryptic fury worthy of literary analysis.
These etched messages are a reminder that music has always been more than just sound—it’s storytelling, rebellion, humor, and sometimes a quiet whisper only heard by the curious. The next time you’re cueing up a record, take a second to peer into the grooves. You never know what secrets the wax might be holding.