The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
"Have your baggage and your passports ready and follow the green line to customs and then to immigration. BA 215 to Rome, Cairo and Lagos..."
"Live for today, gone tomorrow. That's me... ha ha ha..."
"Live for today, gone tomorrow. That's me... ha ha ha..."
Lyrics submitted by Klenny, edited by Mellow_Harsher, DanVitaleRocks
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I think this song is about how people are too fixcated on getting to their final destination in life that they fail to realize what is happening around them. People never take the time to just live life, which is often due to humanity's inability to ever be satisfied. People fear standing still and doing what they want, hence why they are "on the run". Society has warped the meaning of life to be about how far you can get. But really, it's about "where" you want to get. Does the man really need to catch that plane? Is it really that important in the long run? There are always other flights, but he only has one life to live (theoretically anyway).
This song, although there aren't any lyrics, is about some of the crazy thing sin life that drive you to insanity by thinking too much.
A man is running through an airport, trying to catch his flight. He gets to the gate, but the plane is already taking off. "Live for today, gone tomorrow, that's me..." As soon as it leaves the ground, BOOM!!!! It explodes, and you wonder if you were never meant to get on that plane. It's like what happened to many people on September 11, 2001 who were supposed to be in the WTC but decided otherwise at the last minute or some strange coincidence. Or maybe not a coincidence?? o.O
I get excited when this song comes on. I picture a criminal "on the run" who is hiding from a helicopter in the sky. It is nightime and there is a feeling of suspense, due to the build-up of the song. It goes perfect with the footsteps and the helicopter-like sounds.
This song was originally was a much different instrumental used to link "breathe" and "time". It still serves the same purpose. It's about the transition portion of one's life. It links "breathe" (childhood) to "time" (adulthood).
That's my take on it anyway.
this song is linked with the next song on the album time. about how time flys...and let life pass by..living an unforfilled life. "on the run" means trying to rush as much experience as possible into a lifetime which passes quickly. very spooky ^^
I absolutely love, if you're wearing headphones, you get the eery feeling that someone is running back and forth through your head. Such a trip!
On a technical standpoint, the whole song is made up of 8 notes repeated over and over in a synth sequencer later processed with filters and other stuff. Believe it or not, the hi-hat sound is also synthesized. If you can, try n' find an early live performance of this before they had their synthesizer. It's more of a jazz guitar jam. Different, but neat to hear how this evolved.
i agree with the 1st guy but wen i heard it i thaught he was in an airport too but later it sounds like a helicopter searching for him.
Wow.. if you're right, i finally understand this song.
all your ideas are great, i love pink floyd for this reason too, they can have all these crazy effects on the songs, and they're always so great. Nobody can touch them, they're too hot.