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.
What's happened to you?
It's obvious you've changed
Something deep inside you
Is probably to blame
Must be lonely up there
With your head up in the clouds
Even though you got there
What does your conscience tell you now?
It's never the same on the way down
How does it feel when your feet
Finally hit the ground?
When all of your bridges aren't around
And the sandcastles you built are falling down
You had us all
Sitting right there in your hand
But you had to fall
Because that's how this life is
Got your fingers burned
By burning candles at both ends
Now the table's turned
And now your demons are you friends
It's never the same on the way down
How does it feel when your feet
Finally hit the ground?
When all of your bridges aren't around
And the sandcastles you built are falling down
So now I question what you're gonna do
Now that everything's caught up with you
You believe the shit you say is true
But everybody's on to you
Life remembers everything you do
Your karma has caught up with you
It's never the same on the way down
How does it feel when your feet
Finally hit the ground?
When all of your bridges aren't around
And the sandcastles you built are falling down
It's obvious you've changed
Something deep inside you
Is probably to blame
Must be lonely up there
With your head up in the clouds
Even though you got there
What does your conscience tell you now?
It's never the same on the way down
How does it feel when your feet
Finally hit the ground?
When all of your bridges aren't around
And the sandcastles you built are falling down
You had us all
Sitting right there in your hand
But you had to fall
Because that's how this life is
Got your fingers burned
By burning candles at both ends
Now the table's turned
And now your demons are you friends
It's never the same on the way down
How does it feel when your feet
Finally hit the ground?
When all of your bridges aren't around
And the sandcastles you built are falling down
So now I question what you're gonna do
Now that everything's caught up with you
You believe the shit you say is true
But everybody's on to you
Life remembers everything you do
Your karma has caught up with you
It's never the same on the way down
How does it feel when your feet
Finally hit the ground?
When all of your bridges aren't around
And the sandcastles you built are falling down
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Light Up The Sky
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Van Halen
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Sounds like friends I've had before ... we think we know them then they get up and go change, usually not for the better. The Chorus to me sounds like when they finally realize what they've done, and come back to you, after they've damaged you and want you to forgive them for their atonements.
"So now I ? what your gonna do" This block to me sounds like their up to their old ways again, when they were damaging you, but this time you've caught on to their games; karma remembers and so does life definately.
Saroknight said it well... I just want to say I like the intro. It sets the mood for the song. I think this song sends the message, don't neglect the people who care about you.. What goes up must come down.. Don't forget the people who were close to you in the beginning. They won't put up with your crap forever.
i am surprised this song doesn't have too many comments- i think its one of my favorites on this CD. My favorite line: "life remembers everything you do." It is so true. If you do good things in this life, you will be rewarded.
i am surprised this song doesn't have too many comments- i think its one of my favorites on this CD. My favorite line: "life remembers everything you do." It is so true. If you do good things in this life, you will be rewarded.
i have a friend just like this-broke up with my best freind n now shes all the sudden a slut, and my band covered this song(my best friend was signing) and they mad eperfect eye contact thru the 1st verse n the chorus till she ran off to a bathroom...quite satisfying lol
i have a friend just like this-broke up with my best freind n now shes all the sudden a slut, and my band covered this song(my best friend was signing) and they mad eperfect eye contact thru the 1st verse n the chorus till she ran off to a bathroom...quite satisfying lol
So much like Linkin Park's "Hit the Floor". It's about karma bringing down someone who stepped on people all the way to the top.
I agree, this is probably my favourite song off 14SOG. I dunno why, it's just something about the chorus that attracts me. Either way, the song is about karma, how once you abandon the ones close to you for a shot at something bigger, it ends up coming back to haunt you.
This sounds to me like a song about addiction recovery, or a warning to a friend who is an addict, about life after addiction, and the effects addiction has on your family, friends, situation, and life in general.
This sounds to me like a song about addiction recovery, or a warning to a friend who is an addict, about life after addiction, and the effects addiction has on your family, friends, situation, and life in general.