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.
Pull the final splinters
Of missing picture winters
You have to give yourself a break
What's the fascination
With lovers at the station
You have to tear yourself away
The dream again nobody understands
Walking through the long grass on your hands
It's not a job to do today
Sleep it off
Words to make her stay: you said
Leave me and the plants die
A panic smile across your face
Corrugated brow line
The hissing bitter punchline
Call when you can tie your lace
You rule my world my brother
You rule my world compare
Of missing picture winters
You have to give yourself a break
What's the fascination
With lovers at the station
You have to tear yourself away
The dream again nobody understands
Walking through the long grass on your hands
It's not a job to do today
Sleep it off
Words to make her stay: you said
Leave me and the plants die
A panic smile across your face
Corrugated brow line
The hissing bitter punchline
Call when you can tie your lace
You rule my world my brother
You rule my world compare
Lyrics submitted by bloodflower, edited by Sneaker201
Not a Job Lyrics as written by Guy Edward John Garvey Craig Lee Potter
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song, i think, is about a man who can't get over a girl. He must have written this right after a break-up with his girlfreind, and is lovesick. I do notice that whoever wrote these lyrics missed the lines in the background before "You rule my world...", there should be something else. I can't quite decipher them myself, but it sounds like he's saying "kissing in the porch light" over and over again, or maybe "he sings in the porch lamp", or "she stands in a porch light", I don't know. It wouldn't make very much since, but I can't think of anything else he's saying.
i think that he's repeating the line "bitter punchline" over and over. at least, that's what i (want to) hear.
it sounds like he's singing "hissing bitter punchline" before "you rule my world my brother." Actually I'm very sure of it. Also, this sounds like it could be a pretty good single.
This is such a beautiful song, think it should be way more listened to. To me its about a damaged relationship with a woman, a dream that the relationship should be perfect - like you imagine others have when you see lovers at the station. but it's not, and that is the bitter punchline so many of us have had in our lives. Ending it is the job that is so hard, every day is not the day to do it.
Haha the video for this. At the end Elbow are at a cemetary pretending to be all sad. They're doing a very good job, but I heard in an interview that Guy was having a lot of trouble stopping himself sniggering. (You don't want to try and get the video off limewire. Think of the dirty stuff that comes up when you type in "not a job.)
I have officially lost my copy of this album, had to buy it off of iTunes so I could go straight to this song for this very moment: "A panic smile across your face Corrugated browline The hissing bitter punchline Call when you can tie your lace" what a beautiful picture of desperation and the heart breaking exploitation of someone's vulnerability. All in 4 lines. Genius. Loved Wembley too.
Elbow are just immense :)
Anyone any idea of the significance/meaning of "call me when you can tie your lace?"
I figured that was the "hissing bitter punchline". The whole song is about him trying to cope with a recent break-up between him and his ex-girlfriend, that line was the last thing she said to him as she left and it's all he can think about. Just my read on it :)
I think it's a bout a guy who isn't dealing particularly well with a breakup. Hee knows he has to confront the issues but he can't can't face it "It's not a job to do today". Great track