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.
Waiting for the seven eighteen
January is endless
Weary-eyed and forlorn
The Northern Line is the loudest
Sitting in silence in bars after work
I've got nothing to add or contest
Can still kick a ball a hundred yards
We cling to bottles and memories of the past
(Give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
Not hours or days (give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
Grinding your teeth in the middle of the night
With the sadness of those molars
Spend all your spare time trying to escape
With crosswords and sudoku
If I could do it again
I'd make more mistakes
I'd not be so scared of falling
If I could do it again,
I'd climb more trees
I'd pick and I'd eat more wild
Blackberries
(Give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
Not hours or days (give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
[Repeat: x8]
Let's drive to Brighton on the weekend
January is endless
Weary-eyed and forlorn
The Northern Line is the loudest
Sitting in silence in bars after work
I've got nothing to add or contest
Can still kick a ball a hundred yards
We cling to bottles and memories of the past
(Give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
Not hours or days (give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
Grinding your teeth in the middle of the night
With the sadness of those molars
Spend all your spare time trying to escape
With crosswords and sudoku
If I could do it again
I'd make more mistakes
I'd not be so scared of falling
If I could do it again,
I'd climb more trees
I'd pick and I'd eat more wild
Blackberries
(Give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
Not hours or days (give me moments)
Just give me moments (give me moments)
[Repeat: x8]
Let's drive to Brighton on the weekend
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song is referencing a famous poem by Nadine Stair:
devpsy.org/nonscience/daisies.html
Note the 'If I could do it again' part, and 'just give me moments' - clear references.
This is a beautiful song that artfully recalls a beautiful poem, and adds the very moving and powerful images of the deafening London Underground (The Northern Line being one part of the London subway system) filled with unhappy commmuters, and the 'endless' feeling of January - the month that is known to be, statistically, the highest for suicides.
A wonderful piece of music, especially to somebody who takes the Northern Line every day (and as the time of writing this comment it is mid-January).
"I'd Pick and I'd -Eat- more wild"
I would just like to make clear, as I always do: lyrics are subjective and you can interpret them in the way you want whether right or wrong. I like to say that before my views get trashed by some know-it-all. I don't know it all and I'm sorry!
Anyway, I thinking it's about looking back on life and wishing you could've done something different. It's about trying to escape them but wanting to do something better, or do it go back and start over.
That's how I see it and what it means to me. What do the rest of yuo think?
'January is endless' Does anybody reckon the month is pretty significant in that January is the month where people are most depressed? Christmas is over, there’s nothing to look forward to, the weathers shit (yes it's always sit but during Christmas who cares?) and will continue to be shit for a good few months, Christmas debt etc etc... Maybe I’m reading too much into it but I do think Kele used it for the reason that if your going to think these thoughts so deeply, it would be in this month. Michael05 got it spot on, it's someone getting older but still with enough youth left to turn it around think forward and think positively - 'Let's drive to Brighton on the weekend ', - there's still moments to be had.
i think it's about how usual day to day stuff of people with normal carrers and such mess like that, and now he's reminsing on old memeories and how he wishes he had more moments instead of hours... am i right?
this song to me seems like he had a loss of love and regrets letting it go so easily because its all he wants to live for, he also he mentions blackberrys maybe its some form of link to the lyric in 'biko' "I left you blueberries in the fridge The little thing that I can do" maybe there about the same person they have similar meanings in biko it seems as if he wants more effort in holding things together
just a guess,
'Waiting for the 7:18' came before 'Biko'. Blackberries and Blueberries are not the same. Biko is about losing someone to cancer. This one is about everyday life. Or that's at least what I think.
AHHH THIS ALBUM IS GONNA BE SICK!!!
edit: this album IS sick :) got an advance a little while ago.
yes yes I got ahold of it later that day from a pal of mine...and u are correct..AWESOME!
yes yes I got ahold of it later that day from a pal of mine...and u are correct..AWESOME!