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.
Drank away the rest of the day
Wonder what my liver'd say
Drink, it's all you can
Blackened days with their bigger gales
Blow in your parlor to discuss the day
Listen, it's all you can
[Chorus]
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you need, you build to keep afloat
No don't, don't sink the boat
That you built...
Sick and tired of what to say
Jumped away from the ball and chain
Breath, it's all you can
Rambling years of lousy luck
You miss the smell of burning turf
Dream, it's all you can
[Chorus]
Singled out for who you are
Takes all types to be a man
Feel, it's all you can
Filthy suits with bigot ears
Hide behind their own worst fears
Live, it's all you can
It's all you can
It's all you can... Do
No matter where I put my head
I wake up feeling sound again
Breath, it's all you can
Tomorrow smells of less decay
Beats the bows that bloom the fray
Be thankful, it's all you can
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you built, you built to keep alfoat
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you built, you built to keep afloat
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you built, you built to keep afloat
No don't, no don't sink the boat
That you built,
We all built to keep afloat
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
I'm a ripe old age
That's what I am
Ripe old age
Ripe old age
A ripe old age
Just doin' the best I can
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
That's what I am
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
That's what I am
Just doin' the best I can
The best I can...
Wonder what my liver'd say
Drink, it's all you can
Blackened days with their bigger gales
Blow in your parlor to discuss the day
Listen, it's all you can
[Chorus]
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you need, you build to keep afloat
No don't, don't sink the boat
That you built...
Sick and tired of what to say
Jumped away from the ball and chain
Breath, it's all you can
Rambling years of lousy luck
You miss the smell of burning turf
Dream, it's all you can
[Chorus]
Singled out for who you are
Takes all types to be a man
Feel, it's all you can
Filthy suits with bigot ears
Hide behind their own worst fears
Live, it's all you can
It's all you can
It's all you can... Do
No matter where I put my head
I wake up feeling sound again
Breath, it's all you can
Tomorrow smells of less decay
Beats the bows that bloom the fray
Be thankful, it's all you can
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you built, you built to keep alfoat
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you built, you built to keep afloat
But don't, don't sink the boat
That you built, you built to keep afloat
No don't, no don't sink the boat
That you built,
We all built to keep afloat
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
I'm a ripe old age
That's what I am
Ripe old age
Ripe old age
A ripe old age
Just doin' the best I can
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
That's what I am
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
A ripe old age
That's what I am
Just doin' the best I can
The best I can...
Lyrics submitted by aSixStringGypsy
Float Lyrics as written by David R King Bridget A Regan
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
lets get the lyrics right:
drank away the rest of the day wonder what my liver'd say drink, thats all you can blackened days with their bigger gales blow in your parlor to discuss the day listen, that's all you can
chorus: ah but don't, no don't sink the boat that you built, you built to keep afloat
sick and tired of what to say no one listens anyway sing, that's all you can ramblin' years of lousy luck you miss the smell of burnin' turf dream, that's all you can
chorus
singled out for who you are it takes all types to judge a man feel, that's all you can filthy suits with bigot ears hide behind their own worst fears live, that's all you can it's all you can it's all you can...do
no matter where i put my head i'll wake up feeling sound again breathe, it's all you can tomorrow smells of less decay the flowers greet this bloomin' fray be thankful, that's all you can
chorus
a ripe old age that's what i am a ripe old age just doin' the best i can
Just got the Float Album..:P Oh My god. The album is epic. Simply put. 11 songs, two from the EP. It's just..wow..
WTF?! How? It's not released until 4 March!!!
I'm guessing the album you got was a leak from the internet. Either way, half of the lyrics on here are completely different from the final album version of this song...
Anyway, the song is saying to the listener not to give up, and to keep your boat afloat. In his ripe old age, he's saying not to give up on life, even when times are bad, because tomorrow will be better.
I agree, Kuririna..and I shouldn't go off on lutherius, too...cause I just got the album in the mail 5 days before the release...:)
its about a friend of the bands, he was going through rough times and with a bay on the way. so its about not quitting and keeping your head above water. (they explained it at a concert, which btw was friggin amazing)
I kinda figure it's about a pisshead in a pub who spends their entire life in the pub listening and observing everyone who comes in. Who's life is utterly meaningless to most people, but someone is telling him to hold on and keep afloat because it's not meaningless.
@Kuririna - I'm thinking either a "advanced" album that he got the lyrics from OR that he couldn't understand the exact words, because some people just can't make out the difference of a person with a bit of a irish accent.
I'm a very paranoid person. I worry way to much and i stress about allot. I also have many regrets as well.
This song really helps me though when i feel stressed, or miserable. It helps me put aside the regrets. :]
i realy think its about how life will give you things in which you think you cant take, but no matter what you must keep on trudging on. at the end when he said "a ripe old age" i thought to myself that even when your life is almost at its end you still have to keep on keepin on. in an overall lookthrough the song in my mind is interpreted as a song about how one must never give up his/her goals. even when the goals are sooo far from their eyesight.