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.
A small cloud has fallen
The white mist hits the ground
My lungs comfort me with joy
Vegging on one detail
The rest just crowds around
My eyes itch of burning red
Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Looks like I found something new
Laying in my bed
I think I'm in left field
I picture someone, I think it's you
You're standing so darn close
My body begins to swell
Why does one plus one make two?
Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Looks like I found something new
Laying in my bed
I think I'm in left field
I picture someone, I think it's you
You're standing so darn close
My body begins to swell
Why does one plus one make two?
Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
The white mist hits the ground
My lungs comfort me with joy
Vegging on one detail
The rest just crowds around
My eyes itch of burning red
Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Looks like I found something new
Laying in my bed
I think I'm in left field
I picture someone, I think it's you
You're standing so darn close
My body begins to swell
Why does one plus one make two?
Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Looks like I found something new
Laying in my bed
I think I'm in left field
I picture someone, I think it's you
You're standing so darn close
My body begins to swell
Why does one plus one make two?
Picture sounds
Of moving insects so surreal
Lay around
Lyrics submitted by youth_underground
Green Day Lyrics as written by Frank E. Billie Joe Armstrong
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
Billie Joe wrote this one about being stoned and lying on his bed thinkin of weird things. It's kinda self explanitary really
My lungs comfort me with joy Vegging on one detail The rest just crowds around
That's so true! It's such a good explanation of being high and alone, hate to say it.
"A small cloud has fallen The white mist hits the ground"
That's another amazing explanation. Like that peaceful wave of happiness that comes after the first few tokes..... hmmm. A green day indeed.
The song "Green Day" was written when the band was called Sweet Children. They liked the name of the song so much that they changed their band name to Green Day. I think the line "Picture sounds Of moving insects so surreal" is a pretty cool line. Great Song
I once heard Billie and Mike came up with the name "Green Day" while watching an Ernie and Bert skit on Sesame Street. Ernie was explaining to Bert that it was green day, remarking on everything he could think of that was the color green. And I guess Billie or Mike thought of at least one more thing... So it kind of became a private joke between the two of them, a boring day where there's nothing to do but light up and get high. And it explains all the Ernie camios that pop up in their photos.
Of course I have absolutely no proof of any of this, but it's a damn good story either way.
This is my favorite song from 39/Smooth, and also one of my top ten favorite Green Day songs. Period. It's so well done that it kind of feels like being on a trip while listening to it, even if you aren't. One of those few songs that actually evokes the emotion and feeling of what it means through just the music and vocals. But if you are high while listening to it....well, I'll just say it's fucking awesome.
lol...... you can tell he was on SOMETHING lol
One word can some up this song: Drugs.
This song is basically about staring up at the ceiling, thinking about a girl, and being really stoned.
no doubt BuRnOuT
this song meant shit to me.. but it's cool