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.
You don't know me, but here I am in your living room,
You don't own me, but you paid and that means alot to you, well,
You never listen, but I know that's what you think that you do,
And everybody wants a change, but this time it'll be the same,
Watch us go down in flames
Its all right, it's ok, it was gonna happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, but you're not gonna take that
Radio, commercials, tv shows, and front page ads,
Photos, and interviews, they'll make sure it's the latest fad,
Pay attention, cuz you know you'll have to pay either way,
And they tell you that its the new thing, but we know that it hasn't changed,
Watch us go down in flames
It's all right, it's ok, it was gonna happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, but you're not going take that away
When this blows over, and the main stream coughs up another shell,
Will you let us back in your underground, well I guess that's a no,
And it's just as well, cuz you never supported us,
All you wanted was to see us fail, and they tell me that it's the new thing,
So I better get out of the way, watch us go down in flames
It's all right, it's ok, it was going to happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, and you're not gonna take that,
It's all right, it's ok, it was gonna happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, you're not gonna take that away,
You're not gonna take that away, you're not gonna take that away,
You're not gonna take that away
You don't own me, but you paid and that means alot to you, well,
You never listen, but I know that's what you think that you do,
And everybody wants a change, but this time it'll be the same,
Watch us go down in flames
Its all right, it's ok, it was gonna happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, but you're not gonna take that
Radio, commercials, tv shows, and front page ads,
Photos, and interviews, they'll make sure it's the latest fad,
Pay attention, cuz you know you'll have to pay either way,
And they tell you that its the new thing, but we know that it hasn't changed,
Watch us go down in flames
It's all right, it's ok, it was gonna happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, but you're not going take that away
When this blows over, and the main stream coughs up another shell,
Will you let us back in your underground, well I guess that's a no,
And it's just as well, cuz you never supported us,
All you wanted was to see us fail, and they tell me that it's the new thing,
So I better get out of the way, watch us go down in flames
It's all right, it's ok, it was going to happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, and you're not gonna take that,
It's all right, it's ok, it was gonna happen anyway,
We had our chance, we made our point, you're not gonna take that away,
You're not gonna take that away, you're not gonna take that away,
You're not gonna take that away
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Light Up The Sky
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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,
No Surprises
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
"let us back in your underground" is about the ska scene and now they had made it big and then the ska phase had passed would they still be appreciated.
only 1 comment??? cmon guys, this song is amazing!!! this was one of the songs rbf played in their 5 song encore. this is one of my fav rbf songs. its kinda sad but hopeful. they made music, got popular, but then no one liked em. but they still did something, but now their original fans dont like em anymore b/c they got popular. "we had a chance, made our point and you're not gonna take that away" i love the line that says "pay attention cuz you know you'll have to pay either way" great song w/ so much meaning.
In my opinion, this the best RBF song musically. The lyrics are great too. They're a bit cynical about their future but they still have hope. They're afraid that the ska fad will "go down in flames." Later, when they "blow over", the "main stream" will "cough up another shell", or another fad, and they'll be carried downstream and cease to exist.
I always interpreted this as a stab at the resurgence of ska that took place and seemingly centered all around the Bosstones. RBF had their big deal with Sellout, and it was a nice little nod, then "The Impression That I Get" comes along and BLOWS UP. The world is swinging from the Bosstones sack for a few months, while a ton of other ska bands got left in the dust.
I think its more of a dig at how fads come and go than anything else and how fashion dictates what people listen to far more than the actual music itself.
this song is awesome
I always took this one to be a bitter stab at the 'fans' who liked them before the single Sell Out, and once that they were big and on the radio, they can't possibly be 'cool' enough for you?? I love them, and I get it...
Multiple people have already said stuff like this in the comments, but I will add my thoughts to the meaning of the song as well. Yes, I think it's about how the band got fairly popular with their songs from Turn the Radio Off, but then later the producers, radio and possibly the "fans" ditch them and won't accept their newer stuff. It reminds me of the lyrics in "One Hit Wonderful", another RBF song. They don't love the band, they love that one song they made. He's very cynical about the future of the band, as he feels it's all going to go "down in flames", and once "the main stream coughs up another shell" once the ska fad is over, he feels as if he won't be let back into the "underground".
I really like the beginning lines:
"You don't know me, but here I am in your living room, You don't own me, but you paid and that means alot to you, well, You never listen, but I know that's what you think that you do"
I think what he means by "here I am in your living room" is that it's a song of his playing on someone's stereo, and he feels like people THINK that they know him and are his fans, but again, he is cynical about it and he thinks they're really not, they just want to hear that one song he made.
It's really an amazing song, I love how the music is so upbeat and happy, as if, yes, he's very disappointed in how everything is going to go, but he still wants to make fun songs and he's somewhat hopeful at the same time.
To me, the song can also mean something on a metaphorical level; it could be a relationship you have with someone/some people. People can act like they're your friend, but they just cling onto a certain aspect of you and inside, don't actually care about you. But it's alright, it's okay, it was going to happen anyway... I just absolutely love how the song's lyrics are so cynical and sad, but at the same time, it has this feeling of "it's all going to be fine in the end". One of my favorites.