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.
Every time I think that I'm the only one who's lonely
Someone calls on me
And every now and then I spend my time in rhyme and verse
And curse those faults in me
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to give me kicks , and be my steady chick
And give me pick of memories
Or maybe rather gather tales of all the fails and tribulations
No one ever sees
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks
Whose sickness is the games they play
And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes
As who is most to blame today
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
And when the morning of the warning's passed, the gassed
And flaccid kids are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and the traumas gone
The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
Someone calls on me
And every now and then I spend my time in rhyme and verse
And curse those faults in me
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to give me kicks , and be my steady chick
And give me pick of memories
Or maybe rather gather tales of all the fails and tribulations
No one ever sees
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks
Whose sickness is the games they play
And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes
As who is most to blame today
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
And when the morning of the warning's passed, the gassed
And flaccid kids are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and the traumas gone
The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars
And then along comes Mary
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more
When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch
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Lord Huron
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
There's no need to argue the point whether the lyrics are about Mary as the virgin mother or Mary as marijuana...it is, of course, both. Any writer of any decent talent doesn't even bother writing poems, stories or lyrics without giving the lines two, three or fours levels of meaning. Here, considering the 'establishment', Mary is simply a girl-friend (this is all that parental types and squares would be aware of); for the 'counter-culture', their realm of knowledge would also include soft-drugs and so they would 'get' the second level of meaning; then, for the well-educated or those with a religious background, the third-level meaning of Mary and The Warning becomes available.
The lyricist becomes an artist, and the lyrics become art, to the extent that these different 'meanings' can be supported with other lines laces with two and three-way meanings. In addition to those meanings identified here, the author--more than likely--also has a personal meaning...plus the progression of the stanzas will have a macro-meaning pointing toward an overall meaning--perhaps a stance on the counter-culture, establishment, religion or the idea of salvation via escape from isolation whether in the form of a girl-friend, mind-altering trip or appearance of the divine.
Whatever that salvation is, it is fulfilling...it transforms the empty into refreshing sweetness; which, of course, is something we're seeking (until we have children--ha!), i.e., something in our lives which rids us of our singular isolation and fills us with a zest for life...now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch...
@WoodmanBrown Id love to hear some of your opinions on tool lyrics. Well said man.
I believe shankr is smoking something. I have read many comments on songfacts.com and believe it probably is a reference to marijuana. The lyrics are unbelievably vague and yet very colorful and full of life. The Association deserves credit for the classic version with great harmonies. The lead singer is perfect. I cannot blame him that I could never understand the lyrics until I printed them off recently. It would be almost impossible for anyone to spit these words out clearly. Thanks Tandyn Almer, wherever you are.
@songer Spot-on!
of course it's about getting high; of course it's about Blessed Virgin Mary; of course it's about some foxy chick who can take your mind off anything - the genius of the art is that all the interps are up to you, the observer - Tandyn Almer, like John Lennon, James Taylor, Springsteen, or any good writer, can get his idea or concept across as well as giving you something to think about
@rockboy52 You forgot Maynard James Keenan.
If you go on youtube to the reunion concert, they say it is about pot. youtube.com/watch
@genelong I haven't seen that one, I think the bandleader did imply that however.
42 steps posted an insightful point a few years ago, suggesting that the Garabandal apparitions of Mary during the time period just prior to this song being written may have influenced the lyrics. Like other apparitions these were held up to ridicule by many people. Consider:
“And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes As who is most to blame today”
@Tolinv Thank you. <br /> <br /> Thinking about the song today on the Feast of Lourdes.
@Tolinv Yep.
@42 ste
I know it's unbelievably square to be a college student and listen to this music, but Jesus Christ those lyrics.
@arrstar Wtf does that mean? Are you implying these words are about J. C. or are you writing/saying, "Jesus Christ, those lyrics!" ??
If you go to youtube reunion concert, they say clearly it is about pot. youtube.com/watch
It strikes me as odd how many people are absolutely sure their interpretation is correct, yet contradict each other, and in this case, contradict the original artist. I've had people with similar conviction interpret my own poetry in ways I never intended or imagined.
"Mary" is a reference to marijuana. Like "Cracklin' Rosie" of Neil diamond fame, which is rose wine, mary is a mind changing friend. "And does she want to give me kicks, and be my steady chick", "And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality From where she got her name"
Oldriff got it right!All of us knew Mary was a metaphor for weed. The funny thing was that The Association was one of the STRAIGHTEST groups around back then.They pulled a "Nixon goes to China"trick on the world.
they weren't straight, man. They were stoners. This song was banned from the radio in the u.s. when it came out 'cos they knew what it was about back then. Just cos they wore suits doesn't make them straights.