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.
Don't go changing to try and please me
You never let me down before, mmm-hmm
I don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair, mmm-hmm
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard, mmm-hmm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
Oh, what will it take 'til you believe in me
The way that I believe in you?
I said I love you, that's forever
And this I promise from the heart, mmm-hmm
I couldn't love you any better
I love you just the way you are
Wait
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard, mmm-hmm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
You never let me down before, mmm-hmm
I don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair, mmm-hmm
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard, mmm-hmm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
Oh, what will it take 'til you believe in me
The way that I believe in you?
I said I love you, that's forever
And this I promise from the heart, mmm-hmm
I couldn't love you any better
I love you just the way you are
Wait
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard, mmm-hmm
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
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Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I think that this is Billy's most beautiful song, and apparently so dose my girlfriend, because when I learne dto play it on the guitar, I playeed it for her and she was crying by the end of the song. What a great song.
Young innocent first love, when you're just starting to figure it out. To his girlfriend he is saying "You only have to be yourself; that's enough for me. Please don't change, just believe in me and know that I love you".
This song couldn't have been done any better; I hope no one ever re-records it. At the tender age of 17 I felt in love for the first time and this song was the perfect description of everything I was feeling and wanted to say. As a sax player and part time musician, the jazzy style and soulful Alto sax solo just made it even better. But the key was Billy Joel loved the woman he wrote this for (Elizabeth). 40 years later, the initial chords on the Fender Rhodes keyboard still evoke deep emotion in me and everyone who fell in love to this song.
this was my parents wedding song. they are divorced now....hmmm.....
Yeah this song was written for Billy's FIRST wife.......Didn't work out to well for them either!!
it's beautiful- it simply honors the one you love- respecting their authentic self.
This song is about the ideal someone. The person you fall so deeply in love with. The person you want to stay up all night with just talking and getting to know. The person you know who may not be the prettiest or most handsome but it is their inner beauty that make them your special someone. So, you don't want them to think they need to change and in fact you don't want them to change a thing. This love will stand the test of time as you both grow old. They will still be the person you want to share your life with.
Yea and Uptown Girl was written for Christie Brinkley, swing and a miss, strike 2...... did you know that the waitress that is mentioned in Piano Man is Billy's first wife?
@eaglesfan81 <br /> Uptown girl was written for Christie Brinkley, but Just the Way You Are was written for his first wife (Elizabeth) who was also his manager. The way I heard the story (I grew up in the town next to his home town of Hicksville, NY), he formed a band upon returning to NY (Long Island) from San Francisco, just before his break through Piano Man album where the guitar players girlfriend was Elizabeth. Elizabeth talked the highly emotional Billy off the ledge several times, resulting in her break up with the guitar player and relationship with Billy - who made her his manager he thought to protect him. What's not clear to me is if she actually defrauded him or was just a bad manager. By the time Billy was 40 years old, he found his finances in shambles, and subsequently fired and divorced her. I never heard that she was the waitress in Piano Man before.
this song always reminded me of a classy wedding song. huh...guess i'll skip this one when my day comes...
chuck klosterman said it best.
Does anyone know why there's a version of this song missing the entire "don't go trying some new fashion.." part? i was listenng to it in the car the other day and i noticed that the entire part is missing. the runtime in only 3:36. anyone know what the deal with that is?
@Levitator89 <br /> God I hate showing my age. When it was released in the 70s people still listened to AM radio stations like WABC, WNBC, etc. in NY . There was an "AM radio" version that cut the song down to 3 to 3.5 minutes - the max you heard on those stations. That's the version you are referring to, The FM version was the whole song as recorded on Billy Joel's multi Platinum 1977 Album "The Stranger". In fact, they were called "album cuts".<br /> <br /> It was this song (which won a Grammy) and that Album that put Billy Joel over the top into super stardom.