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.
Soon the chain reaction started in the parking lot
Waiting to bleed on the big streets
That bleed out on the highways and
Off to others cities built to store and
Sell these (plastic) rocks
Well aren't you feeling real dirty
Sitting in the parking lot
Sitting in the parking lot
Waiting to bleed on the big streets
That bleed out on the highways and
Off to other cities built to make and
Store these rocks
Well aren't you feeling real dirty
Sitting in your car with nothing
Waiting to bleed on the big streets
That bleed out on the highways and
Off to other cities built to store and sell
There's nothing
Convenient parking (is way back, way back)
Convenient parking (is way back, way back)
Convenient parking (is way back, way back)
Waiting to bleed on the big streets
That bleed out on the highways and
Off to others cities built to store and
Sell these (plastic) rocks
Well aren't you feeling real dirty
Sitting in the parking lot
Sitting in the parking lot
Waiting to bleed on the big streets
That bleed out on the highways and
Off to other cities built to make and
Store these rocks
Well aren't you feeling real dirty
Sitting in your car with nothing
Waiting to bleed on the big streets
That bleed out on the highways and
Off to other cities built to store and sell
There's nothing
Convenient parking (is way back, way back)
Convenient parking (is way back, way back)
Convenient parking (is way back, way back)
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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An anti-car and anti-sprawl song. "rocks" and "plastic rocks" refers to cars, as in "cities built to store and sell these rocks" in that we have built our modern cities around cars: parking lots, streets, traffic lights, car dealerships. Cars are just plastic rocks if you really think about it, and the idea of us being so obsessive about our little rocks is a little ridiculous. The whole "bleed out" concept is best demonstrated by watching the exit of a suburban shopping mall near a freeway: the cars bleed onto the road when the light changes, and then onto the freeway when the next light changes. The "bleeding" is a really good metaphor for the sort of cancer that cars and general vehicle over-reliance has become. The case can be made for this being about drug trafficking, but then what does "cities built to store and sell" have to do with drugs? No city was built on drugs (except maybe Nogales). Also, I don't see Modest Mouse making a completely ANTI-drug song, let alone following the gov't's current drug propaganda campaign about the negative indirect effects of drug use (the "My grammy died so you could get high" adverts). They do write a lot of drug songs, but they're usually about heroin or tweak.
This song is obviously not about migration, at least in the conventional sense. It's about a blacktop world, and our viral chains of traffic bleeding out onto the highways that are crowding out the life that once occupied our land like. Our vehicular lifestyle is like a disease spreading through the veins and overpowering the white blood cells. It's more than evident, through other lyrical examples (cowboy dan, for one), that Modest Mouse is opposed to development and sprawl. This song is just an ironic take on the concrete jungle we're creating here in our "Modern World". As the parking lots grow larger and spew the traffic out onto roadways in some circuitous attempt to move human cargo, our hearts constrict and become smaller, and our minds absorb less life and more automation (no pun intended).
As a simple fellow addicted to heroin, I think this song is pretty simple.
Every time I'm waiting for my dealer to call back saying he can get my boy, I'm just sitting in parking lots.. (waiting to bleed on the big streets.)
My whole problem is this constant nagging of wanting to get away. (that bleed out on the highway)
But seems no matter where I go or what I do, I seem to keep coming to places that are.. (other cities built to store and sell these rocks.) conveniently stocked with drugs.
And as a junkie I absolutely hate that I'm addicted to heroin. It's a real big inconvenience. (Well aren't you feeling real dirty, sitting in the parking lot)
AND WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS - (Well aren't you feeling real dirty Sittin' in your car with nothing.) Not only am I a junkie, I have no fucking drugs !!
I hope this opens up some minds or anything. Sorry if me admitting I'm a drug addict offends anyone. I just thought someone would actually appreciate my input although they don't approve of my lifestyle.
I dont approve of your lifestyle, but surely approve your opinions.
"Well aren't you feeling real dirty Sitting in your car with nothing Waiting to bleed on the big streets "
Urban sprawl and traffic congestion, and we brag about our perfect parking spots. Better to park "way back" and make less of an impact.
This song could also reference waiting in parking lots for drugs. That's what I always got out of it.
"sell these (plastic) rocks Well aren't you feeling real dirty Sitting in the parking lot Waiting to bleed on the big streets"
That just reminds me "sitting in your car with nothing" for hours waiting for the dealer to show up.
YES!! thats totally what i was just thinking, and also i think the part about the chain reaction is when you FINALLY get your drugs, they is a "chain reaction" that starts, which is, now that you finally have your drugs, you have to do them as soon as possible, and thus a chain reaction
@marijaunainmybrain In my opinion the bleed out into the streets and highways part is referring to the death and violence that comes with and the life of an addict and the dealers who kill each other for the right to serve them. It's a chain reaction caused by supply and demand.
"Convenient parking is way FAST!"... not "back"
Kinda gives the song a whole new meaning.
As a simple fellow addicted to heroin, I think this song is pretty simple.
Every time I'm waiting for my dealer to call back saying he can get my boy, I'm just sitting in parking lots.. (waiting to bleed on the big streets.)
My whole problem is this constant nagging of wanting to get away. (that bleed out on the highway)
But seems no matter where I go or what I do, I seem to keep coming to places that are.. (other cities built to store and sell these rocks.) conveniently stocked with drugs.
And as a junkie I absolutely hate that I'm addicted to heroin. It's a real big inconvenience. (Well aren't you feeling real dirty, sitting in the parking lot)
AND WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS - (Well aren't you feeling real dirty Sittin' in your car with nothing.) Not only am I a junkie, I have no fucking drugs !!
I hope this opens up some minds or anything. Sorry if me admitting I'm a drug addict offends anyone. I just thought someone would actually appreciate my input although they don't approve of my lifestyle.
Great song! Reminds me of when a friend ran into a pole in the parking lot Ü
lol
A song about migration. The reason the convenient parking is way back is because it's easier to leave if you're closer to the exit of the parking lot.
Rocks is right, Isaac. I mean cars. I mean... Okay well, what I pick up is that in most of their songs, there is a sort of catharsis that builds up.. even as an album and just explodes in the end or at some point for a denoument. As well, their songs carry a deep seeded symbolism that maybe hard to decipher. Well, I think in this songs case Rocks is synonymous with automobiles. I mean think about it. About, I'd say, 80% mass of most cars is some kind of metalic alloy. And where do your get metal? No not 80's hair bands! You get it from the earth. you excract it through some coking process. And I believe also that he's making some commentary about the desire to live in a fast food society... and how it's completely overrated. I hope i have typos.
love,
mathias