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.
know that you'll soon go crazy just like a whittling stick / hit by the coming daylight cut up in a quick succession / a pointed confession really stripped of all your armor / down to your very nature beneath the haze and vapor gaze / you're such a willing stick to beckon that wanting knife / you've been looking for it the right blade all your life / saying "who's gonna cut me down to a size that suits me? / is there a worthy sculptor among all you fine young knives?" / it's enough to make you take your head and put it on a shelf / to cut the heart out of your chest they'll come for that as well / tell me how you do that crazy trick where you walk around asleep / save it for your doctor friend the one who keeps you under lock and key / you'll soon go screaming like bargain basement lunatic who's / not so specialized that they couldn't just replace you / why don't you start crying for all that you've got left here / why don't you stop dying before you go and get it right / now you're selling off the house so you can buy the farm / you cut the heart out of your chest to let the light in through your arm / it's enough to make you take your head and put it in a bag / to cut the teeth out at the pink now there's nothing in the bag / foul weather friend you are so dying an amateur chemist now / king medicine when is it perfect? where is it taking you? / there is no cure only reprieve some fleeting joy posing as balance / nothing is sure so every four hours king medicine / this subject loves you
Lyrics submitted by PLANES
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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,
"...reprieve some fleeting joy posing as balance..." Yep, yep. Observant, no?
I'm not sure if anyone else gets this out of this song, but I think it could be talking about destructive relationships. It's hard to explain.
about a girl he loves who sees a psychiatrist. the willing stick and fine young knives metaphore is pretty straightforward. she beckons guys, and it makes him crazy and want to give up, "it's enough to make you take yourhead and put it in a bag". there are a lot of puzzleing lines like "tell me how you do that crazy trick where you walk around asleep" and "now you're selling off the house so you can buy the farm" the end if pretty clear, the girl is hurt emotionally and uses drugs probably prescribed by a psychiatrist, but he doesn't think drugs are helping since they only provide "there is no cure, only reprieve / some fleeting joy posing as balance"
what an intense build up and climax, sweet song
"Buy the farm" means to die.
the fine young knives part is the greatest. and i love how the tone changes so drastically to a dramatic one at the end.. after "before you go and get it RIGHT" JTB ROCKS.
I agree with maybeillcatchfire
That's interesting, I never looked at it like that. It always struck me as a song about Heroin. (IE: "Let the light in through your arm" [to inject the drug with a hypodermic needle])
Yeah this song is totally about heroin. 'why don't you stop dying before you go and get it right' stop using or you're going to kill yourself. 'you've been looking for the right blade all your life' somebody who's been looking to self destruct for a long time (probably has already gone through lots of other drugs etc), he keeps talking about bags and that's street talk for heroin (often shortened to 'b' for bag), 'selling off the house so you can buy the farm' selling your possessions to support the habit but ultimately you're gonna die from it 'buy the farm'. As CatfishClyde said, 'let the light in through your arm' , 'cut your teeth out at the pink' heroin rots your teeth, 'amateur chemist' drug user, 'every four hours' needs a fix.
This is the first JTB song I ever heard and it really blew me away, it's super powerful. I love the way it really builds up into a frenzy. I also love the line 'bargain basement lunatic' it's a great description!
I see a message of self injury, I think that's why he raises his tone on "KNIVES".
I see a message of self injury, I think that's why he raises his tone on "KNIVES".
I hear tell this song is about The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.