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.
Hail to those who have come from the sunlight that surrounds you
Pray for those who have gone from the sunlight that surrounds you
Hail to those who have come from the sunlight that surrounds you
Pray for those who have gone from the sunlight that surrounds you
Pretend all the good things are for you
Hail to those who have come from the sunlight that surrounds you
Hail to whatever you've found in the sunlight that surrounds you
Pretend all the good things are for you, pretend all the good things are for me too
And the weather changes not halfway between your house and mine
Pretend all the good things are for you, pretend all the good things are for me too
And the weather changes not halfway between your house and mine
And all of the good things are for me, and all of the good things are for you too
And the weather changes not halfway between your house and mine
Pray for those who have gone from the sunlight that surrounds you
Hail to those who have come from the sunlight that surrounds you
Pray for those who have gone from the sunlight that surrounds you
Pretend all the good things are for you
Hail to those who have come from the sunlight that surrounds you
Hail to whatever you've found in the sunlight that surrounds you
Pretend all the good things are for you, pretend all the good things are for me too
And the weather changes not halfway between your house and mine
Pretend all the good things are for you, pretend all the good things are for me too
And the weather changes not halfway between your house and mine
And all of the good things are for me, and all of the good things are for you too
And the weather changes not halfway between your house and mine
Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You song meanings
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I think it's sarcastic - she's talking to someone who thinks they're the centre of the world, someone who thinks they have a ray of light shining around them. It's the 'whatever' in 'hail to whatever you found in the sunlight' that makes me think it's sarcastic.
Of course, this song takes a shot at religion and not Christianity alone. The song is based on a premise of sarcasm until the band breaks the deal with the keywords “pretend all the good things for me.”
Very subtle but effective.
I think it's about religion. "Hail to whatever you found in the sunlight that surrounds you" ie., if you think you found religion because of seeing beautiful things, great. I think it's kind of saying "hey, it's just sunlight, there isn't a deeper spiritual meaning behind it", which can also be seen when she says "pretend all the good things are for you" ie., pretend karma exists. This would make sense since Rabbit Fur Coat had these same agnostic themes.
I caught a religious element as well. I saw the sunlight as those old paintings of saints, with the halo looking like the sun shining behind their heads. I see sarcasm... she is telling, well, Jesus/Christians that whatever they found in sunlight (God) is just dandy, go ahead, pray for those who have left Christianity, but they still think that everything good is for them ("pretend all the good things are for you") and maybe even for her (I'm assuming that here she means someone specific who desperately wants to think that she takes part in that sunshine), but the weather (sunshine) changes not even halfway between their house (church) and hers.
'pretend all the good things are for you, pretend all the good things are got me too'. aw, cute.
rilo kiley is the best band ever
but what does it mean ????
It's about happiness. "The sunlight" is happiness, to be specific. Praising everything around you that makes you happy, make sure to pray and think good thoughts for those who are no longer basking in the light of happiness.
i'm listening to rilo kiley playing this at the 2003 elliott smith tribute right now, and it's making me think that it's about people around you that you admire. "Hail to those who have come from the sunlight that surrounds you." You should admire the people around you that are amazing. I guess that reading of it makes it really fitting for the Elliott Smith tribute.
I dont know what to make of this song, but this line right here kind of expresses some negativity:
Pray for those who have gone from the sunlight that surrounds you
Like shes telling someone to pray for those who were in love with that person...
kinda weird
I could be way off, but initially i thought this was about death and birth. Jenny is talking about the good things that are entering and leaving the sunlight. Or if not about life and death, just the people that come into your life. When she says "pretend all the good things are for you" shes saying ignore the fact that it is untrue, but good people come into you life specifically for your benefit.