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.
I was living in a newtown
I had problems with my parents
So I moved on up to London town
Where they said that things were happening, going down
Chorus:
Living in a bedsit
Bunking the tube trains
Sleeping all day long
And you know no one, 'cause you don't go out,
'cause you've got no work
You just watch television
Living with unemployment I, I ain't got a job And, there's no work in the city
They, they always try to blame it on the blacks
But it's really those in power that stab you in the back
Chorus
'round our way, we ain't got a lot
And after two years on the dole, I felt I'd been left to rot
But now I've joined the Army and, believe it or not
I'm going to Northern Ireland and, I'm going to get shot!
Chorus
Living with unemployment Oh you get so lonely
Living with unemployment
It gets so frustrating
Living with unemployment
And the Neurotics wanna tell you, what it's like to be
Unemployed, out of work, unemployed, out of work (repeat)
"Try to stay, out of trouble dear..."
It's lonely for you
And it's lonely for me
It's lonely for all of us - can't you see?
Chorus
Living with unemployment
Oh you get so lonely
Living with unemployment
It gets so frustrating
Living with unemployment - living without
When you're out of work
They treat you like dirt
When you're out of work
They treat you like dirt
It's all part of the plan (8)
We are the scroungers (4)
Living with unemployment
I had problems with my parents
So I moved on up to London town
Where they said that things were happening, going down
Chorus:
Living in a bedsit
Bunking the tube trains
Sleeping all day long
And you know no one, 'cause you don't go out,
'cause you've got no work
You just watch television
Living with unemployment I, I ain't got a job And, there's no work in the city
They, they always try to blame it on the blacks
But it's really those in power that stab you in the back
Chorus
'round our way, we ain't got a lot
And after two years on the dole, I felt I'd been left to rot
But now I've joined the Army and, believe it or not
I'm going to Northern Ireland and, I'm going to get shot!
Chorus
Living with unemployment Oh you get so lonely
Living with unemployment
It gets so frustrating
Living with unemployment
And the Neurotics wanna tell you, what it's like to be
Unemployed, out of work, unemployed, out of work (repeat)
"Try to stay, out of trouble dear..."
It's lonely for you
And it's lonely for me
It's lonely for all of us - can't you see?
Chorus
Living with unemployment
Oh you get so lonely
Living with unemployment
It gets so frustrating
Living with unemployment - living without
When you're out of work
They treat you like dirt
When you're out of work
They treat you like dirt
It's all part of the plan (8)
We are the scroungers (4)
Living with unemployment
Lyrics submitted by bootboysteve
Living With Unemployment Lyrics as written by Carroll Tesco
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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"'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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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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Banks won't talk to you, and credit card companies don't want you using them if you are drawing an unemployment check, but you can get payday loans. Payday loans lenders are technically forbidden from discriminating for any reason, as per Federal law (as are all lenders) but honestly, you shouldn't get a payday loan if on unemployment. That's when you should tighten the belt until you find a job — but if you absolutely MUST, please be responsible. Payday loans lenders are just as hard up for business as banks are these days, and even if it is only <a href="personalmoneystore.com/Short-Term-Loans/"><strong>short term loans</strong></a> a person is looking for, if you're on unemployment you should pare back expenses to the absolute barest minimum.