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.
Me and my baby on a February holiday
'cause we got the news
Yeah, we got the news
500 miles and we're gonna make it all the way
We've got nothing to lose
We've got nothing to lose
it's been 10 years waiting
But it's better late than the never
We've been told before
We can't wait one minute more
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
At city hall
me and my baby've been through
A lot of good and bad
Learned to kiss the sky
Made our momma's cry
I've seen a lot of friends
After giving it all they had
Lay down and die
Lay down and die
10 years into it
Here's our window
At the vegas drive-through chapel
It ain't too much
For 'em all to handle
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
At city hall
outside, they're handing out
Donuts and pizza pies
For the folks in pairs in the folding chairs
My baby's lookin' so damned pretty
With those anxious eyes
Rain-speckled hair
And my ring to wear
10 years waiting for this moment of fate
When we say the words and sign our names
If they take it away again someday
This beautiful thing won't change
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
At city hall
'cause we got the news
Yeah, we got the news
500 miles and we're gonna make it all the way
We've got nothing to lose
We've got nothing to lose
it's been 10 years waiting
But it's better late than the never
We've been told before
We can't wait one minute more
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
At city hall
me and my baby've been through
A lot of good and bad
Learned to kiss the sky
Made our momma's cry
I've seen a lot of friends
After giving it all they had
Lay down and die
Lay down and die
10 years into it
Here's our window
At the vegas drive-through chapel
It ain't too much
For 'em all to handle
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
At city hall
outside, they're handing out
Donuts and pizza pies
For the folks in pairs in the folding chairs
My baby's lookin' so damned pretty
With those anxious eyes
Rain-speckled hair
And my ring to wear
10 years waiting for this moment of fate
When we say the words and sign our names
If they take it away again someday
This beautiful thing won't change
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
oh, me and my baby driving down
To a hilly seaside town in the rainfall
Oh, me and my baby stand in line
You've never seen a sight so fine
As the love that's gonna shine
At city hall
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Light Up The Sky
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This song is clearly about the mayor of San Francisco (a hilly seaside town) performing marriages for homosexual couples. I think that this is the best song off of her newest CD. I gave it to one of my best friends and her girlfriend, who happens to be from San Francisco, to listen to and told them they have to use it at there wedding. One of the things that has always impressed me about Vienna is her ability to write songs from the point of view of other people and still have them seem genuine. As a Heterosexual Female it is impressive for her to write songs from the points of view of people ranging from a homosexual who is finally being able to marry the person they love after being together for ten years, (just as a side note the average lifespan of a heterosexual marriage in America today is less then 10 years) to a male truck driver finding insight into life from a chance meeting with someone from where he grew up, to a pregnant woman who is contemplating an abortion. All of these are situations she has never been in and I think it’s her empathy that makes her such a fantastic songwriter and musician.
Yes, this song is inspired by the brief window from February 12 to March 11, 2004 when the Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, legalized gay marriage.
@Camhi Which songs are the other two you mentioned?
That gave me goosbumbs big, big, BIG time!
i think vienna teng is not only an amazing singer and a sweet person, but she is a wonderful poet. she puts meaning into her songs through subtle messages and light wording that you almost miss. love this song!
She sings "February" without the first "r." I have a slight problem with that in the same way that I have a slight problem with "nucular," but then, I can be a pedantic asshole. Son of an English teacher and all.
Such a wonderful artist, and the spirit and hope (which I must believe will be fulfilled in the end) that drive this song deserve massive appreciation.
Thanks for the background, merrydrought. While this song is clearly about our city by the bay, I would not have guessed the link to "Unwritten Letter no. 1," and it's pretty cool.
Raffishtenant2, you have a problem with her singing "February" in an obviously colloquial way (that half the country actually uses), but you're all right with "Me and my baby"? Perhaps a talk with your father, the English teacher, might be in order? (Or maybe you should just refrain from nitpicking?)
I was born in FebRuary so I guess I am a pedantic asshole, too.
I absolutely adore Vienna Teng, and it pains me that she's not a hugely popular artist. This song is absolutely genius, catchy, and uplifting. I often put all 3 of her CDs on shuffle, and the first couple times I heard this one I only really remembered the "Oh-oh-ohhh" bits, but once I got to listen to it properly I was blown away by both the message and the exectution. She's amazing, nuff said.
I saw Vienna perform, and before playing this she said she wanted to write a song about gay marriage that wasn't too political or preechy, so she wrote about the happiness that someone feels when they find someone they want to spend the rest of their life with- something that everyone can relate to. And she made clear references to San Fransisco, of course.
It's kinda funny - I always heard "the love that's gonna shine" as "the law that's gonna shine" haha. I guess love is a whole lot more poetic.
Anyway, I also love the folksy-country lilt to this - it's cheerful, and really open-minded, in the sense that one commonly associates that style with regions of America that reject homosexuality and all that. So it's ironic, but in a positive way, which is lovely for a change (considering how nasty arguments around this subject can turn). <3
Vienna has a friend (who is, interestingly enough, the subject of "Unwritten Letter no. 1") who was married to his partner at San Francisco City Hall.
Is "Learned to kiss the sky" in this song a reference to the famous mondegreen? ("Scuse me while I kiss the sky" in a Jimi Hendrix song is sometimes misheard as "Scuse me while I kiss this guy".)
I'd like to think it's about finally getting to hold up our heads without shame or recrimination, and openly and publicly proclaim our love for another.
I was just at her show in Northampton, MA last night, and believe it or not she was talking about this site before she played City Hall. She mentioned your question specifically; the answer is yes ^^
My Baby and I still cannot get married in my home state.