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.
We know that we could sell your magazines
If only you would give your life to literature just
Don't read Jane Eyre!
Work on your algebra
And stand out in the rain
And give yourself to simple pleasures but
Never play card games!
Meanwhile, back at home
Not in communist Russia
Well only on my headphones
We plot our march onto the town hall
And if we'd take prisoners
Or simply simper at those fools
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
Tonight we're gonna smash this place up
And then we're gonna deck it out with fairy lights till
We are content!
And then we'll maybe drown in Dewey decimals
But leave our shoes off at the door 'cause
That was the point!
Of us at home with the moon
Pouring through the curtains
Working on our attitude
Towards the second hand book shop employees
Reading the inscriptions
That were never meant for their eyes
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
I'm stitching up each one of your pockets
So when we are together you'll maybe look a little less bored
I'm sticking your fingers into sockets
To kick-start your little heart and maybe sleep a tiny bit more
Oh maybe we should read more into the books that we adore
Perhaps we should drink less vitamin c
And now I'm shouting out in capital letters
"I will throw you high fives if you keep your own secrets!!"
If only you would give your life to literature just
Don't read Jane Eyre!
Work on your algebra
And stand out in the rain
And give yourself to simple pleasures but
Never play card games!
Meanwhile, back at home
Not in communist Russia
Well only on my headphones
We plot our march onto the town hall
And if we'd take prisoners
Or simply simper at those fools
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
Tonight we're gonna smash this place up
And then we're gonna deck it out with fairy lights till
We are content!
And then we'll maybe drown in Dewey decimals
But leave our shoes off at the door 'cause
That was the point!
Of us at home with the moon
Pouring through the curtains
Working on our attitude
Towards the second hand book shop employees
Reading the inscriptions
That were never meant for their eyes
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
Please don't tell me to do the math
I'm stitching up each one of your pockets
So when we are together you'll maybe look a little less bored
I'm sticking your fingers into sockets
To kick-start your little heart and maybe sleep a tiny bit more
Oh maybe we should read more into the books that we adore
Perhaps we should drink less vitamin c
And now I'm shouting out in capital letters
"I will throw you high fives if you keep your own secrets!!"
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I absolutely love this song. Just a great beat, great sound, and great to dance to.
fantastic song. i think it must be a bit about american people cos the chorus is 'please don't tell me to do the math' and 'you do the math' is an american phrase.
I think that this is definitely about the hypocrisy of authority figures in young peoples lives, particularly the education system. I know for a fact that in America this is the case, because they try to stop us from reading certain books before we study them in class but then they encourage a love of reading. They strongly advise us against reading "Catcher in the Rye" and "Jane Eyre" and any number of other great, classic books because there is a vague possibility that we will study them later on.
The song is about using the things we learn in books to take over the establishment. In the end it tells us that maybe we should all just read what we want to, which can also be taken to mean that we should govern our own lives and do whatever we wish. The last line though is funny because it says we should keep it all to ourselves, perhaps the establishment can't handle the thought of rebellion? Perhaps making it public is futile? It reminds me a bit of Winston Smith in George Orwell's 1984 who has to keep any telling expressions of free thought to himself. Ironic that the idea can be found in the books themselves. =D
"And then we'll maybe drown in Dewey decimals" Unbelievable line.
This is indeed a good a song.
I was lying on my bed while reading "Jane Eyre" when this song played on iTunes. Ironically, I came to part in the novel where I no longer wanted to continue because the turn of events. Too bad :P
"Meanwhile, back at home Not in communist Russia Well only on my headphones"
A reference to the band 'Meanwhile, back in Communist Russia...', a now defunct post-rock band from Oxford England.
Also, "sticking fingers into sockets" is a reference to Nosferatu D2's (whom Gareth has mentioned on the blog a bit of late) 'Flying Things and Pests:<br /> <br /> "Let's stick our fingers in the sockets and make this evening interesting".