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'll be the first to admit this is a bright but haunted age
I just don't know now now I just can't say hey hey
When you get down down to the heart and the bones of it
Thats when it breaks you know, thats when it falls apart
but thats the prize now
oh caveat emptor, open the atoms core
but thats the prize now
oh caveat emptor open the atoms core
oh caveat emptor open the atoms core
Whoa!
Oh Oh i just dont get it
And you keep slipping down the surface of things
i just cant take it now, i just cant wait for more
when you get down down to the sub atomic part of it
thats when it breaks you know, thats when it falls apart
oh caveat emptor, open the atoms core
Whoa!
Whoa!
Oh Oh I just don't get it
Get it
Oh I Just dont get it
Get It! Get It! Get It!
I just don't get it
Whoa!
I I just don't get it
No I, I Just don't get it
Just dont get it
get it get it get it get it
oh
Whats wrong with you?
ey lad?
*sounds of a crying baby being spat on*
I just don't know now now I just can't say hey hey
When you get down down to the heart and the bones of it
Thats when it breaks you know, thats when it falls apart
but thats the prize now
oh caveat emptor, open the atoms core
but thats the prize now
oh caveat emptor open the atoms core
oh caveat emptor open the atoms core
Whoa!
Oh Oh i just dont get it
And you keep slipping down the surface of things
i just cant take it now, i just cant wait for more
when you get down down to the sub atomic part of it
thats when it breaks you know, thats when it falls apart
oh caveat emptor, open the atoms core
Whoa!
Whoa!
Oh Oh I just don't get it
Get it
Oh I Just dont get it
Get It! Get It! Get It!
I just don't get it
Whoa!
I I just don't get it
No I, I Just don't get it
Just dont get it
get it get it get it get it
oh
Whats wrong with you?
ey lad?
*sounds of a crying baby being spat on*
Lyrics submitted by boroaskitur
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Great version of a great song,
first comment ever!
terrific song, haven't even had time to analyze it yet.
well "caveat emptor" is latin for "buyer beware," so i think he's saying that if you're gonna go look into the details of things be prepared for what you're going to find, and whatever you find it's your fault for looking.
obviously it's about looking down at life on the atomic or sub-atomic level, which could be interpreted as our society today is so concerned with the tiniest of details that it's becoming a problem.
"bright but haunted age" could mean bright as in smart and also hopeful because of our science advances but haunted because we are looking at what we are never supposed to have seen by nature. and when we look at things up close, things will just stop making sense.
basically ignorance is bliss in different terms.
and the baby crying at the end with sounds of spitting...means society today isn't showing any respect for the coming generations and spitting on the future of mankind?
oh and "And you keep slipping down the surface of things" could be an allusion to the saying of a "slippery slope," where once you start on it you can't stop. now that society has started on this path we won't be able to stop.
wow ok someone needs to post besides me :P
theres this.... um ... stuff called 'dark matter' that apparrently holds the universe together and it appears to change its behaviour when its being observed. at the moment its all theory but scientists are worried that if they look at it to much they might alter the dark matter sufficiently that the universe could cease to exist. kinda what this song is getting at but also rather interesting in itself i think
cant wait to see them live in january and cant wait for the new album
i think athe over analysis can refer to human personal relations too.
i think athe over analysis can refer to human personal relations too.
I think the song is simply about the bizarreness of quantum mechanics and subatomic particles. The laws of physics "fall apart" when you get to that level. It's just too complex and counter-intuitive so he doesn't "get it"!
i just read max weber's "science as a vocation," and they really seem to be connected. maybe not intentionally, but nevertheless.
max weber writes that science can theoretically explain everything except for itself, and how we should live our lives. science and technology are always advancing and answering question only ends up creating more questions, and that one who bases his/her whole life on science will never be satisfied because there is no end to advancement. it's like having a graph in map with a limit, you can approach it but you will never reach it. whereas things like art are timeless and are never replaced by advances in technology or humanity.
i think this song really speaks to that and the importance of not letting science take emotion or belief out of live.
oh i just don't get it :(
it's quantum mechanics. haha.