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.
Now kid I know I haven't been a perfect man
And I've avoided doing things I know I can
But if I've learned one thing to tattoo on my arm
Or burn into my thumb it would be that
You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Oh Max Schmeling was a formidable foe
The Ambling Alp was too at least that's what I'm told
But if you learn one thing you've learned it well
In June you must give fascists hell
They'll run but they can't hide
You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
And when those thunder clouds are cryin'
(In the skies, in the skies)
And when those fireflies keep shining,
(In your eyes, in your eyes)
Keep your mind on the time,
With your ass on the line,
Keep your fleet feet sliding
(Side, to the side)
Now the world can be an unfair place at times
But your lows will have their compliment of highs
And if anyone should cheat you
Take advantage of or beat you raise your head
And wear your wounds with pride
You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
And I've avoided doing things I know I can
But if I've learned one thing to tattoo on my arm
Or burn into my thumb it would be that
You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Oh Max Schmeling was a formidable foe
The Ambling Alp was too at least that's what I'm told
But if you learn one thing you've learned it well
In June you must give fascists hell
They'll run but they can't hide
You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
And when those thunder clouds are cryin'
(In the skies, in the skies)
And when those fireflies keep shining,
(In your eyes, in your eyes)
Keep your mind on the time,
With your ass on the line,
Keep your fleet feet sliding
(Side, to the side)
Now the world can be an unfair place at times
But your lows will have their compliment of highs
And if anyone should cheat you
Take advantage of or beat you raise your head
And wear your wounds with pride
You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Lyrics submitted by stickupfoyoselfson
Ambling Alp Lyrics as written by Christopher E Keating Anand Mathew Wilder
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
IMO this fantastic song is about sticking up for justice in an unjust world. It is full of metaphor but extends beyond just that. This is inspired poetry.
First off, these lyrics are not quite right. The line: Until you must get past yourself should be: In June you must give fascists Hell
Of course the major metaphor here is Joe Louis going up against Max Schmeling and the Ambling Alp. It is true that both times Louis fought Schmelling were in the month of June, and so was Louis's fight against the Ambling Alp.
However, no one has mentioned what I think is a clear political and symbolic dimension to this metaphor. From absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Joe_Louis:
Louis' defeat of Carnera, who symbolized Benito Mussolini's regime in the popular eye, was seen as a victory for the international community, particularly among African Americans, who were sympathetic to Ethiopia during its occupation by Italy.
Similarly, Louis's rivalry with Schmeling had additional dimensions. Schmeling's victory over Louis in their first match was hailed by Nazi propagandists as evidence of the superiority of the Arayan race over blacks and other races. When Louis came back and defeated Schmeling in their second match, it was a crushing blow to the Nazi machine.
Joe Louis joined the US Army and was assigned to the Special Services Division, where he took part in boxing matches to elevate "espirit des corps". He also participated in a campaign calling African-Americans to enlist in the US armed forces despite racial segregation. Quote, "Lots of things wrong with America, but Hitler ain't going to fix them." Despite being a black man in a time of prolific racism, Louis was a major figure of inspiration for Americans and an esteemed ambassador to the world. Louis became immensely popular when he told the media, "We'll win, because we're on God's side."
So with this context laid out, let's go another layer deep, like in Inception. I think the metaphor of Louis fighting Schmeling and Carnera (the Ambling Alp) can be extrapolated to a secondary metaphor of the United States fighting Germany and Italy in World War II. In this light, the Ambling Alp represents Mussolini/Italy and Schmeling represents Hitler/Germany (with Louis of course standing in for the US). Also in this light, "In June you must give fascists Hell" could be an allusion to D-Day, 6 June 1944. Further proof is in the fact that Schmeling and Carnera weren't necessarily facists themselves. The Ambling Alp eventually moved to LA and pursued the American dream, opening a restaurant and liquor store. Schmeling, while he may have let himself be exploited by the Nazi regime, did risk his life to save two Jewish children.
Finally, I see a lot of parallels between these lyrics and themes in "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller, which is an excellent and important book that you should all read. It is also about combating injustice from within a world where injustice is the norm. It's even possible that Ampling Alp was in part inspired by "Catch-22" ("(fireflies) in your eyes, anyone?), but I'm probably reading too far in.
In any case this is a fantastic song with several levels of poetic depth. Thank you, Yeasayer. And thank you KEXP for introducing me to this and other great music (best radio station in the world people, check it out, kexp.org).
Stick up for yourself, son. Yossarian lives!
Best analysis I've read yet.
And when those thunder clouds are crying in the skies, in the skies And when those fireflies keep shining In your eyes, in your eyes Keep your minds on the time With the (...) on the line Keep your feet slide into the sky, into the sky
And one more verse in the single version.
Also, isn't it "Speak up for yourself" after the 2nd verse?
Hi guys, just thought you should know most of the lyrics on here are incorrect.
As quoted from: slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2009/11/05/track-of-the-week-yeasayer-s-ambling-alp.aspx
"Jody Rosen: Jonah, forget Rusted Root. Try Baha Men. One of the things I love about “Ambling Alp”–and there’s lots I love about this clattery art-pop freakout–is the fact that it’s a stealth jock jam. As best I can make out, the second verse goes like this: “Oh, Max Schmeling was a formidable foe/ The Ambling Alp was too, at least that’s what I’m told/ But if you learn one thing, you’ve learned it well/ It’s true, you must give fascists hell.” The user-generated lyrics sites that I checked have a totally mangled version of the words. (“Old Man Schlemming” etc.) Evidently there’s a history-literacy problem in the hipster community. Worse: there’s a boxing-literacy problem. See, the song’s about Joe Louis and two of his famous opponents: Primo Carnera, the pugilist-hero of Mussolini’s regime, and, of course, Hitler’s beloved Schmeling, Louis’ foe in two legendary 1930s bouts. “Ambling Alp” sounds like some “poetic” indie-rock nonsense; it was actually Carnera’s nickname. (The dude was a man-mountain.)"
I mean, seriously, read up on some history and clean the wax out of your ears before you type up lyrics. Sheesh!
nice catch. yeah i googled amblin alp because i had this image of a giant man mountain like buddha wandering around spreading a message of peace and standing up to adversity. Then I found out it was old time boxing legend, Primo's nickname. Then I read Schmelling in the lyrics and it clicked. He was the Nazi's olympic superman, so the song had to be about the legend of the Brown Bomber. I'm not sure hipsters are exactly well known for their sense of history, though. Sense of retro maybe. Not the same thing.
Haha, way to show those clueless hipsters!<br /> <br /> No, really, maybe try not being such an insufferable know-it-all.
yea good call but no need to be such a douche. are you one of those know it all hipsters who puts himself above the normal hipsters?
Oooooh! Hipster fight!
faggots are gay
I like how your idea of doing research is reading a blog. how non-hip of you...<br /> <br /> Also that's a super surface level interpretation of the song and, while yes that's what the lyrics are about, there is some amount of irony and metaphor throughout the song.
Admitting this is a copy and paste from Wikipedia, it has a footnote so go check it out if you are skeptical-instead of criticizing me too. <br /> <br /> "In 2009, the band Yeasayer came out with a song titled "Ambling Alp" which imagines what advice Joe Louis's father might have given him prior to becoming a prizefighter. The song references adversities and opponents, including Max Schmeling and Primo Carnera, Louis had to overcome in his career.[113]"<br /> <br /> I think we could loosen up a bit.'dizzymisslizzy' gave me great information that helped me know where to look next...if you're discrediting (presumably) her for researching on a blog, what exactly would you have done? She is useful, not insufferable. Don't fight needlessly. Judging from the superficial perspective of internet posts, 'pGFP' may have shown the most maturity when he said "Oooooh! Hipster fight!". Really, you make this a lot less pleasant.
I love love love the music in this song, it makes me want to dance XD!
i know not all of the words are right, but i guessed the best i could when i wasn't sure. if anyone has any ideas please share
But if you learn one thing, you've learned it well<br /> It's true you must give facists hell.
i think the correct words on the first verse are:<br /> <br /> now kid i know i haven't been a perfect man<br /> and i've avoided doing things i know i can<br /> but if i've learned one thing to tattoo on my arm or burn into my thumb<br /> it would be that....
The next verse is
Now the world can be an unfair place at times But your lows will have their compliment of highs And if anyone should cheat you, take advantage of or beat you raise your hand and wear your wounds with pride
Also, the end of the second verse sounds like:
In June you must give fascists hell, They'll run but they can't hide
To be fair to the late Schmeling, he was not a Nazi, but a prop used by the regime to promote their ideology. Apparently, he did help a few Jews escape from Germany, or something to that extent! He also became friends with Joe Louis later in his life.
Great song! :)
I think it's "keep your fleet feet sliding". I keep distinctly hearing an "L" making it fleet as opposed to feet. anyone agree?
i agree! it's definitely fleet feet.
There's a good discussion of the lyrics going on over on the vimeo version of their video.
vimeo.com/8891877
Join in the fun!