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.
Im trying not to slip/ been trying not to lose footing/
Loose land keeps the pressure on my kicks/
and when I fall I tend to land like a ton of bricks/
stand like a man made of concrete and sediment like/ f
uck your skin nobody needs it theres/ Bones and muscles and blood/
Whats realer than fat and tendons?/
Its raw no soft tissue to draw your eyes to it so far flesh aint the truest at all lets rip into it/
Were all sick of them missed shots/
passed over like the last man picked no team so pissed off/
and/ thats not honesty/
thats just soft curves got your world flipped/
got you makin mixtapes for girls/
and thats the skin again/
lets blame the skin again/ stretching itself so fluidly over these awkward/ ligaments/
and I didnt shave today/
I prolly wont tomorrow and its safe to say Im never gonna shed this extra (yeah)/
Chorus:
So fuck it back to the wall/
crush it/ laugh at em all/
hush/ let em try to find the beauty in your face/
something more than a song/
they hatin? Aw come on/
dust/ let em try to find the beauty in the bassline/
aw but then them words dont change/
we wont sing with what will fade away/
yeah we do our own damn thing/
we dont blink at what tomorrow might bring (at all)/
Aw but then them words they dont change/
we wont sing with what will fade away/
yeah we do our own damn thing/
we dont blink at what tomorrow might bring (at all)/
Verse 2
Of how tomorrow might sting/ at all/
in us we trust/ no rush for bucks/
no sweat just enough/ them words from love/ no hits/
I let the track stand/ like how it was written is how it hit me/
or road cycle kids with the grip to skid a fixies/
a rouge wild kid with a stroll that let it roll/ like whatever/
they kick that gingivitis/ them rappers got the itis/
catch me bumpin Isis in a crisis/
instead of watchin yall count and lead sheep at the same time/
whats the science of that?/
I know the ( ) is sweet/ but where the movement at?
We in that coma capital/ spotless home team/
with hands steadily purelled/ germ-exed/
but never quite clean/ bloody as hell rarely will I ever care (for that)/
Chorus x2
So fuck it back to the wall/
crush it/ laugh at em all/
hush/ let em try to find the beauty in your face/
something more than a song/
they hatin? Aw come on/
dust/ let em try to find the beauty in the bassline/
aw but then them words they dont change/
we wont sing with what will fade away/
yeah we do our own damn thing/
we dont blink at what tomorrow might bring (at all)/
Loose land keeps the pressure on my kicks/
and when I fall I tend to land like a ton of bricks/
stand like a man made of concrete and sediment like/ f
uck your skin nobody needs it theres/ Bones and muscles and blood/
Whats realer than fat and tendons?/
Its raw no soft tissue to draw your eyes to it so far flesh aint the truest at all lets rip into it/
Were all sick of them missed shots/
passed over like the last man picked no team so pissed off/
and/ thats not honesty/
thats just soft curves got your world flipped/
got you makin mixtapes for girls/
and thats the skin again/
lets blame the skin again/ stretching itself so fluidly over these awkward/ ligaments/
and I didnt shave today/
I prolly wont tomorrow and its safe to say Im never gonna shed this extra (yeah)/
Chorus:
So fuck it back to the wall/
crush it/ laugh at em all/
hush/ let em try to find the beauty in your face/
something more than a song/
they hatin? Aw come on/
dust/ let em try to find the beauty in the bassline/
aw but then them words dont change/
we wont sing with what will fade away/
yeah we do our own damn thing/
we dont blink at what tomorrow might bring (at all)/
Aw but then them words they dont change/
we wont sing with what will fade away/
yeah we do our own damn thing/
we dont blink at what tomorrow might bring (at all)/
Verse 2
Of how tomorrow might sting/ at all/
in us we trust/ no rush for bucks/
no sweat just enough/ them words from love/ no hits/
I let the track stand/ like how it was written is how it hit me/
or road cycle kids with the grip to skid a fixies/
a rouge wild kid with a stroll that let it roll/ like whatever/
they kick that gingivitis/ them rappers got the itis/
catch me bumpin Isis in a crisis/
instead of watchin yall count and lead sheep at the same time/
whats the science of that?/
I know the ( ) is sweet/ but where the movement at?
We in that coma capital/ spotless home team/
with hands steadily purelled/ germ-exed/
but never quite clean/ bloody as hell rarely will I ever care (for that)/
Chorus x2
So fuck it back to the wall/
crush it/ laugh at em all/
hush/ let em try to find the beauty in your face/
something more than a song/
they hatin? Aw come on/
dust/ let em try to find the beauty in the bassline/
aw but then them words they dont change/
we wont sing with what will fade away/
yeah we do our own damn thing/
we dont blink at what tomorrow might bring (at all)/
Lyrics submitted by liesnevermiss
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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I think this is a multi-topic song, as most rap-styled music is, but one of my favorite points is one that was vaguely explained by the person above me.-That the perception of outer physical beauty tarnishes peoples percetions of others. For example, you see the percieved "ugly" girl sitting in the corner of the room at the karaoke bar, and would never assume that she could sing. In fact, you would likely assume that she couldnt sing. How could she? She's "ugly". Then, the beautiful girl gets up and goes to the mic, and your brain expects beauty to come out of her mouth. How could something so beautiful not be able to sing beautifully? And yet, she sings, and it's awful. Then the perceptionally "ugly" girl gets up and has the most beautiful voice you've ever heard. No matter how righteous we all claim to be, everyone has been guilty of thinking this way. And here in this song, P.O.S. addressed the fact that the skin and bone is the least important part of who you are. Bravo.
"fuck your skin nobody needs it theres/ Bones and muscles and blood/ Whats realer than fat and tendons?/ Its raw no soft tissue to draw your eyes to it so far flesh aint the truest at all lets rip into it/ Were all sick of them missed shots/ passed over like the last man picked no team so pissed off/ and/ thats not honesty/ thats just soft curves got your world flipped/ got you makin mixtapes for girls/ and thats the skin again/ lets blame the skin again/ stretching itself so fluidly over these awkward/ ligaments/ and I didnt shave today/ I prolly wont tomorrow and its safe to say Im never gonna shed this extra..."
this is definitely an early favorite of mine from the new album
It's almost impossible for me to pick a favorite. I like the way a lot of them sound but as I'm uploading the lyrics I'm finding the wording of some of them just so awesome.
this is an amazing song.
for me it talks about throwing all of your worries and your feelings about the future and about what people think about you.
just being who you really are and not giving a shit. allowing people to find to true beauty under your skin.
its lyrics touch on several other ideas but i have to go listen to it another 10 times before i go to bed!
thanks, p.o.s.
i think that this saong is about how physical attractiveness can mess up everything
got you makin mixtapes for girls/ and thats the skin again/ lets blame the skin again/ stretching itself so fluidly over these awkward/ ligaments/
I absoloutely love this song! I sometimes get emotional listening to it. (That's the power of music done right)! I love how it builds up to the chorus and then the drums just HIT, it's amazing!!!
well, i believe that this song is about one thing. it's about being human. and how we all are. TADAAAHH!