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.
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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.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
A "Rude Boy" is a Jamaican term for a juvenile delinquent. It's a term used frequently in Reggae music. In my interpretation, this song is about Rihanna wishing to have sex with a misbehaved young Jamaican gentleman.
"Come here rude boy boy can you get it up? Come here rude boy boy is you big enough?"
Here, the narrator wishes to ensure that the young Jamaican with whom she wishes to have sex has a big penis, and can maintain an erection for an adequate period of sexual intercourse.
"Take it, take it, baby baby Take it, take it, love me, love me"
The repetition of "take it," "baby" and "love me" combine to emphasize that the narrator is really horny.
"Babe if I don't feel it I ain't faking no-no"
Although the narrator strongly wishes for the young delinquent to insert his erect penis inside of her vagina, she assures him that if the sex isn't good, she will not pretend it is by faking an orgasm.
"Tonight I'mma let you be the captain Tonight I'mma let you do your thing, yeah Tonight I'mma let you be a rider Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up babe"
After inspecting his goods, and setting the ground rules, the narrator gives the Rude Boy the power to take the lead. She permits him to be on top in order to "ride her." This allows the Rude Boy a sense of control and masculinity by taking charge of this operation.
In conclusion, I think this song is about Rihanna fucking some dude.
And you are my hero. This song is very obvious and your "take" on what the song is about is PERFECT. :)
Whoa. Haha agreed.
WIN.
If I were a lyrics teacher, I'd give you an A+. :)
haha ftw.
Hilarious. Epic win.
Absolute and complete genius. win.
WTF is so win about this? It's just an over analyzed, over emphasized statement of the obvious. How is this epic? You people are fucking stupid.
^ Come now. You must take life less seriously. This description is most definately win.
the description is epic but it is most definitely not "Absolute and complete genius."
If taking life less seriously means finding unfunny stuff funny, then I want no part of it. I'm sorry, but I just think this guy is an attention whore who posted this just to get some cheap internet fame. I don't even know why I posted my original comment. I hate this song anyway and only looked up the lyrics so I could understand WTF she was saying, and this comment caught my eye and it annoyed me how everyone was kissing the guy's ass over something so retarded.
And before people ask me the question of "IF YOU HATE THE SONG WHY DID U LISTEN TO IT LOLOLOLOL", it was playing on the radio while I was at work and I said "What the hell is this song even about? I'll look the lyrics up later".
1000 X WIN. <br /> <br /> Maybe not everyone thinks it's funny, but I've been cracking up.
Amaya-chan: it's funny because he gave an elaborate and detailed analysis of an extremely simple and straightforward song.<br /> <br /> Irony: heard of it?
What a laugh riot.
That made my day, kudos for this hilarious piece of win.
It's origin is Jamaican, but pretty much all Caribbean people use it. I just wanted to add that as a side note.
hilarious
chris brown hits her<br /> she makes this song expressing desire for a rude boy<br /> i conclude, she wants more beats<br /> woman beating ftw
I'm not a fan of Rhianna, I just came here because wondered what a rude boy was, lol. I don't see how this sends young girls a message that is any worse than the rest of the over-sexualized stuff on television/radio. in fact, this is sort of better. At least she is taking control of her own sexuality and owning it...she's doing it for HER, not to please some guy. I understand why guys would prefer the "how can I please you?" porno attitude of most starlets, but as far as young women are concerned, being the master of your own sexual experience is pretty much a good idea.
Forgot to add...seriously, most of pop culture is about "Are your breasts big enough? Is your waist small enough? Are you willing to do whatever I want you to do in bed?"<br /> Why is is suddenly offensive when a woman turns those questions around? Are we NOT supposed to have any need or wants? Are men the only ones who are supposed to matter when it comes to sex?
Amen! (although I came here looking for the same answer- "what is a rude boy"? lol)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I actually became very depressed reading all these negative reviews simply because it is a woman speaking about her sexuality. I am not even a big Rihanna fan but I have to give her respect now because I can see she probably got a lot of criticism in general going by most of these comments.<br /> Sex is natural, no one would be here without it! and it is more than okay to take pleasure in it!<br /> <br /> Side note: considering all the rock and roll/ rap videos which show women only as sexual objects it is equally okay for a woman to do the same. I like also that she goes after a root which men are very sensitive about THEIR PENIS SIZE!!!!!! (" come on rude boy, are you big enough?" IF I feel obliged to please a man in one of those rock/roll/rap videos I can always starve myself, get implants, plastic surgery, dye my hair, etc. But YOU will never be able to change your penis size!!! (surgery only give 1/4 inch most). So how does it feel to be judged and criticize for something you cant naturally control? (Which is what most modern women feel they must go through)<br /> <br /> She is giving those men a dose of their own medicine<br /> (I don't have a problem with women being sexualized if you choose to do so BUT a woman should be equally be free to do so without being called a whore, etc.!!<br /> <br /> Thank You again, it is good to know not everyone out there is narrow-minded and pro-censorship.<br /> <br />
Sometimes songs about love are sweet and sentimental. This 'aint one of those songs. This is a song about a woman who challenges her lover to take her hard, to take her roughly, almost as much out of anger as passion. It is a song about a woman's sexual freedom.
The listener has to wonder if this song is less meant for the guy she is with now, but perhaps to make a past controlling or domineering lover jealous.
I couldn't agree with Crystalline888 more. I rarely listen to Rihanna, yet see no harm with this song.
@ those who complain about how sexually consumed our culture has become... perhaps Saudi Arabia (or many Middle Eastern countries) would be a better fit for you. There, you may have all the censorship, restriction, male-domination, and sexual prohibition your little heart desires. America exercises hegemony over the world (i.e. is the most powerful nation in the world) precisely because of our love of freedom, including freedom of the media.
@ those who call Rihanna, and people who enjoy Rihanna's music, all sorts of vulgar, double-digit IQ words, may I simply say: much of the music sung/rapped/ranted, etc...by male artists are just as sexually charged as this song, and actually a whole lot more. Yet no one seems to be bothered. The fact of the matter, my friends, is that females are much more sexually restricted and censored than their male counterparts, as evidenced even by this thread. Do you call everyone who listens to Lil Wayne a slut, whore, etc? No, you don't - even though his lyrics are a hundred times more raunchy. Take "Lollipop," a number one hit, for example: "she lick lick lick me like a lollipop." So if you nutcases are going to be offended and "concerned" about anything, I suggest you start with artists like Lil Wayne.
@ my girl Crystalline888. You are so right. Men (and sadly, even women) seem to reject this song precisely because Rihanna is taking control of her sexuality. So often, women are so so so completely marginalized in bed, and giving men pleasure and control is emphasized... Rihanna seems to suggest that women need to re-think this, and think equally about themselves, sexually: "Babe if I don't feel it I ain't faking no-no." I feel this song can easily be read as a female-equality message. THANK YOU RIHANNA!
Finally...a lot of you soooooo need to chill. Chillax. Relax. Calm down. Lighten up. What have you. Damn, it just seems like there are so many ignorant, narrow-minded, sexist, vulgar people around.
Good to know that SOMEONE out there still believes in freedom of speech! You and Crystalline888 couldn't be more right! Here is my response to her which is equally and response to you.<br /> <br /> <br /> THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I actually became very depressed reading all these negative reviews simply because it is a woman speaking about her sexuality. I am not even a big Rihanna fan but I have to give her respect now because I can see she probably got a lot of criticism in general going by most of these comments.<br /> Sex is natural, no one would be here without it! and it is more than okay to take pleasure in it!<br /> <br /> Side note: considering all the rock and roll/ rap videos which show women only as sexual objects it is equally okay for a woman to do the same. I like also that she goes after a root which men are very sensitive about THEIR PENIS SIZE!!!!!! (" come on rude boy, are you big enough?" IF I feel obliged to please a man in one of those rock/roll/rap videos I can always starve myself, get implants, plastic surgery, dye my hair, etc. But YOU will never be able to change your penis size!!! (surgery only give 1/4 inch most). So how does it feel to be judged and criticize for something you cant naturally control? (Which is what most modern women feel they must go through)<br /> <br /> She is giving those men a dose of their own medicine<br /> (I don't have a problem with women being sexualized if you choose to do so BUT a woman should be equally be free to do so without being called a whore, etc.!!<br /> <br /> Thank You again, it is good to know not everyone out there is narrow-minded and pro-censorship.<br />
i love this song and i tihnk rihanna is a great artists.this song is about sex,noe doubtt.i think its about how she wants him to take control or her taking control of their sex life.like her feeling powerful during sex.im not sure if i wuite explained it the way i really see it but its pretty obiocous its about sex. i always think that people need to calm down when theres songs about sex being played on the radio.sex is part of life,its important to people,its a a real thing and you cant keep people from talking about it or hearing about it.people that have kids,your kids are gonna find out about this stuff anywayss and eventually theyll be doin it too (not tryin to sound rude but its the truth).then again im not a parent but eventually youre gonna have to stop keepin the stuff covered up.just make sure kids understand thats its part of life but its not something they need to be part of right awayy.
Hey you guys, GROW UP! Yeah it's about sex, get over it.If you want to bash Rihanna for singing about it, bash EVERY other hiphop/pop song out there. Because that's what they're all about. And this isn't near as graphic as other songs I hear. It's a good, catchy song. I love Rihanna, shes a fabulous artist and a tough ass woman.
The impression I get from this song is that it's supposed to be ironic. The narrator is so tired of males constantly coming on to her in a pushy way (and they probably don't expect anything to actually happen), and eventually she gets fed up and challenges them right back (calling their bluff).
Random male fan: "I want you. insert lewd gesture Rihanna: "Okay, fine. You want me? Then let's go."
best song on the album. ;) definitely the best beat, 'cause mr. swire is boss. ;P
not to mention any names on here but just because i happen to enjoy this song doesnt make me a slut.im nothing like that at all.you cant always judge someone based upon a song they like and you cant just admit someones a slut or whatever when you dont even know them based upon their choice of music.
totally agree with ya. =]
why thank youu l0l
Haha, yeah - people are immature and stupid. That song has absolutely no affection on my sexual activities - it's a fucking song for god's sake! Don't even wanna bother wasting more words on them.-
I love it
This song is beautiful and amazing. I wish i could get paid millions to speak my thoughts! aha.
my idea of this song is "hey, we're going to make love, but it's going to be dirty and hard. So show me what you got."
there's nothing wrong with that either. Its good music!