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.
You're awake in your darkest dream
I have come for you
And nobody can hear your scream
When I reach for you
Don't you remember their feet in your face
Before they have carved you in stone
And don't you remember your sweat and your pain
When you were drawn to the bone
When you were left all alone
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Lonely cold and dire
Head up
Feet down in the fire
Giving till you're gone
Dying for an angel
Every day
Where do we go from the apogee?
What do we leave behind?
And how will I stand what I have to see?
This reflection of mine
Collateral damage: your sacrifice
Gonna learn to fly; unlearn to fall
Gotta tear down the walls of love and lies
You have come on your own
You will go on all alone
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Lonely cold and tired
Head up
Feet down in the fire
Give it 'til you're gone
Dying for an angel
Every day
[solo]
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Lonely cold and tired
Head up
Feet down in the fire
Give it 'til you're gone
Dying for an angel
Every day
I have come for you
And nobody can hear your scream
When I reach for you
Don't you remember their feet in your face
Before they have carved you in stone
And don't you remember your sweat and your pain
When you were drawn to the bone
When you were left all alone
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Lonely cold and dire
Head up
Feet down in the fire
Giving till you're gone
Dying for an angel
Every day
Where do we go from the apogee?
What do we leave behind?
And how will I stand what I have to see?
This reflection of mine
Collateral damage: your sacrifice
Gonna learn to fly; unlearn to fall
Gotta tear down the walls of love and lies
You have come on your own
You will go on all alone
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Lonely cold and tired
Head up
Feet down in the fire
Give it 'til you're gone
Dying for an angel
Every day
[solo]
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Dying for an angel
Reach out
Waiting for a miracle
No sign of wings
As you turn your back on me
Living on a dream
Lonely cold and tired
Head up
Feet down in the fire
Give it 'til you're gone
Dying for an angel
Every day
Lyrics submitted by 2006200720082009
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Yo La Tengo
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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,
No Surprises
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
i interpret it as thought the narrator had out so much love and trust into someone he saw as his angel and she then proved she wasn't by turning her back on him
So good. What could it mean?
After a good 20-25 listens to this song, it appears to be a continuation of wallowing about the girl mentioned in The Scarecrow. Pretty much, he put his trust in a girl and realized that what he thought she was...wasn't a reality at all.
Aniland, the video clip suggests it's the other way around. Still, we probably shouldn't make a judgement call until we at least know what Klaus Meine's character is supposed to be...
Really? The way that I perceived the video was that she had hurt him badly, but now she probably regrets it and wishes she hasn't, which is why she fears him throughout most of the video. But when she and him begin dancing, she becomes euphoric. Upon waking up and realizing that things are no longer that way, she starts crying. I think this is because she continues to live knowing that she has bruised him in some way.
Klaus Meine's character is supposed to be a glorified future version of the protagonist, by the way.
For the longest time, I thought this was a political song. I had always heard "waiting for a miracle" as "waiting for America".