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.
Screen falling off the door, door hanging off the hinges
My feet are still sore my back's on the fringes
We tore up the walls we slept on couches
We lifted this house, we lifted this house
Firecrackers in the east my car parked south
Your hands on my cheeks, your shoulder in my mouth
I was up against the wall on the west mezzanine
We rattle this town, we rattle this scene
Oh, Anna Sun
Oh, Anna Sun
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
Screen falling off the door, door hanging off the hinges
My feet are still sore my back's on the fringes
We were up against the wall on the west mezzanine
We rattle this town, we rattle this scene
Oh, Anna Sun
Oh, Anna Sun
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
Live my life without
Station wagon rides
Fumbling around the back
Not one seat belt on
Wait for summertime
Coming up for air
Now it's all a wash
Now it's all a wash
(Screen falling off the door)
(Door hanging off the hinges) Live my life without
(My feet are still)
(Sore my back's on the fringes) coming up for air
(We tore up the walls)
(We slept on couches) now it's all a wash
(We lifted this house)
(We lifted this house) I want everyone
(Firecrackers in the east)
(My car parked south) racing down the hill
(Your hands on my cheeks)
(Your shoulder in my mouth) I am faster than you
(I was up against the wall)
(On the west mezzanine) wait for summertime
(We rattle this town) wait for summertime
Oh, Anna Sun
Oh, Anna Sun, Sun
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
(We lifted this house)
(We lifted this house)
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
My feet are still sore my back's on the fringes
We tore up the walls we slept on couches
We lifted this house, we lifted this house
Firecrackers in the east my car parked south
Your hands on my cheeks, your shoulder in my mouth
I was up against the wall on the west mezzanine
We rattle this town, we rattle this scene
Oh, Anna Sun
Oh, Anna Sun
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
Screen falling off the door, door hanging off the hinges
My feet are still sore my back's on the fringes
We were up against the wall on the west mezzanine
We rattle this town, we rattle this scene
Oh, Anna Sun
Oh, Anna Sun
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
Live my life without
Station wagon rides
Fumbling around the back
Not one seat belt on
Wait for summertime
Coming up for air
Now it's all a wash
Now it's all a wash
(Screen falling off the door)
(Door hanging off the hinges) Live my life without
(My feet are still)
(Sore my back's on the fringes) coming up for air
(We tore up the walls)
(We slept on couches) now it's all a wash
(We lifted this house)
(We lifted this house) I want everyone
(Firecrackers in the east)
(My car parked south) racing down the hill
(Your hands on my cheeks)
(Your shoulder in my mouth) I am faster than you
(I was up against the wall)
(On the west mezzanine) wait for summertime
(We rattle this town) wait for summertime
Oh, Anna Sun
Oh, Anna Sun, Sun
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
What do you know? This house is falling apart
What can I say? This house is falling apart
We got no money, but we got heart
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
(We lifted this house)
(We lifted this house)
We're gonna rattle this ghost town
This house is falling apart
This house is falling apart
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Damn it! Sometimes a song just blindsides you and you have to comment on it...
The verses sound a lot like a wild party, complete with passing out on random couches, body parts tangled with someone else. Some fun was had, yes. (maybe)
The chorus, despite all its "this house is falling apart"s, doesn't seem to mind this because of the song's tone. Also, I like the insertion of "we've got no money, but we've got heart", indicating what's important in the decisions of one's life.
The bridge almost made me cry, however, the first time I heard it. "Station wagon rides" seems to refer to family life, having a wife and kids and taking a road trip together. To live without that is pretty sad if it's what you always thought about when you were young.
I'll wait for summertime, but I know full-well it's all a wash.
I watched a video of them play this song acoustically and before hand one of the band members said they named the son "Anna Sun" because it was the name of one of their professors at Kenyon and they simply liked the name. Nick followed up by saying that the name of the song is appropriate because it's mainly about college and youth and stuff like that.
Read this somewhere, too. "The song is named after Petricca's professor from Kenyon College and is meant to symbolize youth. 'It's about college, about maintaining that little bit of being a kid,' Petricca said. 'Don't be afraid to play.'
Great song...instant love when I listened to it. An invitation to be cool through a lot of problems.
I LOVE this song! This song just instantly lifts up anyone's mood and the acoustic version is amazing as well. To me, this song is about enjoying life, and the moments that occur throughout it.
@supernatural66 Well Said
This song reminds me of teenagers and college students having fun. Like in New Jersey we go to the jersey shore for after prom for senior prom and it reminds me of partying and having fun with your high school class for one last weekend before everyone goes to college and parts ways
I believe its talking about a relationship in the summer after high school... Partying, being young, but also changing....Basically remembering how awesome it was to be young and in love and not to care about the money or anyone else in town
nice work posting this. such a fucking fantastic song.
they were on wnku before tunes n blooms and were asked who anna sun was. nick said that she was a teacher at kenyon state, but wouldn't say anything else about it.
This song is about college parties and self discovery, exploring who you are and having fun while you're at it.
Awesome song. Two of the guys went to my college. "My car parked south" I'm pretty sure is in reference to the shitty parking on south campus, mainly reserved for freshmen.
I can't be the only one who's noticed that the name they chose to use, "Anna Sun", sounds eerily like "Anacin". I guess that fits the whole "partying in college" theme...you're gonna need some painkillers tomorrow morning!