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 were a shameless child
Bandied by stiff cross currents
Anything but mild
Yes and no just simply weren't
Invented yet
Oh yes oh no
Then one day you'd had it
Exiled your close advisers
Ousted your dog-eared rabbits
You're through with pacifiers
You're through with pacifiers now
Here we go mistaking clouds for mountains
Here's the thing that brings the sparrows to the fountains
Here's the thing that makes you run for the highlands
Here we go mistaking clouds for mountains
Autonomy
Bandied by stiff cross currents
Anything but mild
Yes and no just simply weren't
Invented yet
Oh yes oh no
Then one day you'd had it
Exiled your close advisers
Ousted your dog-eared rabbits
You're through with pacifiers
You're through with pacifiers now
Here we go mistaking clouds for mountains
Here's the thing that brings the sparrows to the fountains
Here's the thing that makes you run for the highlands
Here we go mistaking clouds for mountains
Autonomy
Lyrics submitted by wild_ cosmia, edited by smallwonderrobot
Danse Caribe Lyrics as written by Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The lyrics book that came with the deluxe box set of the new album says "autonomy", and at a show last fall he said the song was about his mother telling him he had "declared his autonomy" by throwing away all of his stuffed animals while she was away one day.
Also, I love it when he makes up words like "Pacifizers" or "Hobis-Hots". It fits so well with the whimsical nature of his music.
then i apologize. excellent song/album.
What is pacifizers a combination of?<br /> <br /> I know the first part is pacifiers, which makes sense, but whats the last part for?
fizer is a pharmaceutical company. Maybe his pacifizers is connotative of anti-depressant use<br /> Read more at songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107859426986/
I (mis)heard it as "oh, ton amis" -- "your friends". Exiled all your friends, close advisers. I mis-hear a lotta Bird's lyrics.
A cry in the last line for the friends who you neglected in pursuing the clouds you mistook for mountains.
Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company. Maybe his pacifizers is connotative of anti-depressant use.
i think he just likes to play with words
I think that I have read various interviews that Bird says this song is about him throwing his stuffed animals out of his crib when he was little.
The clouds for mountains part I have also read in interviews being about him touring around and being really tired emotional and physically after a rough show and catching sight of clouds that he thought were mountains and being so tired that he just started laughing. Interesting either way, and I do love singing that lyric.
Pasifizers = Pasifier or a (binky). Many different parts in the song about your own beliefs or philosophy or realizing your autonomy. He is just clever and brings up many different parts in a life of growing up. Either way song is awesome.
I believe the lyric is "it's all tall to me," not "autonomy."