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.
Stay the same, don't ever change
'Cause I'd miss your ways
With your Bette Davis eyes
And your mama's party dress
While this city pumps its aching heart
For one more drop of blood,
We work our fingers down to dust
And we wait for kingdom come
With the radio on
I wanna see you tonight
Would you come for a drive?
You can lean into me
If you ain't been in love for a while
I was born beside a river
That flows to a raging sea
That will one day serve to quell
Or one day be the death of me
In my faded jeans and far away eyes
And salty carnival kiss
That all my former lovers say
Was once magnificent
I wanna see you tonight
Would you come for a drive?
You can lean into me
And if you ain't oh if you ain't
I wanna see you tonight
Would you come for a drive?
You can lean into me
If you ain't been in love for a while
And still this city pumps its aching heart
For one more drop of blood
We work our fingers down to dust
While we wait for kingdom come
With the radio on, with the radio on
It's been so long Mae, so long
It's been so long Mae, so long
But since the radio's on
'Cause I'd miss your ways
With your Bette Davis eyes
And your mama's party dress
While this city pumps its aching heart
For one more drop of blood,
We work our fingers down to dust
And we wait for kingdom come
With the radio on
I wanna see you tonight
Would you come for a drive?
You can lean into me
If you ain't been in love for a while
I was born beside a river
That flows to a raging sea
That will one day serve to quell
Or one day be the death of me
In my faded jeans and far away eyes
And salty carnival kiss
That all my former lovers say
Was once magnificent
I wanna see you tonight
Would you come for a drive?
You can lean into me
And if you ain't oh if you ain't
I wanna see you tonight
Would you come for a drive?
You can lean into me
If you ain't been in love for a while
And still this city pumps its aching heart
For one more drop of blood
We work our fingers down to dust
While we wait for kingdom come
With the radio on, with the radio on
It's been so long Mae, so long
It's been so long Mae, so long
But since the radio's on
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I'm surprised there aren't any comments on this one yet. At least for me, personally, this is the one track that really stands out as my clear favorite (which, when it comes to all the other Gaslight albums, picking a favorite song off one is impossible) I'm sure more tracks will grow on me, but this one definitely is my favorite as far as overall writing/lyric and sound. Would have fit right in with The Horrible Crowes album as well.
Completely agree with you, I like it when the Gaslight do power ballards like this although their punk is more than satisfactory, the softer material has so much more depth.
do you think Mae is an old girlfriend? did he break up with her or did she end it with him. The song breaks my heart. I have a poster (that came with the CD) that is a drawing of "mae" sitting on a motorcycle reading a letter with a tear running down her cheek.
This one fits really well with the next track. I pretty sure he's talking about an old friend/girlfriend. She's one of his good memories. But he's been focusing on a job with no real goals or endgame. He thinks that she could be his meaning.
I guess he's just realizing that he hasn't felt purpose in a while.
Also: I think it would be interesting if he River he's talking about is the Navesink.
about the last chance you get with finding love. in particular one of your first loves
What is a salty carnival kiss?
Well, a kiss would be salty after eating popcorn / pretzels at the carnival. The line makes me think he's looking back to his younger days, as a teenager or something.
That makes sense. Thanks!
a lot of food on the boardwalk at asbury park is salty-popcorn, etc. Carnival refers to the ferris wheel, etc at asbury park. when he was young and hanging/sleeping on the beach ( which is also salty water). This line makes me want to kiss him. I think its the sexiest line he's ever written. Especially if it really is as magnificent as his former girlfriends say!
A (Salty) Carnival Kiss is an alcoholic drink! ;)
Tears are often said to be salty so that may be a kiss given while crying. Not too sure how that's supposed to link up with the following verse.
I think it's a reference to salt water taffy, which the Jersey Shore is famous for. His kiss isn't really salty, it tastes like the taffy they've been eating
I initially thought of tears as well but a reference to salty boardwalk concessions might fit in better with the nostalgic tone of the song.
I think the song starts in the past, and then gets to the present. He finds a girl who is amazing - don't ever change - but they somehow move apart.
He's seeing her again, and he sees her again. Neither have been in love for a while, both are single.
He's been to the same place with other girls but he's not been able to find what they had.
He's longing for something that they've both lost - their youth, but they both shared together for a while.