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.
I've been trying to show you over and over
Look at these, my child-bearing hips
Look at these, my ruby red ruby lips
Look at these my work strong arms and
You've got to see my bottle full of charm
I lay it all at your feet
You turn around and say back to me, "he said"
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, he said
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Heard it before, he said
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
Look at these, my child-bearing hips
Look at these, my ruby red ruby lips
Look at these my work strong arms and
You've got to see my bottle full of charm
I lay it all at your feet
You turn around and say back to me, "he said"
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, he said
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Heard it before, he said
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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 pretty sure that the meaning is right there in the lyrics. PJ is presenting her body to a possible lover, he calls her a "sheela-na-gig" and blatantly rejects her advances. Too bad for her, but oh so good for the rest of us.
The four things PJ lists at the beginning represent all the things men want from a woman. Children, sexuality, work (housework) and charm. But for this man, it isn't enough.
I like the parody of the 50's song line "gonna wash that man right outta my hair".
'Dirty Pillows' is a reference to the book and film Carrie, it's what Mrs. White, a mad extremeist Christian, calls Carrie's breasts in one scene.
Maybe a comment on the degradation women have to go through to get noticed sexually, and how it's even more degrading when their rejected for that very degradation.
Sheela-Na-Gig was a Celtic fertility goddess who was portrayed in art with spread legs and prominent genitalia.
The Sheela-Na-Gig was more of a universal symbol of fertility, rather than any one specific goddess.
To me this is a song about the Christian perversion of sex- turning it from a natural celebration into something dirty and repulsive. Sheela Na Gig is an uninhibited pagan fertility Goddess. She is depicted as sitting spread eagle, using her hands to pull her vaginal lips apart; a welcoming enticement into carnal pleasure and the miraculous creation of life that results.
It's not easy being a pagan fertility goddess in a culture of Puritan repression. It's pathetic that too many men have been taught to find such open sexuality as filthy and wrong.
The song triumphantly declares she will not hide or conform- she will not let derision crush her spirit. She will boldly move on until she finds men who appreciate her.
In a broader sense I think it's about misogyny in general. Much hate and scorn is casually thrown at women for no other reason than their gender. For example, they're judged way too much on their appearance and If they're strong willed they're called bitches. If they want to be single they're accused of being selfish- but if they want to get married they're teased for "trying to trap a man." There's no winning. Women should be celebrated and treated as equally important to men, and men who treat women badly should be left lonely.
I would like to add that to that chloe..It also deals with one night stands and feeling guilty about them afterwards.
Gotta love PJ Harvey. This was my favorite song from the album, with Dress right behind it. Somehow, songs of loss, and rejection seem to resonate with me.
"Turn the corner; another one there." The protagonist of this tale, she wants a man. Now. There's THIS guy, but...he's not interested? Well, there are plenty of others around. (She's confident enough.)
Wondering whether "put money in your idle hole" is some idiom I'm not familiar with. Also thinking: the meaning is obvious, and I'm sorta trying to avoid seeing it?
Just to add, in my head "put money in your idle hole" means put your money where your mouth is. Hole being literal for mouth. Idle drawing parallels to the phrase idle chatter.
I always thought it was 'idol hole'-- as in the holes of the sheela na gig
But if it is 'idle hole' wouldn't that be the vagina (again thinking of the sheela na gig statues)