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 got myself a new axe
For chopping all this wood that's
Goin' in that fire
It's gonna keep us warm tonight
Tonight
Tonight
It's cold out that window
There's cards on this table
The kids are making magic and
Only thing that matters tonight
Is tonight
Is tonight
And all our loved ones all around us
All our loved ones watching down on us
On us
It's warm in that window
I'm outside in the morning glow
And just before the sunrise
Morning bird sings a song
Just for the light
For the light
For the light
For the light
For the light
For the light
And all our loved ones all around us
All our loved ones watching down on us
On us
For chopping all this wood that's
Goin' in that fire
It's gonna keep us warm tonight
Tonight
Tonight
It's cold out that window
There's cards on this table
The kids are making magic and
Only thing that matters tonight
Is tonight
Is tonight
And all our loved ones all around us
All our loved ones watching down on us
On us
It's warm in that window
I'm outside in the morning glow
And just before the sunrise
Morning bird sings a song
Just for the light
For the light
For the light
For the light
For the light
For the light
And all our loved ones all around us
All our loved ones watching down on us
On us
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
its 'diegetic'. and he didn't make it up. diegesis is a film term, and it means a narration or recitation, as opposed to the action taking place.
i guess what jack johnson means when he says 'the diegetic world is so unclear' is that events dont really have meaning until they are represented/reported. it's not about the actual events, but the way theyre delivered, which makes sense since hes talking about newscasters.
this song is so sad...but it is so true.
"Why don't the newscasters cry when they read about people who die" ---- good question. why does it seem like all news is bad news.
so true. it seems that theres no good news today. i mean all thats on the news is murders, car wrecks, war, and the list goes on. whats happening to the world? is there no more good news to report?i dunno. but its all screwed. zach
ya'll are only scratching the surface... there is truth in ya'lls statments, but this song goes so much deeper. its a critique of not only the newscasters but all people. we dismiss what we see on the news off hand, we hardly notice when death is reported. I have a question though, does anyone know what diagetic mean?
i have come to the conclusion that jack johnson made up the word diagetic. i looked in two dictionaries. lol but anyhoo... pablo- you are SO right. i love the line at the end "why don't the newscasters cry when they read about people who die? at least they could be decent enough to put just a tear in their eye" it's SO powerful when he sings it. sometimes i just skip to that part of the song cause it's so amazing. i think everyone should hear that line because it's kind of a slap in the face when he sings it. it makes ya go yeah why not? jack is a genious (except for the diagetic part).
From the internet: DIAGETIC sound: Sound that is produced by the narrative such as dialogue, as opposed to non-diagetic sound such as background mood music
Diagetic / Diegetic - As a follow up to BigEd's comment, a good resource would be the following site: ncte.org/lists/ncte-talk/mar99/msg02034.html. It's just another example of Jack's film background.
i think that this is a great song. it has a lot of meaning in it. i dont get it either, y dont the newscasters cry when they read about people who die? even on 9.11.01 i didnt see 1 crying, i even cryed.
i really liked this song because my whole life i've hated the news since it's just so depressing. it's always bothered me how all the stories are so sickening, and i feel like jack johson understands that too. i think it's great that he made a point to write a song about what the world has come to, because it is a really interesting and important subject.