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.
Doctor's leaving for the holiday season
Got crystal ice picks, no gift for the gab
And in the parking lot, is the sedan he bought
He never, he never complains when it's hot
He foaled a swollen daughter in the sauna playing contract bridge
They're soaking up the fun or doing blotters I don't know which, which, which
Boys are dying on these streets
I know the medical world could knock you out
To sell the coins that you jayed last Thursday, hey
Dine by candlelight, and hold your savings tight
You never, you never know when the bridge falls apart
He spoke of latent causes, sterile gauzes, and the bedside morale
He traipse around the table talking sentences so incomplete, plete, plete
Boys are dying on these streets
Got crystal ice picks, no gift for the gab
And in the parking lot, is the sedan he bought
He never, he never complains when it's hot
He foaled a swollen daughter in the sauna playing contract bridge
They're soaking up the fun or doing blotters I don't know which, which, which
Boys are dying on these streets
I know the medical world could knock you out
To sell the coins that you jayed last Thursday, hey
Dine by candlelight, and hold your savings tight
You never, you never know when the bridge falls apart
He spoke of latent causes, sterile gauzes, and the bedside morale
He traipse around the table talking sentences so incomplete, plete, plete
Boys are dying on these streets
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Grounded Lyrics as written by Stephen Malkmus
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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perhaps Wowee Zowee's best.
Greedy american doctors.
Definitely one of, if not THE, best Pavement song out there. I read somewhere that it's Malkmus' "tribute to his doctor", who bought German cars, or something.
I thought the line was "he phoned the fallen daughter", though; I got my lyrics from lyricsfreak.com/p/pavement/106286.html . The version there fits better.
IMO, this song is about doctors at those American hospitals (having healthcare, my mind goes towards America) who have lost sight of what they wanted to get out of their jobs, who "never complain" about how bad their lives are but feel entitled to sympathy for it, and are leading lives of rich wastrels which they're terrified will fall apart. deep breath In the meantime, the people who need help aren't getting it.
Hmmmm, doctors.. Interesting. Didn't know that. But whatever it is about, this song TOTALLY works on the chicks - seriously. Try it for yourself, dude. :Z
I'm pretty sure it's actually:
He FOALED a swollen daughter in a sauna....
To "foal" means to give birth.
This might be my favorite song, from this, my favoritist of bands. I think it's about upper class decadence and the tragedy of wasted youth.
There's also a great, "Crooked Rain" version of this song. Go find it right now!
the crooked rain version replaces "soaking up the fauna" with "smoking marijuana"... sounds like the preverse is talking about a crazy cult or something.
Wow, it really is about doctors. I've listened to this one several times and not really noticed that. And I'd say SM really nails it with the point he brings up. You imagine that people become doctors because they want to get rich, not necessarily because they want to help people... and yet their job is to help people when they need it most, so they must get pretty disconnected from any sense of purpose.
Some Pavement songs are weirdly topical. Like how Elevate Me Later is about political correctness.
& btw... "Grounded" HAS to be the greatest song title ever!!
Shouldn't it be "They're soaking up the fauna..."?