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.
No
No, no, no
No, no, no
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
Testing out theories
Electric chairs and dynamos
Dressed to kill, they're killing me
But heaven knows their recipe
No, no, no
You wouldn't believe me if I said
The things I've seen went over my head
I've been patient, heaven knows
I've learned the rules and how it goes
I can't sit still or settle down
And when I walk I don't touch the ground
See those girls, they're heaven blessed
I guess it's so they know best
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
Writing in their diaries
Now and then they'll watch TV
Now and then they'll speak to me
But heaven knows their recipe
No, no, no, what
You wouldn't believe them if they said
The things they've seen went over their heads
They've been patient, heaven knows
They seem to care and so it goes
They can't sit still or settle down
And when they walk they don't touch the ground
See those girls, they're heaven blessed
I guess it's so they know best
Tesla girls
Tesla girls
Tesla girls
Tesla girls
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
Testing out theories
Electric chairs and dynamos
Dressed to kill, they're killing me
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
I'm in love with Tesla girls
Now and then they'll watch TV
Now and then they'll speak to me
But heaven knows, but heaven knows, but heaven knows their recipe
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no
No, no
No
No, no, no
No, no, no
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
Testing out theories
Electric chairs and dynamos
Dressed to kill, they're killing me
But heaven knows their recipe
No, no, no
You wouldn't believe me if I said
The things I've seen went over my head
I've been patient, heaven knows
I've learned the rules and how it goes
I can't sit still or settle down
And when I walk I don't touch the ground
See those girls, they're heaven blessed
I guess it's so they know best
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
Writing in their diaries
Now and then they'll watch TV
Now and then they'll speak to me
But heaven knows their recipe
No, no, no, what
You wouldn't believe them if they said
The things they've seen went over their heads
They've been patient, heaven knows
They seem to care and so it goes
They can't sit still or settle down
And when they walk they don't touch the ground
See those girls, they're heaven blessed
I guess it's so they know best
Tesla girls
Tesla girls
Tesla girls
Tesla girls
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
Testing out theories
Electric chairs and dynamos
Dressed to kill, they're killing me
Tesla girls, Tesla girls
I'm in love with Tesla girls
Now and then they'll watch TV
Now and then they'll speak to me
But heaven knows, but heaven knows, but heaven knows their recipe
No, no, no
No, no, no
No, no
No, no
No
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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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.
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Interestingly the title was suggested by Martha Ladly, who also suggested the title of OMDs " Architecture & Morality".
She also was one of the Marthas in Martha and the Muffins, and sang backing vocals for Roxy Music, performed on top of the pops with the Associates, worked with Robert Palmer, dated Peter Saville, and had one of her paintings on the cover of FACTUS 8, The Everythings Gone Green EP by New Order.
She is currently an associate professor of design at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
Wonder if it has to do with big hair - probably not, but Tesla was the one to initially develop that plasma lamp that creates a lot of static. Admittedly a stretch if in fact this is referring to their wives (most plausible explanation I've read above). Just seems a bit random a selection of the multitude of historical geniuses that might build the idea of females being capable of intelligence.<br /> <br /> Aren't we generally beyond this, scientifically, if not culturally, the idea of intellectual equality/capability across gender, not to mention other demographics opportunists have ventured to claim any superiority? <br /> <br /> I hope OMD had an alternate meaning that might be revealed. Just read the last post... curious reasoning behind Martha Ladly's suggesting this title.
The band said it was a parody because they were fed up with being told by their record company to have USA style videos of naked women dancing around, to break into the USA market.
Could this be about Tesla's inventions ? His children ? His girls ? Such experiments that he conducted have resulted in radio, television... Now and then they will watch TV, now and then they will speak to me ? (radio)
When I first heard this song back in the early 80s I thought they were saying "tassel girls" which is a decorative tail-like ornament female strippers put onto their nipples as they swirled them around in front of their audience. A good visual reference would be the awkward scene from "The Graduate" when Benjamin takes Elaine to a strip club and tries to humiliate her as she sits facing away from the stage as a stripper swirls her tassels behind Elaine's long horse mane hair.
Funny after all these years of not hearing the song I look it up to discover the correct title and accompanying lyrics. But as someone else mentioned, OMD used this song as an antecedent to what their record label demanded for the US music market so they must have been motivated to write a song utilizing word-play and sexual innuendo.
It seems like this song is about your typical drama queen, high-maintenance girl that all men seem to fall for.
Nikolai Tesla was a pioneer of electrical power. 'Tesla' in the song would seem to be an analogy for the intelligence and planning within these girls the narrator is in awe of. It could be seen as quite a feminist song, an ode to the intelligence of girls within a relationship, their ability to make the man become in awe of them.
'Tesla Girls' was wrote about Andy McCluskey's and Paul Humphreys' wives.
Tesla was a genius. As are OMD. This song is all about women who think...who have something upstairs besides two breasts. It really is a great tribute to thinking women.
I love Tesla Girls.
Also, I think there's a hidden code in here that in fact is in favor of women who can decipher code. English just isn't English...nor any language is. English as a Second Language is what this song is about.
Take for instance the line when they walk they don't touch the ground. It's all soulful to these girls. These guys are about a millennium ahead of their time on our current course for this planet.
I read an interview with McClusky back when this was released. He said that "Tesla Girls" were women who used modern technology (such as a microwave oven) with ease, with no regard (or desire to know) for how it works. It was a kind of positive statement regarding their unsung intelligence and he said the song was an ode to women in general. <br /> <br /> His words, not mine.
It's also quite ironic, as Tesla was celibate.
That narcissist capitalism whore Elon Musk comes to me and whenever I hear this now and he almost ruined this song for me. Almost. I personally think the song is about a guy that is really attracted to this group of really intelligent studious girls he knows. They're totally not interested in him however, though occasionally they'll deem him significant enough to briefly talk to him: "now and then they'll speak to me". The guy idolizes them however, and views them as heaven sent - these elusive creatures whose feet don't touch ground we n they walk (that's a metaphor, not really). How refreshing - a song about a guy who's attracted to a women's intelligence!