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.
Down the street the dogs are barkin'
And the day is a-gettin' dark
As the night comes in a-fallin'
The dogs'll lose their bark
An' the silent night will shatter
From the sounds inside my mind
Yes, I'm one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind
From the crossroads of my doorstep
My eyes they start to fade
And I turn my head back to the room
Where my love and I have laid
An' I gaze back to the street
The sidewalk and the sign
And I'm one too many mornings
An' a thousand miles behind
It's a restless hungry feeling
That don't mean no one no good
When everything I'm a-sayin'
You can say it just as good
You're right from your side
I'm right from mine
We're both just one too many mornings
An' a thousand miles behind
And the day is a-gettin' dark
As the night comes in a-fallin'
The dogs'll lose their bark
An' the silent night will shatter
From the sounds inside my mind
Yes, I'm one too many mornings
And a thousand miles behind
From the crossroads of my doorstep
My eyes they start to fade
And I turn my head back to the room
Where my love and I have laid
An' I gaze back to the street
The sidewalk and the sign
And I'm one too many mornings
An' a thousand miles behind
It's a restless hungry feeling
That don't mean no one no good
When everything I'm a-sayin'
You can say it just as good
You're right from your side
I'm right from mine
We're both just one too many mornings
An' a thousand miles behind
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Again love is the engine for Dylan. I think the song is about realizing that it was a mistake. Nothing got more shiny by meeting each other. things get dull and over-realistic. No dialog - just confrontation. "we weren't made for each other" - so what! As in "It aint me, babe" (mentioned erlier)the man leaves a relation with pride, not sobbing. This girl was just not IT! Males can learn a lot from his attitude to relationships. He is not bitter, he doesn't blame himself. He just reasons that this didn't work. No freudian digging, just noticing that our love didn't lift us up; but build us down, and now I have to build it all up again. Hard work - but endurable. Strong male attitude in these hard times for male strenghts.
What an excellent insight into the song! You said it all perfectly. Simply about saying "Hey things didn't work out!". But I agree, it's about admitting this as a failure, and no sense in beating yourself over it.. It just didn't work. You were both right in the end, neither of you came out on top.
@moonmaan I agree with the 1st part how it didn't work, but he's beating himself up for letting her go. He pushed her away, and once she was gone he never wanted her more. He wants to chase her, but she could be anywhere. The crossroads at his doorstep. Which way should I go? He almost passes out from panicking! Anybody that's ever had their heart broken knows all about the restless hunger feeling. He broke her heart and she broke his by leaving.
why are there no comments on this? seriously, this might be my favorite dylan song. it's a song that reminds me of those insomniac nights, so lonely and beautiful.
This song has morphed several times. The 1975 'Rolling Thunder Review' version on 'Hard Rain' has an added verse, but my own personal favourite is the Live 1966 version. It's just a song about agreeing to disagree. The last verse sums it up.
Such a beautiful song. I know I'm not alone when I say how much that 'restless hungry feeling' rings true.. when everything feels like shit, and there doesn't feel like anything left to tie you down, and you just want to get away. Heavily reminiscent of 'It Ain't Me Babe'.
Here is the additional half-verse from the "Hard Rain" live album:
I've no right to be here If you've no right to stay Until we're both one too many mornings And a thousand miles away
I think this is about a love that can't be. For whatever reason. It just never worked out right. Maybe she's married or moving away. And he's finally accepting it has to be over. That he's wasted one too many mornings on this love that will never be tangible. He's also 1000 miles behind because 1.) he's living in the past, unable to let it go or 2.) he knows it's over and nothing can change that - he can't go back and redo it. He will always be 1000 miles behind in his mind, where he had a choice to make. He made a choice or choices that ultimately led to this relationship never working out right. If only he had done things differently back then, maybe they wouldn't be where they are now. Maybe she would be his. But where he is now is the acceptance stage. He is lonely and missing her. He's alone, tired from trying to figure out what to do, all the regret racing through his head. The only thing to interrupt his thoughts are dogs barking, but his thoughts consume him as they quiet down too. What could have been. So he reaches a crossroad...does he hold onto something he never really had and never will truly have, or does he come back to the real world? The street, sidewalk, sign...all mundane, emotionless things that don't compare to the vision of his love in their bed. He's stuck for a little while, in the doorway. Hard to close the door on the memories and the love that was so strong, despite never getting it right. He's not quite sure what to do. The restless, hungry feeling is a perfect way to describe how unsettled he is, in his desire for her even though it can't be. It won't change anything to focus on these emotions he will probably always have for her. It will do no good to talk about it anymore. No good to remind her of how he feels. No good to try one more time. Because he does know she feels the same as him - the love. They've talked in circles about their feelings, the same stuff over and over. Each one has an idea of what they want, but the other can't give them that. She's right to want/need what she wants, and he's right to want/need what he wants. These are emotions, and it's not black and white. It's not about an argument. This can't be fixed. And when he says they're BOTH one too many mornings and a 1000 miles behind, he's even giving her the recognition that he knows she cares about him, but they have to let go. He's acknowledging her pain and her struggle, and hoping this will bring closure.
A good song of analagous theme is John Mayer's "Quiet," don't bother telling me he's no Dylan, I know, but just a sugesstion for a different take on the wee small hours.
one of my fav dylan songs i think its about two people breaking up and not knowing why they did it
The 2 had a falling out, and as soon as she felt unloved, she hit the road. He broke her heart so she left. After she left, he was willing to do almost anything to get her back, thinking irrationally almost. He wanted to go after her, but she could be anywhere. As soon as he gets out the front door, he wants to ask for directions. He puts himself into a panic, and nearly passes out when he realized he's not going to find her. The “restless hunger feeling" is just your heart being shattered into a million pieces, and he knows that she was feeling the same thing after he pushed her away.
Most people focus on the implied relationship issues in this song, and they are certainly there. I feel him being pulled by a sense of destiny: he can't find it here. Dylan also wrote: "my weariness amazes me; I'm branded on my feet ...", and in that song he was also waiting for his muse; the Tambourine Man who would take him into a new life of magic swirling ships ... while he is numb: branded on his feet.
I'm sure that somewhere early along the way, Dylan knew that he was the Tamborine Man.