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.
The day is the wife whom I elude
The one to whom I should be right
Although forewarned by peers and kin
I always get into the night
Mother always warned me such
Being a nocturnal soul
Besides just being simply strange
Spawns from some illness of the mind
the night, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She sways in her velvet dress
And pulls me towards her in the dark
While the others rest
heed the call the time has come
For all you children of the night
Gather 'round like suckling dogs
Mothers come she is the night
Come with me to the other side
Make the girl in black your bride
the night, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She sways in her velvet dress
And pulls me towards her in the dark
While the others rest
it just seems very strange to me
Not her quiet lonely streets
And draped in all her mystery
Could be so sweet and comforting
the night, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She sways in her velvet dress
And pulls me towards her in the dark
While the others rest
The one to whom I should be right
Although forewarned by peers and kin
I always get into the night
Mother always warned me such
Being a nocturnal soul
Besides just being simply strange
Spawns from some illness of the mind
the night, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She sways in her velvet dress
And pulls me towards her in the dark
While the others rest
heed the call the time has come
For all you children of the night
Gather 'round like suckling dogs
Mothers come she is the night
Come with me to the other side
Make the girl in black your bride
the night, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She sways in her velvet dress
And pulls me towards her in the dark
While the others rest
it just seems very strange to me
Not her quiet lonely streets
And draped in all her mystery
Could be so sweet and comforting
the night, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She calls me, she calls me
She sways in her velvet dress
And pulls me towards her in the dark
While the others rest
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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,
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Ed Sheeran
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“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.
"The day is the wife whom I allude" "The one to whom I should be right" It's "kin", not "king" and it's not "faults", it's "spawns".
Bride ... be-ride ? no? shrug
I just realized how much that does not make sense at all. hangs head in shame
You forgot the word "Right" at the beginning of the sing. That is the only really bad mistake that no one has corrected already. this song is referring to the night as a person, a lady at that (The night is a lady) and it tells what it is like to spend time with the night. the line "Mother always warned me such, being a nocternal soul, besides just being simply strange, spawns from some illness of the mind" is very personally true. My mother began telling me that when I was about five or so and I would slip out the dorr into the forests and remain there until rather early in the morning. Perhaps she was simply afraid that the wolves would eat me but she truly did think I was crazy and that I was genuinely odd. Then again, everyone who knows me tells me those things...
It's "she sways in her velvet dress," not slaves