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.
There's no beast,
Obviously.
The floor just creaks,
Obviously.
The morning with coffee was snowy and sweet,
And there was this small, snow-white dog
That was barking at our feet,
Honestly.
drove all day to the vacant beach.
Grey mist hanging over the sea,
Alleys clogged with magazines,
And the boardwalk is empty.
The house in the valley is open this week,
Imagine the sea looking in
At the slowly moving sheets.
Honestly.
If you feel weak, leave it to me.
If you need sleep, leave it to me.
Need wool socks for your feet, leave it to me.
Need a walk on the beach, leave it to me.
An ear into which to weep, leave it to me.
A shoulder on which to sleep, leave it to me.
And leave it to me to not speak
When I pass you on the street.
Leave it to me to feel weak,
Leave it to me to run from your feet.
Leave it to me to not speak
When I pass you on the street,
Leave it to me to feel weak,
Leave it to me, number thirty-three,
Leave it to me.
Obviously.
The floor just creaks,
Obviously.
The morning with coffee was snowy and sweet,
And there was this small, snow-white dog
That was barking at our feet,
Honestly.
drove all day to the vacant beach.
Grey mist hanging over the sea,
Alleys clogged with magazines,
And the boardwalk is empty.
The house in the valley is open this week,
Imagine the sea looking in
At the slowly moving sheets.
Honestly.
If you feel weak, leave it to me.
If you need sleep, leave it to me.
Need wool socks for your feet, leave it to me.
Need a walk on the beach, leave it to me.
An ear into which to weep, leave it to me.
A shoulder on which to sleep, leave it to me.
And leave it to me to not speak
When I pass you on the street.
Leave it to me to feel weak,
Leave it to me to run from your feet.
Leave it to me to not speak
When I pass you on the street,
Leave it to me to feel weak,
Leave it to me, number thirty-three,
Leave it to me.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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."
This song is about a relationship between the speaker and the other person in the song. He and the person used to live together in, or he would visit, a house numbered 33 on whatever street. The first half of the song, I think, is set in the past, when the couple were still together. The first line of the song speaks to a previous shared fear that there are monsters in the house, but retrospectively (even the morning after), the speaker understands that what they two thought were the sounds monsters made were merely the normal creaks of any old house. The two go on to have a lovely, everyday morning, the likes of which are well-known to anyone who has every been in a happy relationship. This morning is followed by a day spent at an abandoned beach. Who would go to the beach on a winter day? This couple would. They're both special in the same way, both appreciate the same kinds of things. There's a kind of sadness at the beach that sort of foreshadows what happens to this couple. (The monster of stanza one foreshadows in the same way.)
In the third stanza/chorus, the speaker is saying that whatever the other person needs, he will provide, so great is his love. And in the end we see that the relationship did not work out; the speaker, perhaps because he still loves the other person, will give that person the space they need, and will run from them if he sees them in the street, so great is his pain that things did not work out. The title of the song comes from the speaker passing house number 33 on whatever street. He does not, cannot, go into the house; all he can do is pass by and remember the way things were.
I love this song. It was sent to me by a guy whom I love and who loves me but with whom I can't have a normal relationship for various reasons. I find it sad and beautiful and fitting of our situation. This is just one of our many songs.
This song needs more attention
The second half of the song may be refering to a girl he is in love with and would do anything for but cannot work up the courage to tell her his feelings:
"And leave it to me to not speak when I pass you on the street."
Any ideas to the significance of the title?
this song is so perfect.
I have just recently gotten into Okkervil river. they r simply amazing. i own a copy of almost everything they have released but cannot find Stars too Small to Use. its been discontinued. Any ideas where i could get ahold of a copy? or at least find the tracks to download? i would even settle with being able to listen to the tracks online...i havent heard any except for kathy keller and the later versions of For the Captain (another radio song) and Velocity of Saul... Any help would be very appreciated.
I wonder if this song isn't some sort of questioning of the genuineness of Christ's "Sermon on the Mount". The reason I conjecture the song is about Christ is because Jesus is generally believed to have died (and accomplished all He promised His disciples) at age 33. But if this is correct about the general orientation of the song, there is still much in the details that I don't quite grasp the meaning of. Any thoughts?