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 Beast will make off with your children
He'll come after them in the night
No
We're not safe 'til his head is mounted on my wall
I say we kill the Beast
We're not safe until he's dead
He'll come stalking us at night
Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite
He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free
So it's time to take some action boys
It's time to follow me
Through the mist, through the woods
Through the darkness and the shadows
It's a nightmare but it one exciting ride
Say a prayer, then we're there
At the drawbridge of a castle
And there's something truly terrible inside
It's a beast, he's got fangs, razor sharp ones
Massive paws, killer claws for the feast
Hear him roar, see him foam
But we're not coming home
'Til he's dead, good and dead
Kill the beast
No, I won't let you do this
If you're not with us, you're against us
Bring the old man
Get your hands off me
We can't have them running off to warn the creature
Let us out
We'll rid the village of this Beast, who's with me?
I am! I am! I am!
Light your torch, mount you horse
Screw your courage to the sticking place
We're counting on Gaston to lead the way
Through a mist, to a wood where within a hunted castle
Something's lurking that you don't see every day
It's a beast, one as tall as a mountain
We won't rest 'til he's good and deceased
Sally forth, tally-ho! Grab your sword and your bow
Praise the Lord and here we go
We'll lay siege to the castle, and bring back his head
I have to warn the Beast, this is all my fault
Oh papa, what are we going to do?
Now, now
We'll think of something
We don't like what we don't understand
In fact it scares us
And this monster is mysterious at least
Bring your guns, bring your knives
Save children and and your wives
We'll save our village and our lives
We'll kill the Beast
I knew it, I knew it was foolish to get our hopes up
Maybe it would have been better if she'd never come at all
Could it be?
Is it she?
Scarableu! Invaders
Encroachers
And they have the mirror
Warn the master, if it's a fight they want
We'll be ready for them
Who's with me? Ah-ha
Take whatever booty you can find, but remember
The Beast is mine
Hearts ablaze, banners high, we go marching into battle
Unafraid although the danger just increased
Raise the flag, sing the song
Here we come, we're fifty strong
And fifty Frenchman can't be wrong
Let's kill the Beast
Pardon me, Master
Leave me in peace
But sir, the castle is under attack
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
This isn't working
Oh Lumiere, we must do something
Wait, I know
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
What shall we do, Master
It doesn't matter now
Just let them come
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
He'll come after them in the night
No
We're not safe 'til his head is mounted on my wall
I say we kill the Beast
We're not safe until he's dead
He'll come stalking us at night
Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite
He'll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free
So it's time to take some action boys
It's time to follow me
Through the mist, through the woods
Through the darkness and the shadows
It's a nightmare but it one exciting ride
Say a prayer, then we're there
At the drawbridge of a castle
And there's something truly terrible inside
It's a beast, he's got fangs, razor sharp ones
Massive paws, killer claws for the feast
Hear him roar, see him foam
But we're not coming home
'Til he's dead, good and dead
Kill the beast
No, I won't let you do this
If you're not with us, you're against us
Bring the old man
Get your hands off me
We can't have them running off to warn the creature
Let us out
We'll rid the village of this Beast, who's with me?
I am! I am! I am!
Light your torch, mount you horse
Screw your courage to the sticking place
We're counting on Gaston to lead the way
Through a mist, to a wood where within a hunted castle
Something's lurking that you don't see every day
It's a beast, one as tall as a mountain
We won't rest 'til he's good and deceased
Sally forth, tally-ho! Grab your sword and your bow
Praise the Lord and here we go
We'll lay siege to the castle, and bring back his head
I have to warn the Beast, this is all my fault
Oh papa, what are we going to do?
Now, now
We'll think of something
We don't like what we don't understand
In fact it scares us
And this monster is mysterious at least
Bring your guns, bring your knives
Save children and and your wives
We'll save our village and our lives
We'll kill the Beast
I knew it, I knew it was foolish to get our hopes up
Maybe it would have been better if she'd never come at all
Could it be?
Is it she?
Scarableu! Invaders
Encroachers
And they have the mirror
Warn the master, if it's a fight they want
We'll be ready for them
Who's with me? Ah-ha
Take whatever booty you can find, but remember
The Beast is mine
Hearts ablaze, banners high, we go marching into battle
Unafraid although the danger just increased
Raise the flag, sing the song
Here we come, we're fifty strong
And fifty Frenchman can't be wrong
Let's kill the Beast
Pardon me, Master
Leave me in peace
But sir, the castle is under attack
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
This isn't working
Oh Lumiere, we must do something
Wait, I know
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
What shall we do, Master
It doesn't matter now
Just let them come
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
Kill the Beast
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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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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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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,
Through the mist Through the woods Through the darkness and the shadows It's a nightmare but it's one exciting ride
...
Screw your courage to the sticking place
Wow, great song!