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.
One, two, three
She's a real left winger 'cause she's been down south
And held possums in her arms, she said
"I could tell you stories that could make you cry, what about you?"
I said, "Me too, I could tell you a story that would make you cry"
And she sighed, "Ah"
I said, "I wanna be a singer like Lou Reed"
"I like Lou Reed," she said, sticking her tongue in my ear
"Let's go, let's sit, let's talk, politics goes so good with beer
And while we're at it, baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?"
I said, "Losing my penis to a whore with disease"
"Just kidding"
I said, "Losing my life to a whore with disease"
She said, "Excuse me, please?"
I said, "Losing my life to a horrible disease"
She said, "Please"
Well, I'm a humble guy with healthy desire
Don't give me no shit because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I told the tale of a girl but I call her a woman
She's a little bit older than me
Strong legs, strong face, voice like milk breasts like a cluster of grapes
I can't escape her ways she raised me
She make me feel like Solomon
Beware your babies even if you have no one
And while we're at it baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?
You don't want to sleep after setting my loins on fire
Well, that's okay because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
T I are E D spells it, spells it, spells it, spells it
She's a real left winger 'cause she's been down south
And held possums in her arms, she said
"I could tell you stories that could make you cry, what about you?"
I said, "Me too, I could tell you a story that would make you cry"
And she sighed, "Ah"
I said, "I wanna be a singer like Lou Reed"
"I like Lou Reed," she said, sticking her tongue in my ear
"Let's go, let's sit, let's talk, politics goes so good with beer
And while we're at it, baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?"
I said, "Losing my penis to a whore with disease"
"Just kidding"
I said, "Losing my life to a whore with disease"
She said, "Excuse me, please?"
I said, "Losing my life to a horrible disease"
She said, "Please"
Well, I'm a humble guy with healthy desire
Don't give me no shit because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I told the tale of a girl but I call her a woman
She's a little bit older than me
Strong legs, strong face, voice like milk breasts like a cluster of grapes
I can't escape her ways she raised me
She make me feel like Solomon
Beware your babies even if you have no one
And while we're at it baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?
You don't want to sleep after setting my loins on fire
Well, that's okay because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
T I are E D spells it, spells it, spells it, spells it
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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.
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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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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
The reference to the Solomon is pretty obvious--"breasts like a cluster of grapes" is a quotation from the Song of Solomon, one of the greatest pieces of erotic poetry in the Hebrew Testament.
One of the things I love about Francis is the way he shift so easily and seamlessly between lo-fi punk and hi-culture references like this. Lot's of examples. Nimrod's Son; also my fave, "Uriah hit the crapper, the crapper" from "Dead," which is based on David and Bathsheba; not to mention Gouge Away, and a few others. Boy's a friggin genius.