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.
Under blue moon, I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms, too late to beg you
Or cancel it, though I know it must be
The killing time
Unwillingly mine
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
In starlit nights, I saw you
So cruelly, you kissed me
Your lips, a magic world
Your sky, all hung with jewels
The killing moon
Will come too soon
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
Under blue moon, I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms, too late to beg you
Or cancel it, though I know it must be
The killing time
Unwillingly mine
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
You give yourself to him
La
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
You give yourself to him
La, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms, too late to beg you
Or cancel it, though I know it must be
The killing time
Unwillingly mine
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
In starlit nights, I saw you
So cruelly, you kissed me
Your lips, a magic world
Your sky, all hung with jewels
The killing moon
Will come too soon
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
Under blue moon, I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms, too late to beg you
Or cancel it, though I know it must be
The killing time
Unwillingly mine
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
You give yourself to him
La
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
You give yourself to him
La, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
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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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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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Plastic Bag
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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.
Ian has told a few times what it's about (sorry to ruin debates with interview quotes, but that's being a true Bunnymen addict for you). It's about religion, about ignoring earthly pleasures and desires because of wanting to stay true to your religious believes. "He will wait until you give yourself to Him" - the He and Him is not some distant boyfriend or so, it's God. Ian has clearly confirmed this in several interviews, and it was also shortly mentionned in Turquoise Days, the EATB biograpghy. Apart from that I do adore the imaginary of this song: "your lips' magic world, the sky all hung with jewels" - you will rarely find a line more romantic than that. The video is also a must-see, deeply romantic yet somewhat macabre, showing Ian's face lit by the moon only. And last but not least, the sleeve pic for the old vinyl single shows a remote nocturnal rocky beach with a little boat drifting near the shoreline, all lit by only the moon. No picture could suit this song better.
@Cracked Pleasures Wow, I don't think you understood what you read. Especially the whole earthly pleasures and desires bit. Ian does write about god quite a bit but he's not some fundamentalist Christian. It's not a straight-forward song about the traditional god many have in mind. He has said the song's about free will versus fate and let's just say free will doesn't come up the winner. The part about "giving yourself to him" isn't about someone willing following god and the bible's tenets. It's about the inevitability of fate.<br /> <br /> And Ian's just about the last person to forego earthly pleasures. His biography should probably be titled, "Ciggies, drinks and drugs (and the birds)"
@Cracked Pleasures i also could see it as succumbing to the devil. Or darker and deeper about rape. I do tend to think it's what you say as u obviously have done more research. But my interpretation was always darker. Glad I found this site