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.
Flat top intervention
Bringing home a new invention
See it there in pieces on the ground
A television war between the cynics and the saints
Flip the dial and that's whose side you're on
Sleeping on the White House lawn ain't never changed a thing
Look at all the washed out Hippie dreams
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
The tabloid generation's lost
Choking on it's fear
Used to be that's all we had to fear
Conscience keeps us quiet while the crooked loves to speak
His knowledge wrapped in blankets on the street.
A visionary coward says that anger can be power
As long as there's a victim on TV
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
And my dirty dreams all come alive
On my TV screen
And assasination plots
Show me what I haven't got
Show me what I love, Who I'm supposed to be
Show me everything I need
Show it all to me
Show it all to me
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
Bringing home a new invention
See it there in pieces on the ground
A television war between the cynics and the saints
Flip the dial and that's whose side you're on
Sleeping on the White House lawn ain't never changed a thing
Look at all the washed out Hippie dreams
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
The tabloid generation's lost
Choking on it's fear
Used to be that's all we had to fear
Conscience keeps us quiet while the crooked loves to speak
His knowledge wrapped in blankets on the street.
A visionary coward says that anger can be power
As long as there's a victim on TV
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
And my dirty dreams all come alive
On my TV screen
And assasination plots
Show me what I haven't got
Show me what I love, Who I'm supposed to be
Show me everything I need
Show it all to me
Show it all to me
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Yeah, you guys are right, it's sort of a punch-in-the-face obvious political song. It's all about propaganda. "Show me what I haven't got, show me what I love, or who I'm supposed to be. Show me everything I need.. show it all to me". That's saying TV will tell you what to think so you won't have to consider things for yourself.
"Flip the dial and that's who's side you're on". People don't think for themselves. They'll hear something on TV and believe it without question. "A tunnelvision war between the cynics and the saints" is saying that people choose one side of the political spectrum and blindly believe anything the representatives of their party tell them. That's why he calls it a "tunnelvision" war (well, that's what I hear, but the lyrics suggest otherwise..). The cynics being liberals, who think conservatives are selfish assholes that are only looking out for themselves, lumping all conservatives into this same system of thought regardless of their personalities outside of politics. And the saints are the conservatives, who believe they can do no wrong and know what is best for everyone. They possess a holier-than-thou attitude, thus, "saints". It attacks left and right wing morons who never even try to consider things for themselves and let their party do the thinking for them. The singer is the moderate stuck in the middle of all this bullshit and pointless bickering, so he'll "turn his head off for awhile" and not get involved in their ignorant strife.
This is an excellent song that perfectly expresses my political beliefs. I could analyze it line for line, but I think I've hit most of the key points.
This is my first comment, by the way. Hope I did alright.
This is an AWESOME political song. "There's knowledge wrapped in blankets on the streets." Wow. So true. I love this song.
obviously a political song...but it has an awesome feel...one of my favorite (if not my favorite) song by the Goo Goo Dolls
"A visionary coward says that anger can be power"
"Let fury have the hour, anger can be power D'you know that you can use it?" -The Clash from "The Clampdown" on London Calling songmeanings.net/lyric.php
How dare they speak poorly of the Clash....
yea u can tell its about politics cuz he's talking about picking sides and sleeping on the white house lawn aint never changed a thing look at all the washed out hippie dreams........
I love this song so much. I always say it's four and a half minutes of lyrical genious.
I swear, Johnny's got such a way with words, it's amazing. He's a genius.
Xim 's comment was so fucking awesome i'm not even going to bother explaining it i totally agree with this song too i fucking hate how all there mother fucking corporate Nazi fucks are running our country, America is slowly turning into a big huge shit pile and we are way to brain washed "Look at all the washed out hippie dreams" is my favorite line because the great morals the hippie used to have was so good and now its all gone we need a revolution!
I don't understand how this song isn't more popular. Simply brilliant.
I wish they'd try to rerelease it. I feel like it strikes a chord with today's world.
So amazing in every way.
Again, clearly a political song. Very bitter and cynical, but it's all true. He takes no side, and he takes no prisoners. He has a very defeatist attitude about the situation, but there's really no known way out of what he's talking about.
Caustic, bitter, and brilliant. Plus the guitar work is simply amazing, and extremely overlooked. This would be the greatest closer to a concert ever. Any concert, Googs or not - doesn't matter. Love it.
It's songs like this that make me so disappointed with Let Love In. The guitars crunching away behind a soaring vocal and some of the best political lyrics I've ever heard.
This is what Johnny Rzeznik could do back in the mid-1990s. What happened? It's almost as if he's now 'scared' to rock too hard. And his lyrics are now so tame by comparison. I'll always love the Goos. I just wish they'd rediscover the genius of songs like this one.