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.
Water falling down a hundred meters
Colored by the sun
In rainbow colors
Paul is driving me around
Through fields of light
Blinded by the sun
Fight the clouds
Be an inhaler
Have no doubts
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Water falling down a hundred meters
Colored by the sun
In rainbow colors
Paul is driving me around
Through fields of light
Blinded by the sun
Fight the clouds
Be an inhaler
Have no doubts
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
As I was saying, stereo is full of surprises
A new stereophonic sound spectacular
A new stereophonic sound spectacular
We're able to tell, in an instant, where a particular sound is coming from
A new stereophonic sound spectacular [Repeat x5]
As I was saying, stereo is full of surprises
Colored by the sun
In rainbow colors
Paul is driving me around
Through fields of light
Blinded by the sun
Fight the clouds
Be an inhaler
Have no doubts
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Water falling down a hundred meters
Colored by the sun
In rainbow colors
Paul is driving me around
Through fields of light
Blinded by the sun
Fight the clouds
Be an inhaler
Have no doubts
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
Let them take you on a voyage to another
As I was saying, stereo is full of surprises
A new stereophonic sound spectacular
A new stereophonic sound spectacular
We're able to tell, in an instant, where a particular sound is coming from
A new stereophonic sound spectacular [Repeat x5]
As I was saying, stereo is full of surprises
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
what can I say...
DRUGS
That aside, this was the first hooverphonic song I heard, and i was instantly hooked with the heavy bass and that wicked guitar sample. Amazing shit.
"Fight the clouds Be an inhaler"
I always thought it was "Fight the clouds, We are in Heaven"
Or, since this song is full of poetic devices and such, perhaps it works both ways. "Take it in" ("be an inhaler") would only be good advice if "it" were something beneficial. Beneficial things can be combined into an ultimate or maximum combination.
"Let him take you running forwards to another land, Him take you running forwards to another land, Him take you running forwards to another land, Him take you running forwards to an other..."
This song is absolutely amazing.