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.
White Stones, Queens 1974
Fathers talking shit
Motherfucker slam the door
Hittin' the streets runnin' can I take this any more?
In the reins of the trains I cuddle on the floor
Well the park bench, door and
Sleeping in the rain
Little kids sitting in the shooting gallery
Set yourself up
Rom innocence to misery
Oh if this is what you want not
The way of what they fucking say
Hanging out with Sid yet again in the USA
Sidney Sidney in the USA
Lower east side 1976
Who's got the dope and
Who's turning tricks?
Should I call a user all for a fix?
Ripping off some lady just to avoid from gettin' sick
But a life runs low when you got no where to go
What the fuck happens to your soul when your low
Is he comin' over is he comin' home
Oh momma's disappointed waiting by the phone
Yeah!
Hanging out with Sid yet again in the USA
Sidney Sidney in the USA
Same fucking shit 1998
Lifting bait, and by the motherfuckers that he hates
Hit some fucking people by the Kennedy strait
Who's got the bag gonna seal his fate?
Well the park bench, door and
Sleeping here for free
Little kids sitting in the shooting gallery
Set yourself up for manifested misery
Well this is what you want
Not the way they fucking say
Hanging out with Sid yet again in the USA
Sidney Sidney in the USA
Fathers talking shit
Motherfucker slam the door
Hittin' the streets runnin' can I take this any more?
In the reins of the trains I cuddle on the floor
Well the park bench, door and
Sleeping in the rain
Little kids sitting in the shooting gallery
Set yourself up
Rom innocence to misery
Oh if this is what you want not
The way of what they fucking say
Hanging out with Sid yet again in the USA
Sidney Sidney in the USA
Lower east side 1976
Who's got the dope and
Who's turning tricks?
Should I call a user all for a fix?
Ripping off some lady just to avoid from gettin' sick
But a life runs low when you got no where to go
What the fuck happens to your soul when your low
Is he comin' over is he comin' home
Oh momma's disappointed waiting by the phone
Yeah!
Hanging out with Sid yet again in the USA
Sidney Sidney in the USA
Same fucking shit 1998
Lifting bait, and by the motherfuckers that he hates
Hit some fucking people by the Kennedy strait
Who's got the bag gonna seal his fate?
Well the park bench, door and
Sleeping here for free
Little kids sitting in the shooting gallery
Set yourself up for manifested misery
Well this is what you want
Not the way they fucking say
Hanging out with Sid yet again in the USA
Sidney Sidney in the USA
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"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.
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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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“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.
Punchline
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
this song is awesome! RaNcId rawks!