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.
Now handsome guys get girls that are pretty
Other guys get 'em 'cause they're clever and witty
But the only love I ever get, I get out of pity
'Cause I'm the ugliest man in town
I drive down the road in a Rolls Royce car
Use hundred dollar bills when I light my cigar
But still you know, that won't get you very far
When you're the ugliest man in town
There was a note on the doorstep where I was found
It said this sweet child weighs eleven pounds
So bring him up healthy and wealthy and stout
Keep his back to the light, don't let it turn around
Yeah all you women you're heartless and cold
All you want is my silver and gold
And don't you know that there's a beautiful soul
Inside the ugliest man in town
(Boy do I got plans for us)
Yeah I'm so ugly I shave in the dark
Kids start to cry when I walk through the park
Clocks stop ticking and dogs start to bark
Whenever I come around
Yeah I walk down the street and the girls all hiss me
If I die tomorrow not one of them would miss me
Only reason they ball me is they can't stand to kiss me
I'm the ugliest man in town
Yeah I'm the ugliest man in town
(You know a guy as ugly as you man could use a manager.
You know what I mean? Just sign this small piece of paper
Here man. You can give me a couple of bucks a week, a couple
Of free meals man. I'll take you all over the world. We'll
Go to Japan baby, they'll love you over there baby.
They'll make another monster movie with you ha ha ha ha)
Other guys get 'em 'cause they're clever and witty
But the only love I ever get, I get out of pity
'Cause I'm the ugliest man in town
I drive down the road in a Rolls Royce car
Use hundred dollar bills when I light my cigar
But still you know, that won't get you very far
When you're the ugliest man in town
There was a note on the doorstep where I was found
It said this sweet child weighs eleven pounds
So bring him up healthy and wealthy and stout
Keep his back to the light, don't let it turn around
Yeah all you women you're heartless and cold
All you want is my silver and gold
And don't you know that there's a beautiful soul
Inside the ugliest man in town
(Boy do I got plans for us)
Yeah I'm so ugly I shave in the dark
Kids start to cry when I walk through the park
Clocks stop ticking and dogs start to bark
Whenever I come around
Yeah I walk down the street and the girls all hiss me
If I die tomorrow not one of them would miss me
Only reason they ball me is they can't stand to kiss me
I'm the ugliest man in town
Yeah I'm the ugliest man in town
(You know a guy as ugly as you man could use a manager.
You know what I mean? Just sign this small piece of paper
Here man. You can give me a couple of bucks a week, a couple
Of free meals man. I'll take you all over the world. We'll
Go to Japan baby, they'll love you over there baby.
They'll make another monster movie with you ha ha ha ha)
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.