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.
Shove me under you again
I can't wait for this to end
Sober, empty in the head
I know I can never win
Why should I have to wait
I'll just look the other way
[Chorus]
We left this land of shiny lights
I wish I may, I wish I might
When all these dreams have come to end
You wish you were, you're not my friend
I can see you suffocate
I can find no other way
Try to make you saturate
I can be your enemy
Why should I have to wait
I'll just look the other way
[Chorus]
Whoa no
[Chorus]
You said you'd love
To see the end
The long hard road
That I have been
When all these dreams have come to end
You wish you were, you're not my friend
Blind eyes shine bright
I can't wait for this to end
Sober, empty in the head
I know I can never win
Why should I have to wait
I'll just look the other way
[Chorus]
We left this land of shiny lights
I wish I may, I wish I might
When all these dreams have come to end
You wish you were, you're not my friend
I can see you suffocate
I can find no other way
Try to make you saturate
I can be your enemy
Why should I have to wait
I'll just look the other way
[Chorus]
Whoa no
[Chorus]
You said you'd love
To see the end
The long hard road
That I have been
When all these dreams have come to end
You wish you were, you're not my friend
Blind eyes shine bright
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
it's about dreams(probably becoming a successful band) and here you refers to a friend he(ben) lost in the way or who rather left him(Ben) in his(Ben) way of trying to fulfill his(Ben) dreams
You said you'd love to see the end-------how this dream of their's ends The long hard road that I have been-------the hard way that he'd gone through When all these dreams have come to end-----now that the dreams have come to an end or have been fulfilled You wish you were, you're not my friend----you did a mistake...you should have joined me to the end
The land of shiny lights really intrigues me. I sometimes wish someone were my friend too when they weren't. This song is beautiful and powerful at the same time.
"We left this land of shiny lights"
Hes talking about California, when he went to live there for half a year, and then came bac wit a new band called Plan 9
IM FROM BREAKING BENJAMIN'S HOMETOWN!! haha go me, im cool!....yeah but this song roooooooox "we left this land of shiny lights" <3 that part idk y
you're not the only one Jack and Sally. And this song is awesome. XD I love that part "land of shiny lights."
Such an amazing song... I can relate to the feeling "We left this land of shining lights" because it's just... i don' know, it justr seems to suit how i feel a lot. :P
Sorry if this is a really obvious interpetation, but could the song mean something about the singer being in a relationship with someone when he'd prefer to be with someone else? Like, the "Why should I have to wait; I'll just look the other way" part could mean why should he wait for the person he really wants? He'll have sex with the person he's with and pretend it's the other person by looking the other way. And the "When all these dreams have come to end; You wish you were, you're not my friend" could be him saying to whoever he's with that, regardless of what they think or dream, he doesn't really like them. Of course, that doesn't work for all the lines...
the shiny lights comment make me think of how maybe he was friends with this girl he doesn't really love (Im agreeing with hollow hero on this one :D)and now hes just gone and wrecked it but he doesn't really care anymore
lmao okay so i told my bf that i loved this song i havent really "listen" listened to it so ya, and now that i have i understand why he asked me why i like it i probably just scared the shit out of him lmao oops... lol but i do agree with hollow hero.
Personally I think the song is about drugs.
"SHOVE ME UNDER YOU AGAIN." feeling subordinate to something.
"SOBER, EMPTY IN THE HEAD" not feeling there
"I KNOW I CAN NEVER WIN" against the addiction
"LEFT THIS LAND OF SHINY LIGHTS" the feeling of being high
"YOU WISH YOU WERE, YOU'RE NOT MY FRIEND" in the end the person knows the addiction is wants in but he recognizes it isn't good
I agree with TheConstant815 because for the biggest part of the song i connect it to Ben's drinking addiction! Most of it really makes perfect sense! And he himself have said that he likes to make the lyrics as vague as he can (which he does so perfectly) so it's usually hard to find the meaning behind every line in his songs.