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.
Last call now I'm outta time
And I don't got no valentine
Singled out, now I stand alone
The underdog in a modern world
Suburbia is hot tonight
But nothing seems to feel alright
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Fit the mold and do what you're told
Get a job and start growing old
9 to 5 can make your dreams come true
But I don't want to be like you
I'm not cool and I'll never be
I break the rules and I guarantee
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
You call me a loser
Say I'm just a user
But I'll just keep on moving
Cause that's the art of losing
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
And I don't got no valentine
Singled out, now I stand alone
The underdog in a modern world
Suburbia is hot tonight
But nothing seems to feel alright
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Fit the mold and do what you're told
Get a job and start growing old
9 to 5 can make your dreams come true
But I don't want to be like you
I'm not cool and I'll never be
I break the rules and I guarantee
I don't want your sympathy
I just need a little therapy
At least that's what they say to me
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
You call me a loser
Say I'm just a user
But I'll just keep on moving
Cause that's the art of losing
Hey ho let's go
I'm gonna start a riot
You don't want to fight it
One two f*** you
Don't tell me what to do
I don't want to be like you
Can't you see it's killing me
I'm my own worst enemy
Knock me down I'll keep on moving
It's the art of losing
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
Wahhhooo (It's the art of losing)
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids in America
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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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
And how about that drum beat at the beginning of the song? It was a recreation of the drum beat in Ant Music.