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.
All our monkeys have monkeys
We drive our death crush diamond jaguar limousines
We're not fantastic motherfuckers
But we play them on TV
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
The devils are girls with van Gogh's missing ear
You say want you want but filth is all that they hear
I've got the jigger
To make all of you bigger
Ladies und gentlemen, so drop your pissroom bait
And make sure you're not late, you tramps and lunatics
Here's a trick that's gonna make you
Click
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
So my bon mots, hit-boy Tommy trons, rowdy rowdies
Honey-fingered goodbye dolls
Hellzapoppin, open your third nostril
Put on your black face and your god is gone
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We sing
La la la la la la la
We sing
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
We sing
La la la la la la la
We drive our death crush diamond jaguar limousines
We're not fantastic motherfuckers
But we play them on TV
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
The devils are girls with van Gogh's missing ear
You say want you want but filth is all that they hear
I've got the jigger
To make all of you bigger
Ladies und gentlemen, so drop your pissroom bait
And make sure you're not late, you tramps and lunatics
Here's a trick that's gonna make you
Click
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
It's a dirty word Reich
Say what you like
So my bon mots, hit-boy Tommy trons, rowdy rowdies
Honey-fingered goodbye dolls
Hellzapoppin, open your third nostril
Put on your black face and your god is gone
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We're the low art gloominati
And we aim to depress
The scabaret sacrilegends
This is the golden age of grotesque
We sing
La la la la la la la
We sing
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
We sing
La la la la la la la
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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/
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.
"We're not fantastic motherfuckers, but we play them on TV. "
I love this lyric, because of what it says about society. No one is perfect or selfless but we all want to be like the stars on TV who appear to be great people. But underneath it all they're just like anyone else.