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.
You were born inside of a raindrop
I watched you falling
To your death
And the sun
Well it could not save you
She'd fallen down too
Now the streets are wet
Body of water, toxic and timeless
Atlantic ocean, New York skyline
I always get lost
When I leave the village
So couldn't come meet you in Brooklyn last night
But I sing glory from my lowest
And I will say peace
To the people I meet
While the world waits for an explosion
That instant of light that wipes the slate clean
So don't be fooled
No, don't get lied to
Love was always cruel
Don't act strange
Don't be a stranger
It happened to me now it's happening to you
But if you take that train under water then we could talk it through
Well if I could tame all of my desires
Wait out the weather
That howls in my brain
Because it seems
That it's always changing
The wind's indecision, the sorrowful rain
Yeah, I was a postcard
I was a record
I was a camera
Until I went blind
Now I am riding all over this island
Looking for something to open my eyes
But I still sing glory
From a high-rise
And I will say thanks if you're pouring my drinks
While the world waits for an explosion
That moment in time when we are set free
Well don't stay mad
Just let some time pass
And in the morning you'll wake feeling new
And if I don't come back
I mean, if I get sidetracked
It's only cause I wanted to
I'm keeping up with the moon on an all-night avenue
I watched you falling
To your death
And the sun
Well it could not save you
She'd fallen down too
Now the streets are wet
Body of water, toxic and timeless
Atlantic ocean, New York skyline
I always get lost
When I leave the village
So couldn't come meet you in Brooklyn last night
But I sing glory from my lowest
And I will say peace
To the people I meet
While the world waits for an explosion
That instant of light that wipes the slate clean
So don't be fooled
No, don't get lied to
Love was always cruel
Don't act strange
Don't be a stranger
It happened to me now it's happening to you
But if you take that train under water then we could talk it through
Well if I could tame all of my desires
Wait out the weather
That howls in my brain
Because it seems
That it's always changing
The wind's indecision, the sorrowful rain
Yeah, I was a postcard
I was a record
I was a camera
Until I went blind
Now I am riding all over this island
Looking for something to open my eyes
But I still sing glory
From a high-rise
And I will say thanks if you're pouring my drinks
While the world waits for an explosion
That moment in time when we are set free
Well don't stay mad
Just let some time pass
And in the morning you'll wake feeling new
And if I don't come back
I mean, if I get sidetracked
It's only cause I wanted to
I'm keeping up with the moon on an all-night avenue
Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by jessicahaligh, FrankStafford
Train Under Water Lyrics as written by Conor Oberst
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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/
i love this song very much although it makes me very sad. it reminds me of how things may change when i get really into acting and film, especially between my boyfriend and myself. he's always afraid once i'm famous, i'll break up with him.
i could listen to this song forever.
are you famous yet?
@youryellowbird Yeah you famous yet?