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.
It's sixteen miles to the promised land
And I promise you, I'm doing the best I can
Now don't fool yourself in thinking you're more than a man
'Cause you'll probably end up dead
I visit these mountains with frequency
And I stand here with my arms up
Now some days, they last longer than others
But this day by the lake went too fast
And if you want me, you better speak up, I won't wait
So you better move fast
Don't fool yourself in thinking you're more than you are
With your arms outstretched to me
Now it's sixteen miles to the promised land
And I promise you I'm doing the best I can
Now some days, they last longer than others
But this day by the lake went too fast
And if you want me, you better speak up, I won't wait
So you better move fast
And some days, they last longer than others
But this day by the lake went too fast
And if you want me, you better speak up, I won't wait
So you better move fast
And I promise you, I'm doing the best I can
Now don't fool yourself in thinking you're more than a man
'Cause you'll probably end up dead
I visit these mountains with frequency
And I stand here with my arms up
Now some days, they last longer than others
But this day by the lake went too fast
And if you want me, you better speak up, I won't wait
So you better move fast
Don't fool yourself in thinking you're more than you are
With your arms outstretched to me
Now it's sixteen miles to the promised land
And I promise you I'm doing the best I can
Now some days, they last longer than others
But this day by the lake went too fast
And if you want me, you better speak up, I won't wait
So you better move fast
And some days, they last longer than others
But this day by the lake went too fast
And if you want me, you better speak up, I won't wait
So you better move fast
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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.
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"
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
For me, this is about someone in a relationship with two people in very different places. The protagonist, who has an inner peace about themselves, the world around them, and the relationship they are in. The partner, however, is attempting to create problems, is somehow confused about themselves, who they are, and are putting it on the relationship. Jenny's role, it appears, it to wisely say - look, we can move apart if this isn't work - I can live with out you, I'm at peace, and I'm not going to let that change. You are under delusions about yourself - you got to get it together - be humble, come to a place of peace within yourself, and join me on the road I'm traveling if you want to be with me. Otherwise, you're going to be left behind.
This is a song all girls should relate too. Its about a girl and a guy who like each other and spend a great day together.. but the man wont make a move. So she warns him, not to think he is a super god who can have any girl just fall over him (now dont fool yourself, in thinking your more than a man) She plainly tells him, “if you want me, you better speak up, i wont wait, so you better move fast" So if the guy doesn’t tell the girl he likes her, she will just move on, so he "better speak up."
@Shmac215 <br /> Yup. That is what the words mean. Other interpretations are a bit off, or just fantasy.<br /> The singer has her feet on the ground and knows herself. <br /> I’m glad I spoke up and moved fast. Now I’ve got the right girl.
my friend always sings "and if you want me you better speak up i won't wait so you better, move fast" and i can't listen to the song without thinking of her.
when seeing rilo live, and hearing this song, and everybody had their arms raised... everything made sense. truly amazing.
"don't fool yourself in thinking you're more than you are with your arms outstretched to me "
I love that part cause it's what stood out to me from the rest of the song. What I took it as most likely has nothing to do what the song is about but that's why only the section of it stood out to me :p
I took it as people thinking they're such much better by reaching out to you, and sort of looking down on you for doing so and sort of minimizing the importance of.. whatever they're helping you out with. Sort of like.. don't feel superior to someone just because they need help. And if they don't ask for it, don't act like you hold all the answers by reaching out.
..yep.
My best friends played and sang this a couple days before we all left for college, so it still brings a tear to my eye. It may not seem relevant to that, but i can help but think of friends and how quickly time passes when she says
"and somedays they last longer than others but this day by the lake went too fast"
I'm not a huge Rilo Kiley fan, but this song is quickly becoming one of my favourites.
and if you want me you better speak up i wont wait so you better move fast ... this song is so true and my favorite Rilo Kiley song. thank you
i can't believe only 5 people have commented on this song! it's such a great song...i can't quite put my finger on what it means but to me it's basically about youth, young love, hopefulness, dreams...the like.
jenny lewis is my hero.
this is one of my favorite songs.