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.
Ring out the gong again!
Carve out this hymn in skin!
When the party blacks out again
You're still eating headlines out of the newspaper bin.
Slap the gong again!
Carve out this hymn in skin!
Happy birthday gelatins smearing bruises on your chin.
There's cake but no mouth, conch but no sound,
Glossy skeletons boyfriends but no friends.
Ring out the gong again!
Carve out this hymn in skin!
When they've pissed between every sheet of your father's bed
Those tears have barcodes waiting to be scanned/scammed.
And when they've hurled every gutted couch cushion
From the living room into your fathers swimming pool,
You're bobbing chlorine apples in the broth bucket of envy's gruel.
Happy birthday gelatins smearing bruises on your chin.
There's cake but no mouth, conch but no sound,
Glossy skeletons boyfriends but no friends.
Ring! Ring! Ring out the gong!
Son now you've made it to the top of their list.
Congratulations your fucking's greatest hit!
Behind husks of leather, photo albums sheild their laughter.
You thought they'd make you breakfast the morning after?
Your fantasy season gangrened off the calander.
Carve out this hymn in skin!
When the party blacks out again
You're still eating headlines out of the newspaper bin.
Slap the gong again!
Carve out this hymn in skin!
Happy birthday gelatins smearing bruises on your chin.
There's cake but no mouth, conch but no sound,
Glossy skeletons boyfriends but no friends.
Ring out the gong again!
Carve out this hymn in skin!
When they've pissed between every sheet of your father's bed
Those tears have barcodes waiting to be scanned/scammed.
And when they've hurled every gutted couch cushion
From the living room into your fathers swimming pool,
You're bobbing chlorine apples in the broth bucket of envy's gruel.
Happy birthday gelatins smearing bruises on your chin.
There's cake but no mouth, conch but no sound,
Glossy skeletons boyfriends but no friends.
Ring! Ring! Ring out the gong!
Son now you've made it to the top of their list.
Congratulations your fucking's greatest hit!
Behind husks of leather, photo albums sheild their laughter.
You thought they'd make you breakfast the morning after?
Your fantasy season gangrened off the calander.
Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Fucking's Greatest Hits Lyrics as written by John Whitney Cody Votolato
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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