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.
When the french maids cigarette turns
Burns like a boiling tapeworm
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
When the chandeleers shatter,
Your guest's gowns turn to tatters, the portraits just chatter
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
Can you feel your sweat beading porcelin?
Your skeleton outgrowing it's skin?
It's the pinball masquerade....
Oh Oh Oh I saw the curtains of hair,
Oh Oh Oh I saw my fingers tear.
They said "we are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah).
Oh Oh Oh I saw the face of a girl strapped to a poison pear she said:
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
I saw a millionaire eat his shadow,
I saw a water clock beat a widow
They said if one man's life is the sum of something
I want to see your fears materializing!"
Where are the six nightmares at this costume bash?
Open your throat look in the raw gash!
You hold each other by well groomed hands,
Mumbling prayers to a neglected jesus.
The matradees quiver as they watch you shiver as the mask
And the mouth knit into each other.
Our laughter was deafining but our lips
But our lips but our lips were trembling.
Now the lady with the peacock mask,
Is writhing around in broken monicle glass,
Imprisoned like a beetle laying on it's back,
And the man striped up and clawed calico like a cat,
Is trapped forever looking like that.
"All your luxury, all your well hidden trash,
All your empty wine bottles disguised as class,
All the bastard children you pay off,
All the money it takes for you to get off.
"May I have this dance?"
The dark dealer takes your hands...
All your memories all your forgotten plans/one night stands;
They are the six nightmares at the masquerade.
Oh Oh Oh I saw the mirrors cringe
Oh Oh Oh the choir voices bend
Oh Oh Oh the costume in my skin...they said
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah!)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
Burns like a boiling tapeworm
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
When the chandeleers shatter,
Your guest's gowns turn to tatters, the portraits just chatter
(That was really something baby,
That was really something baby)
Can you feel your sweat beading porcelin?
Your skeleton outgrowing it's skin?
It's the pinball masquerade....
Oh Oh Oh I saw the curtains of hair,
Oh Oh Oh I saw my fingers tear.
They said "we are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah).
Oh Oh Oh I saw the face of a girl strapped to a poison pear she said:
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
I saw a millionaire eat his shadow,
I saw a water clock beat a widow
They said if one man's life is the sum of something
I want to see your fears materializing!"
Where are the six nightmares at this costume bash?
Open your throat look in the raw gash!
You hold each other by well groomed hands,
Mumbling prayers to a neglected jesus.
The matradees quiver as they watch you shiver as the mask
And the mouth knit into each other.
Our laughter was deafining but our lips
But our lips but our lips were trembling.
Now the lady with the peacock mask,
Is writhing around in broken monicle glass,
Imprisoned like a beetle laying on it's back,
And the man striped up and clawed calico like a cat,
Is trapped forever looking like that.
"All your luxury, all your well hidden trash,
All your empty wine bottles disguised as class,
All the bastard children you pay off,
All the money it takes for you to get off.
"May I have this dance?"
The dark dealer takes your hands...
All your memories all your forgotten plans/one night stands;
They are the six nightmares at the masquerade.
Oh Oh Oh I saw the mirrors cringe
Oh Oh Oh the choir voices bend
Oh Oh Oh the costume in my skin...they said
"We are the six nightmares (oh yeah!)
We are the six nightmares (oh yeah)"
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More Featured Meanings
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
That part about the rich man eating his shadow implies how money dosen't necessarily bring inner happiness, but I'm not sure how this relates to the rest of the song.