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.
I think I'm gonna stay home
Have myself a home life
Sitting in the slow-mo
And listening to the daylight
I am not a nomad
I am not a rocket man
I was born a house cat
By the slight of my mother's hand
I think I'm gonna stay home
I want to live in the center of a circle
I want to live on the side of a square
I used to be in my M-Z now
You'll never find me 'cause my name isn't there
Home life
Been holding out for a home life
My whole life
I want to see the end game
I want to learn her last name
Finish on a Friday
And sit in traffic on the highway
See, I refuse to believe
That my life's gonna be
Just some string of incompletes
Never to lead me to anything remotely close to home life
Been holding out for a home life
My whole life
I can tell you this much
I will marry just once
And if it doesn't work out
Give her half of my stuff
It's fine with me
We said eternity
And I will go to my grave
With the life that I gave
Not just some melody line
On a radio wave
It dissipates
And soon evaporates
But home life doesn't change (Home life doesn't change)
I want to live in the center of a circle
I want to live on the side of a square
I'd love to walk to where we can both talk, but
I've got to leave you 'cause my ride is here
And my home life
You take the home life
You keep the home life
I'll come back for the home life
I promise
Home life I promise
Life, home life
Home life
Have myself a home life
Sitting in the slow-mo
And listening to the daylight
I am not a nomad
I am not a rocket man
I was born a house cat
By the slight of my mother's hand
I think I'm gonna stay home
I want to live in the center of a circle
I want to live on the side of a square
I used to be in my M-Z now
You'll never find me 'cause my name isn't there
Home life
Been holding out for a home life
My whole life
I want to see the end game
I want to learn her last name
Finish on a Friday
And sit in traffic on the highway
See, I refuse to believe
That my life's gonna be
Just some string of incompletes
Never to lead me to anything remotely close to home life
Been holding out for a home life
My whole life
I can tell you this much
I will marry just once
And if it doesn't work out
Give her half of my stuff
It's fine with me
We said eternity
And I will go to my grave
With the life that I gave
Not just some melody line
On a radio wave
It dissipates
And soon evaporates
But home life doesn't change (Home life doesn't change)
I want to live in the center of a circle
I want to live on the side of a square
I'd love to walk to where we can both talk, but
I've got to leave you 'cause my ride is here
And my home life
You take the home life
You keep the home life
I'll come back for the home life
I promise
Home life I promise
Life, home life
Home life
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Mental Istid
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Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Yes dashgoo12, the lyrics are "I used to be in my M to Z, but you'll never find me 'cause my name isn't there." These lyrics are, in my opinion, referring to the phonebooks. They come in two separate books - A-L and M-Z and now that John Mayer is famous, he can't be listed in the M-Z just in case some weird stalker fans.
I can tell you this MUCH, I will marry just once And if it doesn't work out, I'll give her half of my stuff It's fine with me We said eternity I will go to my grave, with the LOVE that I gave Not just a melody line on a radio wave It dissipates And soon evaporates Homelife doesn't change
That part is probably my favourite in the entire song. It's so sweet. I love it because it's taking a different stance on marriages these days. I mean, people are alwasy talking about how they might get divorce,d or divorce rates are high, but John Mayer's saying in this part "I'm not going to worry about divorce. I'll marry and if it doesn't work out, then that's what's meant to be, I've had my chance." It makes, I think a much more optimistic picture of getting married. Well, in my screwed up head it does, at least...lol
okay, i love the lyrics but hate the music. something just turns me off at the beginning, but the rest of the song is so meaningful and it really shows that john wants to be more than what he is and not just a 'melody line'. he doesnt want the life of a rockstar. i think that all the songs on ht can really be linked back to john trying to find himself more than anything.
I can tell you this MUCH, I will marry just once And if it doesn't work out, I'll give her half of my stuff It's fine with me We said eternity I will go to my grave, with the LOVE that I gave Not just a melody line on a radio wave It dissipates And soon evaporates
I think i disagree with everyone on this line. I don't know that he thinks that is marriage will last forever and i don't think that he minds divorce. the woman that he chooses to marry will be the one, just no the one that he's going to be with forever. He'll love her forever, but he may not want to be married to her forever. "It dissipates And soon evaporates" It almost doesn't sound like he expects the marriage to last. It also doesn't sound like he expects to be bitter about it either. She can take half of his stuff when it's over but it's not a big deal. I don't know. The more i think about it the more confused i get. I wish i could just ask him...and then make sweet love to him :-)
"Home life You keep the home life You take the home life I'll come back for the home life I promise"
That second line is actually, "You keep our HOME ALIVE", if you listen closely, which is a beautiful and well placed lyric. This is a very cool song. As a 40 happily married man with 2 kids i think this is my new anthem.
John said somewhere that he wrote this song because of how much he misses his home life. He hates touring. He is a person that likes to stay at home, live from day to day with no suprises. I think almost everyone can relate to that.
The missing lyrics are "I used to be in my M to Z, now you'll never find me cause my name isn't there." I can see where it sounds like scene... but its not :)
all i can say is that john is awesome and i hate when people compare him to dave mathews or jack johnson i mean they're awesome but john is his own thing
"See I refuse to believe" - nice homage to Sting & The Police. You can really see that he was influenced by them.
I remember once hat John got to meet Sting and they got along. Sting wanted to work with him and everything because Sting loved his music too. Mut
John said something about a dream he had where he and Sting were naked in a hotel room jamming and Sting was like, 'uh ok' - step away slowly. I thought that was funny.
Okay, people. Do not post lyrics to a song unless you get them right. The lyrics ARE IN THE JACKET OF THE CD. ITS HARD TO MESS THAT UP.