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.
Hesitation was the station I used to get on at
Now it's asshole, can you picture that?
"Fuck you"s and "them"s have fucked me up
An idiot who can't keep his mouth shut
Oh shit! Oh fuck! It's dicks to suck
So, bend me down, I'll pucker up
Take a chill pill lover, or you're going to explode
Take two of these too and you'll find that I know...
That what you learned on your trip to the zoo is
That animals do what animals do
What a great way to die, what a sad way to cry
You'll tell me "I love you" and I'll know it's a lie
What a great way to die, what a sad way to cry
You'll tell me you love me...
And I'll know it's a lie
Now it's asshole, can you picture that?
"Fuck you"s and "them"s have fucked me up
An idiot who can't keep his mouth shut
Oh shit! Oh fuck! It's dicks to suck
So, bend me down, I'll pucker up
Take a chill pill lover, or you're going to explode
Take two of these too and you'll find that I know...
That what you learned on your trip to the zoo is
That animals do what animals do
What a great way to die, what a sad way to cry
You'll tell me "I love you" and I'll know it's a lie
What a great way to die, what a sad way to cry
You'll tell me you love me...
And I'll know it's a lie
Lyrics submitted by X405pastmidnight
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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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Knowing Brendan (as much as you could from interviews and his blog) "take a chill pill, lover, or you're going to explode" is probably meant to be incredibly sarcastic and corny, which is why I like it.
The song is most likely about people hurting you and realizing that it's just in human nature to be shitty, himself included. But you gotta become an asshole in order to survive the sharks.