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.
Fourth floor room
Each girl I've brought back home to bloom
All fold on close inspection
Each one leaves
A banner hanging from the eaves
Marking the eve of election
Ex-girl collection
Why?
Into, why not?
Into, what else you got?
It's just how men mark time
Ann slams in
Another lightning round begins
This could get interesting
Where's Ann been?
She pours herself a don't-ask gin
No ice and light on the bitters
I'm done with quitters
"Why? Charles, I found out
Wipe that smile off your mouth
I think it's tell-me time"
Britt hit hard
She found my box of Beth's best cards
Hand cut and signed with 'X's
Called at work
"Happy anniversary, jerk"
And I just laughed at the timing
With you on line two still crying
"Why play sex on the cuff
Does Beth like it rough?
And learn your dirty lines?
And keep her hair cropped
(The other shoe dropped)
Is this how men mark time in couples?"
She cursed
(This sounds so rehearsed)
As Ann, hand on hip, accusing me to the rafters
The words turn and spit
And scorch right through to the plaster
I'm called ten kinds of a bastard
Curses come faster
Ann stands down
I think she thinks there's still some ground
to run maneuvers on but
Ann so smart
you couldn't even guess Beth's part
she said, "Beth must find you daring
I'm long past caring."
Why?
Into, why not?
Into, what else you got?
Into, Charles gone to pot
In hotter water
Line up to lift up a toast
To the ones I hurt most
And how the well's gone lime
With Charles on the plow
Roger, over and out
Slower how men mark time
Fine
Why?
What else you got?
Each girl I've brought back home to bloom
All fold on close inspection
Each one leaves
A banner hanging from the eaves
Marking the eve of election
Ex-girl collection
Why?
Into, why not?
Into, what else you got?
It's just how men mark time
Ann slams in
Another lightning round begins
This could get interesting
Where's Ann been?
She pours herself a don't-ask gin
No ice and light on the bitters
I'm done with quitters
"Why? Charles, I found out
Wipe that smile off your mouth
I think it's tell-me time"
Britt hit hard
She found my box of Beth's best cards
Hand cut and signed with 'X's
Called at work
"Happy anniversary, jerk"
And I just laughed at the timing
With you on line two still crying
"Why play sex on the cuff
Does Beth like it rough?
And learn your dirty lines?
And keep her hair cropped
(The other shoe dropped)
Is this how men mark time in couples?"
She cursed
(This sounds so rehearsed)
As Ann, hand on hip, accusing me to the rafters
The words turn and spit
And scorch right through to the plaster
I'm called ten kinds of a bastard
Curses come faster
Ann stands down
I think she thinks there's still some ground
to run maneuvers on but
Ann so smart
you couldn't even guess Beth's part
she said, "Beth must find you daring
I'm long past caring."
Why?
Into, why not?
Into, what else you got?
Into, Charles gone to pot
In hotter water
Line up to lift up a toast
To the ones I hurt most
And how the well's gone lime
With Charles on the plow
Roger, over and out
Slower how men mark time
Fine
Why?
What else you got?
Lyrics submitted by SweetestSiren, edited by MicePizza
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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.”
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Oh, oh! I forgot to comment on this.... but yeah, what's up with what sounds like a tv sermon in the background at the end of this song? "...The stone was rolled away, and by the way, by the way, God did not have to roll that stone away for Jesus to come out" It's kinda weird...I wonder why they put that in there, or what it means in the context of the song. Ideas?
SweetestSiren: I believe the clip to which you are referring is actually part of the lead-in to "Per Second Second". I don't want to hazard any guesses as to what it means, though, because "Per Second Second" not only has near indecypherable lyrics, but if you do read them, they're very oblique. They do fit better with that clip, though.
I wish I understood what the "Banner hanging from the eaves / marking the eve of election" meant.
first of all it's SCORCH right through to the plaster secondly missing lyrics: Ann stands (stares?) down I think she thinks there's still (steals?) some ground But Ann's so smart You couldn't even guess Beth's card she said with must...fight... different..catherine/caring?
For the missing lyrics I hear:
Ann stands down / I think she thinks there's still some ground To run maneuvers over Ann's so smart / you couldn't even guess Beth's part She said Beth must find you (different?) / (???)
Can't make out the rest of that line. I'm going to see them play tonight, maybe I'll figure it out when they play it.
jwbrockman, if you were talking about the 2/26 show at The Gargoyle, I was there too...Awesome show, but this is the one song I really wanted to hear that they didn't play...It was still incredible though
Yeah, that's the one, great show. I actually asked Jerome (the drummer) about that stanza at the merch table before the show, but he said he didn't know either :). Charles, who sings it, wasn't around. I was kind of disappointed not to hear this or Built in Girls, but still a great set.
love this song... with regards to judahnielsen's comment i have my own (probably incorrect) theory.. i believe that the lyrics arent "marking the eve of election" but "marking the eve of annexation". It sounds more like annexation (a-nk-sshn) the formal act of acquiring something (especially territory) by conquest or occupation and fits more into the theme of the song. Of course i could be completely wrong about this and the official website lyrics seem to dispute it... but listen for yourself. On a side note i emailed the wrens telling them i thought they were a kick-ass band and was really grateful and surprised to recieve a reply from greg. What an awesome bunch of guys.
The Wrens are just about my favorite band from the 2000's (thus far), even with just one record out (which is almost definately the best album of the 2000's). Anyways, the missing lyrics (as charles said on the wrens forum):
Ann stands down / I think she thinks there's still some ground / to run maneuvers on but / Ann so smart / you couldn't even guess Beth's part / She said, 'Beth must find you daring / I'm long past caring' //
"For the missing lyrics I hear:
Ann stands down / I think she thinks there's still some ground To run maneuvers over Ann's so smart / you couldn't even guess Beth's part She said Beth must find you (different?) / (???)
Can't make out the rest of that line. I'm going to see them play tonight, maybe I'll figure it out when they play it." Exactly, I've looked at some many different sites for those lyrics to that one part but they are never in the lyrics. Thanks. Someone should add that in.