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.
Saint of barges
Queen of nails
Sparkling drum sets
Murders of crows
Metal teeth of
Carousels
Lighting cigars on
Electric chairs
Buildings are rooks
Nature's a vice
Rattle of diesels
Snakes eating their own tails
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Queen of nails
Sparkling drum sets
Murders of crows
Metal teeth of
Carousels
Lighting cigars on
Electric chairs
Buildings are rooks
Nature's a vice
Rattle of diesels
Snakes eating their own tails
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
Pretty girl, milkin' a cow, oh yeah
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
How come nobody has any comments on these songs ?? They are so beautiful. For everyone, who doesn't this music yet.... Get out of your f*cking chair and run to your cd-store .... !!!!!!! :@
How come nobody has any comments on these songs ?? They are so beautiful. For everyone, who doesn't this music yet.... Get out of your f*cking chair and run to your cd-store .... !!!!!!! :@
i agree. but what do you think of the song? basically what i thought about it was...these are the mysteries of life...this is what's beautiful, what's ironic, what's intriguing.
Haha, great song this. I hope more people enjoy it.
Pretty girl, milking a cow. Hell yeah!
I agree with luey_baby:
it's about some random things which people seldom notice or think about. Unlikely adjectives and descriptions of objects found in everyday life. As for the pretty girl milking a cow, i think it just cemented the fact that Mark Linkous talked about those that appealed to him rather than find them horrible. I mean snakes eating their own tails aren't the first thing people think about when asked of "favorite things."
RIP Mr. Sparklehorse
I can't really say what I think the lyrics are about, but since allusions to things like literature and other songs are common - among other things - in the Sparklehorse tracks, the "snakes eating their own tails" part makes me think of Ouroboros.
I've been trying to find a way to play with that, but no success.
Saint of barges Queen of nails Sparkling drumsets Metal teeth of carousels Buildings are rooks Nature's a vice Snakes eating their own tales
-All seem to be relating beautiful or extraordinary things to the mundane.
"Murders of crows" was mentioned in Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' song "The Carney". I can't see any connection there, though.
The chorus, "Pretty girl milkin' a cow" might have roots in the old Irish folk song "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow", but I don't see any connection there, either.
Well, I gave it my best shot. This song has such a great jam to it. Mark Linkous, your lyrics will remain a mystery. RIP
This is how I kinda see the song, I grew up and still reside in Virginia. I lived in a small country town. Whenever my family and I got to go the city it was like... the most exciting and mysterious trip I had taken as a child.
I think he's dissecting life in the city and "country."
However, as interesting the city was he rather be back in a small town with simple things like: a pretty girl milking a cow.
At the beginning he speaks of death as holy and virtous through his dream to be set out at sea on a boat which is a "barge" then he goes on by saying that the only thing that keeps him sane or alive is his music or "sparkling drum sets" because it makes him forget about his darkness or "murder of crows" the "metal teeth of carousels" symbolizes the terror he sees in industry and just the tampering of nature and simple life in general, that were basically killing ourselves or "lighting cigars on electric chairs" Building represent darkness as a "rook" is a type of crow. The "rattle of diesels" just expands on the idea of our self destruction. "pretty girl" to me symbolizes commercialism and the cow is supposed to stand for fertility and innocence in literary terms. Commercials always try to appeal to the consumer through commercials that put on these masks like everythings rainbows and flowers and to purchase these things that will eventually lead to the downfall of man.
An inability to see the beauty in the world—everything is torn by detachment, irony, cynicism, and darkness. Carousels are juxtaposed with metal teeth; queens are contrasted with nails, etc, etc. Lighting a cigar—a normally celebratory affair—can only be achieved by the use of an electric chair, which spells death. The one thing that seems to fill him with beauty and wonder and love is the image of a pretty girl milking a cow. Linkous said that he longed to have a child. Milk is a symbol of that desire. Ultimately, he just wants a pretty girl who can give him a baby. The tragedy lies in his inability to do so. In a world of irony and death, new life provides meaning; new life is something he can be wholly sincere about.