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.
You try your best to tell the rest,
That all we have worked for is some kind of lie.
Could it be? Seems to me,
That really you'd know if you'd tried.
We try to raise issues we see as
Important for more than just a hardcore of fans,
And then just maybe our 'scene' can still be
Growing stronger.
You said it makes you feel uneasy,
But I think it could make us so much stronger.
You seem to think it's all so easy,
Welcome to the real world,
'Cause we're not here to please you.
Back in the days when,
When we were having fun,
Was it because it was something new?
Or just so you could say you had done?
Now you stand here and try to say
That what we've done is wrong,
But there's more to revolution than a
Meeting in a pub.
You said it makes you feel uneasy,
But I think it could make us so much stronger.
You seem to think it's all so easy,
Welcome to the real world,
'Cause we're not here to please you.
Welcome to the real world!
You try your best to tell the rest,
That all we have worked for is some kind of lie.
Could it be? Seems to me,
That really you'd know if you'd tried.
'Cause we try to raise issues we see as
Important for more than just a hardcore of fans,
And then just maybe we can still be
Growing stronger.
You said it makes you feel uneasy,
But I think it could make us so much stronger.
You seem to think it's all so easy,
Welcome to the real world,
'Cause we're not here to please you.
Why waste our time? (Why waste our time?)
Why waste our time?
Why waste our time? (Why waste our time?)
Why waste our time?
That all we have worked for is some kind of lie.
Could it be? Seems to me,
That really you'd know if you'd tried.
We try to raise issues we see as
Important for more than just a hardcore of fans,
And then just maybe our 'scene' can still be
Growing stronger.
You said it makes you feel uneasy,
But I think it could make us so much stronger.
You seem to think it's all so easy,
Welcome to the real world,
'Cause we're not here to please you.
Back in the days when,
When we were having fun,
Was it because it was something new?
Or just so you could say you had done?
Now you stand here and try to say
That what we've done is wrong,
But there's more to revolution than a
Meeting in a pub.
You said it makes you feel uneasy,
But I think it could make us so much stronger.
You seem to think it's all so easy,
Welcome to the real world,
'Cause we're not here to please you.
Welcome to the real world!
You try your best to tell the rest,
That all we have worked for is some kind of lie.
Could it be? Seems to me,
That really you'd know if you'd tried.
'Cause we try to raise issues we see as
Important for more than just a hardcore of fans,
And then just maybe we can still be
Growing stronger.
You said it makes you feel uneasy,
But I think it could make us so much stronger.
You seem to think it's all so easy,
Welcome to the real world,
'Cause we're not here to please you.
Why waste our time? (Why waste our time?)
Why waste our time?
Why waste our time? (Why waste our time?)
Why waste our time?
Lyrics submitted by skacore_dude
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
No Surprises
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This is one of my favorite Capdown songs- I just love the sense of weight it conveys. It seems to me that the song is about the people who constantly criticize others and complain about things but don't do anything to help solve the problem. It's about how these people really don't know what it entails to enact upon your beliefs and ideals.