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'm gonna wake you up early cause I'm gonna take a ride with you
We're going down to the auto shop, I'll tell you what we're gonna do
Get on the ride, no sweat, sure we'll take you anywhere you want me to
First gear, it's all right
Second gear, hang on tight
Third gear, ain't I right
Faster, it's all right
It's not a big motorcycle, just a groovy little motorbike
It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys, that two-wheel ride
We'll go on into the hills or anywhere you wanna decide
We'll ride some hills like a champ because my Honda's built really light
When I go into the turn, lean with me, hang on tight
I think I'll put on the lights, so I can ride mine under the night
We're going down to the auto shop, I'll tell you what we're gonna do
Get on the ride, no sweat, sure we'll take you anywhere you want me to
First gear, it's all right
Second gear, hang on tight
Third gear, ain't I right
Faster, it's all right
It's not a big motorcycle, just a groovy little motorbike
It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys, that two-wheel ride
We'll go on into the hills or anywhere you wanna decide
We'll ride some hills like a champ because my Honda's built really light
When I go into the turn, lean with me, hang on tight
I think I'll put on the lights, so I can ride mine under the night
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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Little Feat
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
This is one of those Yo La Tengo songs which give me the chills because of its so sweet and pure lyrics. I can almost feel love living on those words...
I see this song, which is a Beach Boys cover, as a metaphor of love: the singer tells his girl (or his boy, but I see it from my point of view) that he's "gonna take a ride" with her, what could mean "to venture on a relationship", which might as well be a brief one. But he's willing to make things go as far as they can go, because he's so hooked up with her. He's just happy to see her smile, and as the speed increases, things get better each time... But he's sincere. He lets her know that he isn't able to offer her big diamonds nor epic travels, because he's only human; he has just "a groovy little motorbike". It won't be a cinematographic love; it will be modest, but true and full of little details. The kind of love you feel right at your heart. And he's also dedicated, an understanding, caring person, and we can notice this in his will not to control her, but to let her decide the pace and direction they will take; that's why he says "We'll go on into the hills or anywhere you wanna decide". Their love grows up transforming itself into a nutritious relationship which makes them able to ride up the hills, against gravity, and overcome obstacles in life ("hills"). And so they think and plan together, as he invites her to lean at the same time with him so they can make turns and head where the two of them want to. At the end of the song we can see that this is a strong love, full of fun, which both of them enjoy. They decide to stick together and "ride under the night".
Future is unclear, it's dark, so you will need lights to see ahead and take care of your bike... but more important, of the one who rides with you.
Beautiful song...
great cover, sounds a little bit like The Jesus and Mary Chain doesnt it?
That crossed my mind. Gotta love that buzzsaw guitar.
excellent beach boys cover. ira rules!!
I take this song at face value; I think it's just about a guy taking his girl out for a ride on his "groovy little motorbike."
When I was little my mom used to take me and my brother to mcdonalds all the time and play the original version of this song. now i hear this version and am really happy.