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.
And what's that saying again
They're only words
And words can't kill me
Well I can't even spell them
And the cadence
Of what she says is swell
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Okay...
And don't look now
But there's a spider
Crawling on the wall behind you
Yep I should have paid attention
In algebra
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Okay...
They're only words
And words can't kill me
Well I can't even spell them
And the cadence
Of what she says is swell
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Okay...
And don't look now
But there's a spider
Crawling on the wall behind you
Yep I should have paid attention
In algebra
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Let's talk about spaceships
Or anything except you and me, okay?
Okay...
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I've listened to this song a bunch of times but then I started to really listen to it.
I quickly was able to relate exactly to the lyrics. You enjoy someone's presence so much in your life that you'll do whatever you can to be near them. You know that it is something that both of you feel but distance/circumstances/etc keeps you apart and so when you talk you just try to keep away from discussing the issue of what you are together. Simply to prevent you from hurting due to longing for that person so much. So you choose to ignore your feeling to keep the hurt from over taking you.
But hey that's just how I relate to it :)
Since the interpretation of the song has already been covered, I'd just like to add that a lot of people fall for someone in Algebra.
At least i did.. Damn I wish I'd payed attention.
lmao!<br /> i must say i agree with your statement :]]
um hello. i guess no one knows the great album this is. well anyway... it is very obvious this song is about crushing on a girl probably in grade school... la la la.
I got from this song, it being about a situation with an ex and he is trying to still remain friends. But he doesn't want to talk about what will happen or what has already happened between them. probablly to spare feelings or forget about it and have a good friendship with the person.
this is my favourite song on the album. and i agree with rotang9.
"and don't look now but there's a spider crawling on the wall behind you" the speaker's trying to change the topic...
oh man! this was just on a commercial and i was like...wait a sec i know this song...holy crap! it's say hi to your mom!!!!
needless to say i was excited. hehe
Just a note...in music a cadence is like a series of chords or sounds that ends a thought or phrase....whic to me is the noises you hear at the end of the last "okay" in the chorus...
This leads me to believe that the chorus is supposed to be said by the girl he is talking about in the first verse..
"And the cadence of what she says is swell"
Just my thought..
By the way, I also saw the commerical that this song is featured in and I almost crapped my pants. It was such a good and artsy commercial too. :D
What I got from this song is that basically its about a love that he knows cannot happen. So he tries to maintain a platonic relationship, but doing this makes him nervous that it may lead to what he knows is certain pain knowing that it can never last.
ha this song is so sweet