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.
It was crime at the time but the laws we changed 'em
Though the hero for hire's forever the same one
Introducing for the first time
Pharaoh on the microphone
Sing all hail what'll be revealed today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
Awakened to cheers after years on the faultline
We are shocked to be here in the face of the meantime
Pharaoh all your methods have taught me is to
Seperate my blood from bone
It will all fail
Feel what I feel today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
x2
Alone in the chain it remains to be seen how
How well you can play when the pawn takes a queen now
Introducing for the first time
Pharaoh on the microphone
Sing all hail what will be revealed today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
Sing all hail what will be revealed today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
x2
It was crime at the time but the laws have changed yeah
It was crime at the time but the laws have changed yeah
Though the hero for hire's forever the same one
Introducing for the first time
Pharaoh on the microphone
Sing all hail what'll be revealed today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
Awakened to cheers after years on the faultline
We are shocked to be here in the face of the meantime
Pharaoh all your methods have taught me is to
Seperate my blood from bone
It will all fail
Feel what I feel today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
x2
Alone in the chain it remains to be seen how
How well you can play when the pawn takes a queen now
Introducing for the first time
Pharaoh on the microphone
Sing all hail what will be revealed today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
Sing all hail what will be revealed today
When we peer to the great unknown
From the line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line through here
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
(La la la la la la la)
Form a line to the throne
x2
It was crime at the time but the laws have changed yeah
It was crime at the time but the laws have changed yeah
Lyrics submitted by Statbucksbabe28, edited by strongfish
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This song is a scathing criticism of American Foreign Policy from 2003 onwards. The “crime” refers to the US breaking just war theory and UN resolutions in the invasion of Iraq. The US set a precedent of preemptive warfare, “changing the laws” as it were, from the post-WWII order that it had previously constructed, bypassing NATO and the UN and instead relying on ‘coalitions of the willing.’ The Pharaoh is President Bush, who along with his staff issued a new National Security Report in 2003 about America’s role in the 21st century (the “great unknown”). This report declared that America would seek to stop threats before they erupted in tragedy. After the many foreign policy failures of the 90’s, (Rwanda, Somalia, Kosovo, etc) the American people were awakened to “cheers after years on the faultline” – that is, years of inaction. The song suggests that this kind of policy of unilaterally going after every threat is unwise, “it will all fail.” The pawn, that is, a nation having almost no military capability, will win over the most powerful nation in the world (the ‘queen’). Now it remains to be seen how the rest of the countries and the United States will react to an emerging world were American unipolarity is not as solid as it was after World War 2.