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.
Now that the show is over
and we have jointly exercised our constitutional rights
We would like to leave you with one very important thought
Sometime in the future
you may have the opportunity to serve as a juror
in a so-called obscenity case
It would be wise to remember that the same people
Who would stop you from viewing an adult film
May be back next year to complain about a book or even a TV program
If you can be told what you can see or read
Then it follows that you can be told what to say or think
Defend your constitutionally protected rights
No one else will do it for you
Thank you
and we have jointly exercised our constitutional rights
We would like to leave you with one very important thought
Sometime in the future
you may have the opportunity to serve as a juror
in a so-called obscenity case
It would be wise to remember that the same people
Who would stop you from viewing an adult film
May be back next year to complain about a book or even a TV program
If you can be told what you can see or read
Then it follows that you can be told what to say or think
Defend your constitutionally protected rights
No one else will do it for you
Thank you
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hmm, seems the message is taken from the end of a 1982 porno called "A Brief Affair", someone posted that portion on YouTube:
youtube.com/watch
wow, thank you so much.
To me, this statement means you can't allow someone else to convince you to let them think for you. For example; I live in a small town, and I went looking for BoC albums at Sam Goody. When I asked the clerk, he vehemently remarked, "We don't carry that kind of stuff here." At the time, Sam Goody was one of two music stores in the area, excluding the popular/hits music sections of local department stores. To me, that means someone else is making the decisions about what I can hear. And that is why this track exists, to show people to think for themselves and decide for themselves what they (themselves) should avoid.
very creepy song. wouldn't be quite so much if it didn't make the explicit reference to serving as a juror in a censorship case. the whole thing smacks of brainwashing.
that's the crazy thing about BoC. they're all new-agey, but in a nighmarish "suicidal cults have rights too!" kind of way. wonderful stuff though.
Note that on Bocmaxima, "listening to Boards of Canada" is replaced with "watching an adult film" This original version was sampled from a porno. Nobody but the boys seems to know which one.
I am much enamoured of this song. It's a bit of a trip to see Boards of Canada on a lyrics site, though, since their lyrics are all ultimately samples.
i do believe its a response to all the controversy revolving their messages and backmasking.
"We're not Satanists, or Christians, or Pagans. We're not religious at all. We just put symbols into our music sometimes, depending on what we're interested in at the time. We do care about people and the state of the world, and if we're spiritual at all it's purely in the sense of caring about art and inspiring people with ideas."
joshuahorowitz, you think freedom of speech is "creepy?" You associate it with suicide cults?
I think you just misunderstood him, either that or are putting words in his mouth. I think the whole suicide cults thing was just his way of expolaining their sound... To be honest, BoC I find to be very creepy as well, their music. It reminds me of 1970's Canada. I'm from Canada, and I know that because Canada is in the name, doesn't intentionally have to do with there sound. But because it is in their name, my brain assosciates it with Canada. And Canada was kinda strange back then, creepy. If I've been up tweakin for a few days, throwing on BoC is creepy as fuck, in an awesome way :) It reminds me of those Film Board of Canada cartoons too.. and we all know they were creepy lol.
Also, I believe she says,
"if you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think."