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.
Down where your paint is cracking
Look down your back stairs, buddy
Somebody's living there and
He don't really feel the weather
And he don't share your pleasures
No, he don't share your pleasures
Did you see his eyes?
Did you see his crazy eyes?
And you're so surprised he doesn't run to catch your ash
Everybody always wants to kiss your trash
And you can't help him, no one can
And now that he knows
There's nothing to get
Will you still place your bet
Against the neighborhood threat?
Somewhere a baby's pleading
Somewhere a mother's needing
Outside her boy is trying
But mostly he is crying
Did you see his eyes?
Did you see his crazy eyes?
And you're so surprised he doesn't run to catch your ash
Everybody always wants to kiss your trash
But you can't help him, no one can
And now that he knows
There's nothing to get
Not in this place
Not in your face
Will you still place your bet
Against the neighborhood threat?
Now that he knows
There's nothing to get
Nothing to get
Not in this place
Not in your face
Will you still place your bet
Against the neighborhood threat?
Look down your back stairs, buddy
Somebody's living there and
He don't really feel the weather
And he don't share your pleasures
No, he don't share your pleasures
Did you see his eyes?
Did you see his crazy eyes?
And you're so surprised he doesn't run to catch your ash
Everybody always wants to kiss your trash
And you can't help him, no one can
And now that he knows
There's nothing to get
Will you still place your bet
Against the neighborhood threat?
Somewhere a baby's pleading
Somewhere a mother's needing
Outside her boy is trying
But mostly he is crying
Did you see his eyes?
Did you see his crazy eyes?
And you're so surprised he doesn't run to catch your ash
Everybody always wants to kiss your trash
But you can't help him, no one can
And now that he knows
There's nothing to get
Not in this place
Not in your face
Will you still place your bet
Against the neighborhood threat?
Now that he knows
There's nothing to get
Nothing to get
Not in this place
Not in your face
Will you still place your bet
Against the neighborhood threat?
Lyrics submitted by pogue mahone
Neighborhood Threat Lyrics as written by Iggy Pop David Bowie
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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To my knowledge, David Bowie did the music for it. It's a fantastic song. I think the song is about acknowledging the mass differences in the world. No matter how great you may be, someone somewhere doesn't give a damn about you.
"There's nothing to get" That lyric conveys they idea of there being no meaning in life. The idea could be applied to there being so many mass differences. What meaning can your religion has when those people over there have never heard of it?
Just my opinion.
I like that. "No matter how great you may be, someone somewhere doesn't give a damn about you."<br /> <br /> I also think it's about homeless people, beggers, trying to scrape by and how society gives up hope and assumes the worst about people that are just trying to survive.
Man i can't believe I had to add these myself...this song is so fantastic! not really sure what it means though...on the surface it looks like its about homeless people, but its probably something deeper then that
I think it's about inner city ghetto/barrio life, the "boy" who's "crying" being a gang teen or cholo
This is Iggy Pop also known as the Godfather of Punk; which is ironic because he was around long before punk. This song is about class warfare and social unrest. This is about hating the establishment (Politicians, Religions, The military/industrial complex and Wall Street).
I was a teenager when this album came out (Mid 70's). I was the neighborhood threat. I had long hair, tatoos, took drugs and flipped off the squares and the establishment types. There was NO WAY I was going halfway around the world to fight some rich mans war (Viet Nam)
These establishment types (Think of Donald Trump) were wealthy and wanted to rule the world. They thought that their money and influence could buy anything. "And you're so surprised he doesn't run to catch your ash Everybody always wants to kiss your trash"
But we realised that the 40 hour work week and the 120k (Like 40K in those days) college degree was a trap and that it put you on a path to obscurity and mediocrity.
"And you can't help him, no one can And now that he knows There's nothing to get"
Remember Occupy Wall Street?
I'm pretty sure a guy called "the neighborhood threat" references the cliche, "there goes the neighborhood," used by racist white people when a minority family (or some variation on the not-like-us theme) moves in...
Everything else, I'm not so sure about. If you aren't willing to bet against the guy at the bottom rung (below you), then you don't have much confidence in your own situation. Kinda paranoid and hopeless, which I guess is expected in small-minded people... So, it seems as if "buddy" is already having a sneaking suspicion that the difference between him and the neighborhood threat isn't really substantial, and he's just as likely to be down at the bottom rung too, eventually.