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.
You said I began
This messy state of love affair
And I drink too much and smoke too fast
And this city's cleared my innocence
Coffee is pouring out my ears
It's the only thing they have in here
And my heart stops beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Number tree still on my plate
I heard the trains are running late
And I laugh out loud
My life is a mess
I have gone too far
In my lifelessness
Another coffee it's on the house
The poor girl look is on the owners spouse
And my heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Outside your house
To make a scene
In my head you grabbed me passionately
But the lights are out
And in an hour I walked on home
In the pouring shower
Lost my keys in front of me
My neighbor's smile he's handing me
The blackest coffee you will ever see
And my hearts stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
This messy state of love affair
And I drink too much and smoke too fast
And this city's cleared my innocence
Coffee is pouring out my ears
It's the only thing they have in here
And my heart stops beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Number tree still on my plate
I heard the trains are running late
And I laugh out loud
My life is a mess
I have gone too far
In my lifelessness
Another coffee it's on the house
The poor girl look is on the owners spouse
And my heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Outside your house
To make a scene
In my head you grabbed me passionately
But the lights are out
And in an hour I walked on home
In the pouring shower
Lost my keys in front of me
My neighbor's smile he's handing me
The blackest coffee you will ever see
And my hearts stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
And when it stops it stops
My heart stopped beating
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
It's mainly about this messy relationship that she was in with a guy. The coffee symbolizes her relationship with him. Since coffee boosts a heart rate, it's kind of like how all her emotions were kind of on steroids with the guy. Then when the relationship ended it felt like her heart stopped beating because everything in life didn't affect her as much compared with the feelings she had with this guy. She's lifeless now, numb kind of, her heart has stopped working, because no emotion compares with the emotions she felt with the guy. Like perhaps she felt extreme happiness and extreme depression with him, so now even if something is supposed to make her happy or depressed she doesn't really feel it.
As a result of being bitchslapped by life because of this boy she has resorted to drinking and smoking and basically city life. She goes back to him perhaps sometimes but only to make a fool of herself, and whenever someone like a neighbor tries to get through to her, no matter if if their coffee is even blacker than the ex-guy's it makes no difference to her.
You explained the song very well. Thanks. Love it. Totally can relate to this one.
For some strange reason to me, when I think of this song, when she says her heart stopped beating, I also imagine her dying from drinking to much caffine! And i can't get that picture out of my head, of someone dying due to to much caffine. See line: "Another coffee it's on the house, the poor girl look is on the owners spouse, and my heart stops beating!"
I love this song. I don't really think it's just about heartbreak. I think it's more like when your whole life is pressing down onto you. This can be shown through "I heard the trains are running late" "But the lights are out And in an hour I walked on home In the pouring shower Lost my keys in front of me" Like I assume it's about a partner but I don't think it's because she's heartbroken, maybe just can't stop thinking about him. This whole messy relationship and at the same life and bad luck just can't stop popping up! I especially love the lyrics "And I laugh out loud My life is a mess" Like when everything's going wrong and you just laugh.
Well, I see it as about a lover who has died. The first verse has her remembering things he said to her, but it seems that others are noticing her think about it. She is sitting and drinking coffee, thinking, but also just sitting and existing (some of you know what I mean). It seems apparent that others know of her sadness, as indicated by the coffee on the house, and the neighbor later. She even visits his house, but of course there is no hope in that. Even still, she stands there for an hour. The only thing I am not sure of is "lost my keys in front o me." I am guessing that she means was about to use her keys at the door of her place, but then got lost in thought or sadness. The neighbor is being supportive, but she feels dead again (my heart stops beating), knowing what is gone.
my heart's beating again.
the boy that always tickles me in journalism and art class gave me a copy of this cd.
and i absolutely love this song.
A beautiful song from a beautiful name. "I have gone too far in my lifelessness.."
Love that line.
love the words, love her voice, love her accent.
what do you think is meant by "number tree still on my plate"? I always assumed it was "number three"... Beautiful song.
It's as though she realises everythings she's lost in losing the love of her life (even if she never realised his importance) and in that moment her heart breaks. Never the less. Beautiful.
Yeah, number 3. I think it's about those combos in McDonald's and other fast-food houses. She asked for a meal and can't eat it, cos she's heartbroken. What about the video? In the end the 'evil spirit' is the girl herself, and she is the master of puppets? Did she mean that in the end she is on top of the thing?
I think the ending was her realisation that she's in control of her misery. She's making herself miserable.<br /> <br /> Wow, you posted that almost four years ago. Doesn't matter I suppose. Haha!
i thought "number 3" was meant as in dessert, like entree is number 1 main meal is number 2 and dessert is number 3
I think this song is about a girl who has just been dumped by her boyfriend and ends up staying up all night drinking coffee. when she talks about her heart stopping, i'm guessing she's talking about her heart is, you know, broken and it can't beat unless she's with him. "outside your house, to make a scene, in my head you grabbed me passionately, but the lights are out, and in an hour i walk home in the pouring shower" this is pretty obvious.. and perhaps her neighbour has a crush on her?