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.
I am the bringer of your wishes
Your savior from doing work
The washer of your dishes
And you'll still get your midday perk
Estate agent your mansion
And pot of gold
All the home comforts
Before you're getting tired and old
One more try
Try to get what you've never had
Five more bob
For the whole world that can't be bad
We can't all win
Look it's happening
The future's looking not so bleak
A thousand winners every week [x2]
So when you hear me coming
Along halls and up the stairs (E.R.N.I.E.)
In the back of teapots
In the cupboard, under chairs (E.R.N.I.E.)
Forget all your wives tales
Of forecasts and dividends (E.R.N.I.E.)
When E.R.N.I.E. feels vibrations
Only pays out to trusted friends
One more try
Try to get what you've never had
Five more bob
For the whole world that can't be bad
We can't all win
Look it's happening
The future's looking not so bleak
A thousand winners every week [x2]
Congratulations you've just won
A five thousand pound premium bond
Keep your hand on the bottle
And your eyes glued upon the set (E.R.N.I.E.)
When the score cards come up
Could be you for the big one next (E.R.N.I.E.)
Publicity, no thank you
On the front page of the Currant Bun (E.R.N.I.E.)
They think you stink
But in the pub you'll be number one
One more try
Try to get what you've never had
Five more bob
For the whole world that can't be bad
We can't all win
Look it's happening
The future's looking not so bleak
A thousand winners every week [x4]
Your savior from doing work
The washer of your dishes
And you'll still get your midday perk
Estate agent your mansion
And pot of gold
All the home comforts
Before you're getting tired and old
One more try
Try to get what you've never had
Five more bob
For the whole world that can't be bad
We can't all win
Look it's happening
The future's looking not so bleak
A thousand winners every week [x2]
So when you hear me coming
Along halls and up the stairs (E.R.N.I.E.)
In the back of teapots
In the cupboard, under chairs (E.R.N.I.E.)
Forget all your wives tales
Of forecasts and dividends (E.R.N.I.E.)
When E.R.N.I.E. feels vibrations
Only pays out to trusted friends
One more try
Try to get what you've never had
Five more bob
For the whole world that can't be bad
We can't all win
Look it's happening
The future's looking not so bleak
A thousand winners every week [x2]
Congratulations you've just won
A five thousand pound premium bond
Keep your hand on the bottle
And your eyes glued upon the set (E.R.N.I.E.)
When the score cards come up
Could be you for the big one next (E.R.N.I.E.)
Publicity, no thank you
On the front page of the Currant Bun (E.R.N.I.E.)
They think you stink
But in the pub you'll be number one
One more try
Try to get what you've never had
Five more bob
For the whole world that can't be bad
We can't all win
Look it's happening
The future's looking not so bleak
A thousand winners every week [x4]
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"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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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.
Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This seems to be about someone trying to sell you another lottery ticket, and being very agressive about it.
It is about the premium bonds with E.R.N.I.E. being the ‘Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment’ used to generate the numbers, written long before the introduction of the national lottery.