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.
Help me out, I need it
I don't feel like loving you no more
I don't feel like loving you no more
Help me out, I need it
I don't feel like touching her no more
Help me out, I need it
I said I don't feel like touching her no more
Well how did it happen
I spent two long years in a strange strange land
Well how did it happen
I'd do anything just to be your man
You're not going anywhere without me
These trials don't prepare the air of love
You're not telling anyone about me
And you shake and you bleed while I sing my song
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
All the different places
Ringing out like a shotgun in my head
All the pretty faces
Ringing out well I just can't go to bed
Well how did it happen
I spent two long years in a strange strange land
Well how did it happen
I'd do anything just to be your man
I'd do anything just to be your man
You're not going anywhere without me
These trials don't prepare the air of love
You're not telling anyone about me
And you shake and you bleed while I sing my song
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
You can't tell anyone about me
You're not going anywhere without me
Help me out I need it
You can't tell anyone about me
Help me out I need it
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
I don't feel like loving you no more
I don't feel like loving you no more
Help me out, I need it
I don't feel like touching her no more
Help me out, I need it
I said I don't feel like touching her no more
Well how did it happen
I spent two long years in a strange strange land
Well how did it happen
I'd do anything just to be your man
You're not going anywhere without me
These trials don't prepare the air of love
You're not telling anyone about me
And you shake and you bleed while I sing my song
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
All the different places
Ringing out like a shotgun in my head
All the pretty faces
Ringing out well I just can't go to bed
Well how did it happen
I spent two long years in a strange strange land
Well how did it happen
I'd do anything just to be your man
I'd do anything just to be your man
You're not going anywhere without me
These trials don't prepare the air of love
You're not telling anyone about me
And you shake and you bleed while I sing my song
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
I don't feel like touching you
You can't tell anyone about me
You're not going anywhere without me
Help me out I need it
You can't tell anyone about me
Help me out I need it
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
I don't feel like, I don't feel like
I don't feel like loving you
Lyrics submitted by foldsbaldwin, edited by Mellow_Harsher
All the Pretty Faces Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, 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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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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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.
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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 song is totally about being tempted by horny fans. Brandon Flowers seems scared of females sometimes like he will actually get upset when fans are a bit forward- the other guys will flirt back and that's as far as it goes but Brandon- it's like he doesn't trust himself. Seriously.