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.
There I was on a July morning
Looking for love
With the strength
Of a new day dawning
And the beautiful sun
At the sound
Of the first bird singing
I was leaving for home
With the storm
And the night behind me
And a road of my own
With the day came the resolution
I'll be looking for you
La la la la, la la la la, la la la
I was looking for love
In the strangest places
Wasn't a stone
That I left unturned
Must have tried more
Than a thousand faces
But not one was aware
Of the fire that burned
In my heart, in my mind, in my soul
La la la la, la la la la, la la la
In my heart, in my mind, in my soul
La la la la, la la la la
La la la la, la la la la, la la la la
La la la la, (la la la la)
There I was on a July morning
I was looking for love
With the strength
Of a new day dawning
And the beautiful sun
And at the sound
Of the first bird singing
I was leaving for home
With the storm
And the night behind me
Yeah, and a road of my own
With the day came the resolution
I'll be looking for you
La la la la, la la la la, la la la
Looking for love
With the strength
Of a new day dawning
And the beautiful sun
At the sound
Of the first bird singing
I was leaving for home
With the storm
And the night behind me
And a road of my own
With the day came the resolution
I'll be looking for you
La la la la, la la la la, la la la
I was looking for love
In the strangest places
Wasn't a stone
That I left unturned
Must have tried more
Than a thousand faces
But not one was aware
Of the fire that burned
In my heart, in my mind, in my soul
La la la la, la la la la, la la la
In my heart, in my mind, in my soul
La la la la, la la la la
La la la la, la la la la, la la la la
La la la la, (la la la la)
There I was on a July morning
I was looking for love
With the strength
Of a new day dawning
And the beautiful sun
And at the sound
Of the first bird singing
I was leaving for home
With the storm
And the night behind me
Yeah, and a road of my own
With the day came the resolution
I'll be looking for you
La la la la, la la la la, la la la
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Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
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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.
I don't really think it's about loneliness. Yeah, maybe it discusses this matter, but it isn't the most important topic in it. I think there is a big dose of hope into this song - "With the strength of a new day dawning, and the beautiful sun" - "With the storm and the night behind me". It's kind of like a new begining. I feel it as a quite optimistic song.