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 guess it's safe to say
You're never coming back
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
And I can't see you
Getting used to
Living in the midst of your perfection
And I'm so lost
How can you trust?
Somewhere the sun is always shining
And there's just one last thing that I have to say
As we reflect on the mess of all of this I've made
It was cowardice that made me push you away
I was so afraid cause you were so much better than me
I guess it's safe to say you're never coming back
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
You're never coming back
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
And I can't see you
Getting used to
Living in the midst of your perfection
And I'm so lost
How can you trust?
Somewhere the sun is always shining
And there's just one last thing that I have to say
As we reflect on the mess of all of this I've made
It was cowardice that made me push you away
I was so afraid cause you were so much better than me
I guess it's safe to say you're never coming back
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
I took to interpreting this song as being a r/ship that failed for one reason or another but he knows that there is still something, a connection and is willing to show that he can be with them in time and that a hiccup in the road is no more than just a speed hump and more so a learning curve.
I’m not sure of the title's meaning, 'the Thief'. Perhaps suggesting metaphorically that something he valued was taken and now has to live with it and do something about it
In the first line
'I guess it's safe to say You're never coming back'
He realises that because of the circumstance, the r/ship cannot continue and because of this barrier, he can see where she is coming from.
The next line
'I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you'
He wont dwell on what has happened and its not like they must change everything for them but I feel that he has to be more positive in this situation because they know their self worth and the importance of this.
And I can't see you Getting used to Living in the midst of your perfection And I'm so lost How can you trust? Somewhere the sun is always shining
This verse gives me the whole impression that they have parted and moved away from each other but yet at the same time getting use to this situation
'And I can't see you Getting used to'
But then you could also read that the people involved are not on the same page and for some reason he feels he is lost because he doesn’t believe it was always the case (being one step behind this girl who he loves and thinks the world of them). He feels he has lost his best friend in that process and feels alone (being in love with that person, it’s given to obviously share things with them). I’m not entirely sure on the 'How can you trust?' is he asking if he can even trust himself or if she can trust him right now or whether he is asking her if she trust him or can she continue to trust him. Either way trust is important in an r/ship. Without that, what are you to believe.
As interpreted in these 3 lines
'Living in the midst of your perfection And I'm so lost How can you trust?'
And in the last line of this verse he is telling himself that these circumstances aren’t always as bleak as they seem.
'Somewhere the sun is always shining'
'And there's just one last thing that I have to say As we reflect on the mess of all of this I've made It was cowardice that made me push you away I was so afraid cause you were so much better than me'
He is trying to be apologetic about how things turned out. He feels he wasn’t good enough and was afraid to let her know this (a bit too much pride I think) and he wasn’t as confident anymore thus unsure of himself. The way he handled it, he makes it out to be his fault that tore them apart. The way things turned out, they weren’t as tightly bonded as they were and this led to their falling out; the pushing her away. He was afraid to show everything because he felt that he wouldn’t live up to her expectations because he thought very highly of her. I like the way the singer emphasises the last bit (whether that was intentional or not) because he saying it in past tense because he realises how stupid that was because u know if they love you, they will accept you for who you are and work on it but in the end the damage was done.
He comes full circle again knowing that things are the way it is and u shouldn’t dwell on it but instead move forward and try...
I got a bit out of this song because it kinda reads my position and the r/ship I had. As always, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to find it. You just have to know your self worth because you have nothing to lose esp. if it’s worth it...
In the end, whether I’m wrong or not, everyone has their own interpretations and I could care less if I'm far away from the singer's intentions of this piece.
Oh yeh before I go, I do like the piano and the melody. The song is over before you know it!