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.
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
Why do you say this is a tribute to Miles Davis?
The boys used to hang out at a graveyard at night drinking and partying, and one of the gravestones read Elizabeth Reed. Dickey wrote this instrumental and named it after her. Eventually this would be the same graveyard where Duane and Berry were buried.
The live version on At Fillmore East is in my mind their greatest performance ever. Every band member brings his best, and Duane's lightning fast solo is unbelievable.
This song right here defines the Allman Brothers, I don't care if there are no lyrics, this is just awesome! Tribute to Miles Davis by the way.
I don't know about tribute to Miles Davis, but i have heard that Duane listened to Kind of Blue a lot and his soloing was influenced by it.
the band went into a cemetary.... saw random name "elizabth reed" written on tombstone and wrote a song about her... they didnt know her good song
The cemetery was Rose Hill, Duane and Berry rest there today. Dickey Betts wrote the song. I'll quote Duane, " Miles, Coltrane' those cats were smooth. Liz Reed, Don't want You No More, we tried to conjure up the spirit of Coltrane and Miles. Although they had something we couldn't touch"
I disagree brother. You had it all. RIP brother Duane, we love you. See ya on the other side.
Dickey Betts was having an affair with a famous musician's wife, and slept with her in the Rose Hill cemetary one night. He looked at the nearest headstone and it was Elizabeth Reed's. The wife was Latina, so he gave the song a latin sound. As far as the famous musician, I'm not telling, cuz I don't know if he ever found out.
Dickey Betts was having an affair with a famous musician's wife, and slept with her in the Rose Hill cemetary one night. He looked at the nearest headstone and it was Elizabeth Reed's. The wife was Latina, so he gave the song a latin sound. As far as the famous musician, I'm not telling, cuz I don't know if he ever found out.
Lance i dont know where you heard that mess but its not accurate. Dickey Betts could not find a place to peacefully write a song, so he tried the Cemetary. He went one day and wrote the whole song siting on a bench. When he was done he looked up and the Grave stone read " In Memory Of Elizabeth Anne Reed" so he named it that, just with out the middle name.
I cant listen to this enough, the live at Filmore East version is orgasmic. I know everysingle line its so addicting. 13 minutes of pure joy. reminds me of the Outer Banks, cool night air going through your hand as you drive on the Banks. listen to that song the whole way.
Lance is right, it was an affair in the cemetery, wrote it for that woman, but didn't name it after her, so he named it after the tomb stone nearest them. true story.
damn right plz. this is truly one of the greatest songs in the history of rock music. duane and dickey are absolutely magnificent. I believe dickey had the 1st solo and duane the 2nd
As an aside, Lou Reed's sister was named Elizabeth (but she went by Merril).
As an aside, Lou Reed's sister was named Elizabeth (but she went by Merril).