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.
Hello, you tiny cardboard box with matches inside.
Hell, you wooden match, hello the light you provide.
You keep me warm, you keep me safe.
You know that darkness isn't good.
But nothing lasts forever.
You're only two inches of flammable wood.
And when the sun comes back,
There won't be any lack of lumination in any way.
But on the other hand,
I'll never understand why it disappears after every day.
Now I've forgotten what I wanted to say.
Hello, you railroad nail, so sharp, so rusty and red.
Hello, you sledgehammer, implanting it into my head.
And with it comes a stream of thoughts,
And soon ideas begin to form.
So I must thank you for it.
The nail in my head is the eye of the storm.
And with my new found mind I make the world unwind,
As if the planet is made of clay.
This is a tragic mix of wayward magic tricks and giant robots from far away.
Now I've forgotten what I wanted to say.
Hell, you wooden match, hello the light you provide.
You keep me warm, you keep me safe.
You know that darkness isn't good.
But nothing lasts forever.
You're only two inches of flammable wood.
And when the sun comes back,
There won't be any lack of lumination in any way.
But on the other hand,
I'll never understand why it disappears after every day.
Now I've forgotten what I wanted to say.
Hello, you railroad nail, so sharp, so rusty and red.
Hello, you sledgehammer, implanting it into my head.
And with it comes a stream of thoughts,
And soon ideas begin to form.
So I must thank you for it.
The nail in my head is the eye of the storm.
And with my new found mind I make the world unwind,
As if the planet is made of clay.
This is a tragic mix of wayward magic tricks and giant robots from far away.
Now I've forgotten what I wanted to say.
Lyrics submitted by blindfold
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
this song, in my mind, says that all things can be appreciated, whether or not it's just a match, or some crazy freaky dude putting a railroad nail in your head.
Lol, I think Lemon Demon songs have no real meaning, and therefore make you think, and then we come up with meaning, and it's there to show you that you can find meaning in anything. LOL.
But as for this song ...
It's like he's talking to the match in contemplation one day ... like, you bring me light and happiness, you know that darkness and loneliness isn't good ... and then he goes on about how nothing lasts forever, and how the sun'll come up and there'll be light and happiness, but he'll never understand why the sun goes down at the end of the day ... and this is stretching a little, and it's my mind being odd, but it's like he's been through a break up (like most songs are about, lol) and he's talking about how all good things come to an end (LOL other song), and perhaps the matches are his relationship, or something, and the sun is everyone else in a relationship ... he sees so many other happy relationships whilst he doesn't have his ... and when it's him and his relationship with whomever, everyone else disappears and it's just them. He doesn't understand why everything happy always ends -- "I'll never understand why it disappears after every day."
And then perhaps he goes insane for no reason, other than the fact that he's always surrounded by everyone else who's happy whilst he's not ... and kills himself? With a nail in the head ... and the planet like clay, new thoughts, and the world unwinding ... learning everything ... because he's dying? Like, life flashing before your eyes, and sudden realisations, and bright lights and stuff, and he's like, "Now I know why the sun goes down (why everything good must end) and I thank you, because without you leaving me I wouldn't have decided to suicide" or something ...
LOL. I see too much into stuff.
Either that, or it's like he wants to know why good things end, and is insane anyway, and kills himself because he's insane and thinking "Perhaps I'll understand nao!"
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