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.
Mm, mm, yeah
Do do do do do do do do, oh yeah
Gotta change my answering machine, now that I'm alone
'Cause right now it says that "We can't come to the phone"
And I know it makes no sense, 'cause you walked out the door
But it's the only way I hear your voice anymore
(It's ridiculous)
It's been months and for some reason I just
(Can't get over us)
And I'm stronger than this, yeah
(Enough is enough)
No more walking round with my head down (yeah)
I'm so over being blue, crying over you
And I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears
So done with wishing you were still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow
So why can't I turn off the radio?
Gotta fix that calendar I have that's marked July 15th
Because since there's no more you, there's no more anniversary
I'm so fed up with my thoughts of you and your memory
And now every song reminds me of what used to be
That's the reason I'm
So sick of love songs, so tired of tears
So done with wishing you were still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow
So why can't I turn off the radio? Oh-oh-oh
(Leave me alone)
Leave me alone
(Stupid love songs)
Hey, don't make me think about her smile
Or having my first child
I'm letting go
Turning off the radio
'Cause I'm so sick of love songs (hey), so tired of tears (so tired of tears)
So done with wishing (oh) she was still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow (ooh-oh)
So why can't I turn off the radio? (Why can't I turn off the radio?)
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears (so tired of tears, yeah)
So done with wishing she was still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow (hey)
Why can't I turn off the radio? (Why can't I turn off the radio?)
And I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears (I'm so sick of love songs)
So done with wishing you were still here (so done and I'm so sick of love songs)
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow (so done and I'm so sick of love songs)
Why can't I turn off the radio? (hey)
(Why can't I turn off the radio?)
Why can't I turn off the radio?
Do do do do do do do do, oh yeah
Gotta change my answering machine, now that I'm alone
'Cause right now it says that "We can't come to the phone"
And I know it makes no sense, 'cause you walked out the door
But it's the only way I hear your voice anymore
(It's ridiculous)
It's been months and for some reason I just
(Can't get over us)
And I'm stronger than this, yeah
(Enough is enough)
No more walking round with my head down (yeah)
I'm so over being blue, crying over you
And I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears
So done with wishing you were still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow
So why can't I turn off the radio?
Gotta fix that calendar I have that's marked July 15th
Because since there's no more you, there's no more anniversary
I'm so fed up with my thoughts of you and your memory
And now every song reminds me of what used to be
That's the reason I'm
So sick of love songs, so tired of tears
So done with wishing you were still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow
So why can't I turn off the radio? Oh-oh-oh
(Leave me alone)
Leave me alone
(Stupid love songs)
Hey, don't make me think about her smile
Or having my first child
I'm letting go
Turning off the radio
'Cause I'm so sick of love songs (hey), so tired of tears (so tired of tears)
So done with wishing (oh) she was still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow (ooh-oh)
So why can't I turn off the radio? (Why can't I turn off the radio?)
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears (so tired of tears, yeah)
So done with wishing she was still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow (hey)
Why can't I turn off the radio? (Why can't I turn off the radio?)
And I'm so sick of love songs, so tired of tears (I'm so sick of love songs)
So done with wishing you were still here (so done and I'm so sick of love songs)
Said I'm so sick of love songs, so sad and slow (so done and I'm so sick of love songs)
Why can't I turn off the radio? (hey)
(Why can't I turn off the radio?)
Why can't I turn off the radio?
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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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"'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
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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."
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
i like this song... hehe... its so ironic how he says hes sick of love songs yet he writes love songs.. i like it alot.. had one of my exs drivin my car 4 me on friday nyt n i played it really loud he just looked at me n didnt say nethin everytime i listen to it i think of him....