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.
The world beat you for something nice
You worked hard, died poor
You mined what you died for
Diamonds, di-di-di-di-di, ah
You can whistle my name
It's the mines in Africa
That are to blame
You can scoop out my brain
Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain
I've been awake from the first day
Stayed awake, stayed awake
The rabbit was removed under the whole moon
Longer, short road
Dig deep but don't dig too deep
When it's late you'll see the hole is empty and oh so deadly
They want me raw and smooth like glass
They want it fast but they don't want flaws
I'm a girl's best friend
Can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem
Who lives in those lights in the distance?
Watered down, the rain will help you out
I had a dream, it was all a dream
But it was ruined by the sun shining through me
You worked hard, died poor
You mined what you died for
Diamonds, di-di-di-di-di, ah
You can whistle my name
It's the mines in Africa
That are to blame
You can scoop out my brain
Shape it into an ear and then tell me your pain
I've been awake from the first day
Stayed awake, stayed awake
The rabbit was removed under the whole moon
Longer, short road
Dig deep but don't dig too deep
When it's late you'll see the hole is empty and oh so deadly
They want me raw and smooth like glass
They want it fast but they don't want flaws
I'm a girl's best friend
Can you cut, I can cut, 'cause I'm a rough gem
Who lives in those lights in the distance?
Watered down, the rain will help you out
I had a dream, it was all a dream
But it was ruined by the sun shining through me
Lyrics submitted by DarkArchon, edited by kaylore, alphys
Rough Gem Lyrics as written by Nicholas Shanahan Thorburn
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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/
Gooood song that grows on you.
Uh, about being a diamond.
Corrections, from liner notes:
a. the world beat you for something nice you worked hard, died poor
b. held death at bay from the first day ... the rabbit was removed under the whole moon long bird, short road
c. they want me raw but* smooth like glass
d. but it was ruined by the sun shining through me
i think it's funny that people take this song seriously. Islands/Unicorns always have a bitterly ironic, absurdist vein running through every song. Diamond miners in Africa? Maybe superficially. Give me a break. The (chosen) last name of the lead singer is Diamonds. This song is ridiculousa-- one of the best on the new album. I love when he says "can you cut? I can cut, cuz I'm a rough gem!" Makes me laugh every time.
i love this song, so far, the best out of all the islands songs i've heard. but maybe that's beause it was originally a Unicorns song?
i love this song, so far, the best out of all the islands songs i've heard. but maybe that's beause it was originally a Unicorns song?
i think that this song is more than just being a diamond, i get the whole vibe that it's sort of going political in the sense that it brings up the workers being hurt in the diamond mines in africa losing limbs and such, which i agree should stop. diamonds are not worth it, i think thats what the songs saying.
lost post: w3rd.
these lyrics aren't correct. like, i don't know them all, but i know that the second line is "you worked hard, died poor".
I think that one line says like "the rabbit was a victim of the whole moon".
I don't really know why, but that's just what it sounds like.
I love this song..and I loved it more live with the whole clapping and dancing from the guys..is so cute