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.
If I think she beautiful, well, that's for sure
Give a little loving, but I still gonna need some more, rob it
Stealing from the rich and then give it to the poor
Telling everybody it don't matter anymore, she said
All I really needed was a friend like you
Help me through and together we can change, but
If I was to stay it wasn't for too long
People sing the same song everywhere I'm going
Closer to the sun and far from the moon
People screaming out they gonna see me real soon
They say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
If I think she beautiful, well, that's for sure
Give a little loving, but I still gonna need some more, rob it
Stealing from the rich and then give it to the poor
Telling everybody it don't matter anymore, said
All I really needed was a friend like you
Help me through and together we can change, but
If I was to stay it wasn't for too long
People sing the same song everywhere I'm going
Closer to the sun and far from the moon
People screaming out they gonna see me real soon
They say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Give a little loving, but I still gonna need some more, rob it
Stealing from the rich and then give it to the poor
Telling everybody it don't matter anymore, she said
All I really needed was a friend like you
Help me through and together we can change, but
If I was to stay it wasn't for too long
People sing the same song everywhere I'm going
Closer to the sun and far from the moon
People screaming out they gonna see me real soon
They say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
If I think she beautiful, well, that's for sure
Give a little loving, but I still gonna need some more, rob it
Stealing from the rich and then give it to the poor
Telling everybody it don't matter anymore, said
All I really needed was a friend like you
Help me through and together we can change, but
If I was to stay it wasn't for too long
People sing the same song everywhere I'm going
Closer to the sun and far from the moon
People screaming out they gonna see me real soon
They say ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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"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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
They played this song at my friends funeral, its great but sadness lingers in it
Roll up a blunt , smoke it nice and slow. Listen to this song and let your mind be free. That is all i have to say -Hornbo34
i read this post a week ago and took your advice.<br /> Best high o my life.<br /> <br /> stay green
One of my all time favorite songs. Sometimes I will listen to this song for an hour before I go to bed and just space out and think about life.
imma plant my seed, let it grow free, simple as I be. Tha roots of dis piece in my eyes be always live with the bright side not always the "right" side of the picture. You are who you are, as beautiful as you see yourself to be so theres one thing thatll set you free from the comfusion. no matta where you go youll always be you. just follow your heart not social morales. To b free find what would matter most above all then that will be your guidance of past the rest and the clearing of your hearts path. always know everything is beautiful tho if you look closer to the sun, and far from the moon.
this song always heightens my high. so smooooth and relaxing!
I believe this song is about his journey to finding the right girl. At first he was caught up in the wrong girl that he could never seem to please. To me, "Stealing from the rich and then give it to the poor" explains how he took away the moments he could of had with the right lover, and instead gave it to her. And then, note this is just a wild guess, I suppose she only viewed him as a friend, i.e. "All I really needed was a FRIEND like you". He seems to love her, as you can tell from him calling her beautiful, and this tears him apart. So, rather than sticking around as a friend, he moves on closer to the sun- closer to finding the one.
Now if I'm wrong, it could mean getting closer to his happiness, and have no relation to love. But hey, it's just my opinion, right?
And repeating it twice could have to do with a cycle.
@tatoropotamus i like your last part finding happiness and it all happens in cycles perfectly perfect;)
@tatoropotamus I agree its about finding the right girl. She says all she needed was a friend like him "but if I were to stay it wasn't for too long." They come and go, and he is getting closer and closer to his "sun"
No comments on this song? It's beautiful!
i agree, this is an awesome song...the vibe I get from it is that he just keeps moving on, "if i was to stay it wasn't for too long, people sing the same song everywhere I'm going." Its the same thing everywhere he goes, but he keeps moving, closer to the sun.
one of my favorite songs of all time. puts me in a good mood, awesome instrumentals.
The line Should be "I rob and steal it from the rich you know I give it to the poor."
I disagree it sounds right as it is, besides you steal from the rich and give to the poor, thats robin hood. Sounds messed up the way you said it.