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.
Well I wrote your name and burned it,
to see the color of the flame,
and it burned out the whole spectrum as if you were everything,
mine just burned gold,
a normal flame,
I am not anything,
and all that I remember is the feeling of waking up,
when we were kids you were the sun to which my eyes would not adjust,
when we were kids I was a fountain you could never drink enough,
then came all the boys who swept you up,
played careless with your heart,
and every night there was a new girl sitting beside me in my car,
something dies when you grow older,
but you do the best you can,
I am glad,
I am glad,
you found a good man.
to see the color of the flame,
and it burned out the whole spectrum as if you were everything,
mine just burned gold,
a normal flame,
I am not anything,
and all that I remember is the feeling of waking up,
when we were kids you were the sun to which my eyes would not adjust,
when we were kids I was a fountain you could never drink enough,
then came all the boys who swept you up,
played careless with your heart,
and every night there was a new girl sitting beside me in my car,
something dies when you grow older,
but you do the best you can,
I am glad,
I am glad,
you found a good man.
Lyrics submitted by tjwells, edited by Mellow_Harsher, solidbill
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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,
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No he's not jealous at all I don't think. When they were kids (which pobably wasn't that long ago which show he's mature alot i guess)they loved each other, but it was an innocent love, not the kinda love that was: "every night there was a new girl sitting beside me in my car," and so they grew apart and he probably ran into her again lately and she's married and has kids and stuff and leads a great life, that why she's everthing, and since he's has none of these he's "not anything" I don't think he's as jealous as he is sad that things can't be like it was when they were young and innocent. Or at least that's how I see it, everyone probably has their own interpretation, that the beauty of music and this website
I really get chills when he sings "something dies when you get older"
Ok well I just recently saw brand new play in LA and Jesse broke his guitar and decided to play this song acoustic... [It was amazing of course] and well he told us the actual meaning of this song... he said
"This song is about a girl who fell in love with me in 3rd grade... and i was uhh to busy with video games and transformers to even notice... I'm still too busy with video games and transformers but now I can look band and know I was wrong... so this is for her...."
i have to disagree with you skijorn, i do think the song could be about a love from childhood times. the reference to the sun and fountains makes me think of playing outside as children during summer. although, i do feel like the song has more of a feel of two kids being friends forever and always caring about each other, but nothing ever coming out of it, and then as they grew up, they grew apart and now that they're grown, he's realized how much he cared for her and says he's happy for her and in doing so, is moving on, or at least trying to.
also, i think comparing the color gold to mediocrity is brilliant
Read Perks of Being a Wallflower. This song could be Charlie writing to Sam ten years later.
@thehonorstudent <3 yesssss
I love the lines about burning your name.
"and it burned out the whole spectrum as if you were everything" so clever... i could never get enough brand new. anyone actually have these songs yet?
fucking amazing, love all of these demos.
fucking amazing, love all of these demos.
This sounds like it would be perfect to start the album.