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.
Did somebody tell you what I couldn't tell you
I hope they did
I hope they didn't
Well I oughta regret it
Or should I forget it
Whatever this is
It feels electric
You shot me a sweet look
Gave me your yearbook
Told me to sign it
It was a signal
But I couldn't find the words
I just couldn't find the nerve
As usual
Here's my bright idea
I'll just disappear
I'll just fly away from here
(Hey!)
And now you're in Hollywood
Right in my neighborhood
Things are really looking up for you
An army of managers
And lots of pretty boys lining up
To read for you
Oh, I'm pretty sure that it was you
That I bumped into just the other day
At the record store
But I still don't have a clue
I just couldn't talk to you
As usual
Here's my bright idea
Mmmm
I'll just disappear
Woah
Here's my bright idea
Bamb bamb bamb bamb
I'll just disappear
I'll just fly away from here
So I come to your event
In my well rehearsed mystique
I show up an hour late
But I've been ready for a week
And you float into the hallway
like some neon silohuette
I'm slowly losing oxygen
and my hands are soaking wet
all the cameras and reporters
piling up on one another
just to get a look at you
they all want an interview
Then I make my move
push them out of my way
but I still just don't know what to say
Here's my bright idea
Mmmmm
I'll just disappear
Woah
Here's my bright idea
Bamb bamb bamb bamb
I'll just disappear
I'll just fly away from here
Here's my bright idea
Here's my bright idea
Here's my bright
Here's my bright
Here's my bright idea
Woah
I hope they did
I hope they didn't
Well I oughta regret it
Or should I forget it
Whatever this is
It feels electric
You shot me a sweet look
Gave me your yearbook
Told me to sign it
It was a signal
But I couldn't find the words
I just couldn't find the nerve
As usual
Here's my bright idea
I'll just disappear
I'll just fly away from here
(Hey!)
And now you're in Hollywood
Right in my neighborhood
Things are really looking up for you
An army of managers
And lots of pretty boys lining up
To read for you
Oh, I'm pretty sure that it was you
That I bumped into just the other day
At the record store
But I still don't have a clue
I just couldn't talk to you
As usual
Here's my bright idea
Mmmm
I'll just disappear
Woah
Here's my bright idea
Bamb bamb bamb bamb
I'll just disappear
I'll just fly away from here
So I come to your event
In my well rehearsed mystique
I show up an hour late
But I've been ready for a week
And you float into the hallway
like some neon silohuette
I'm slowly losing oxygen
and my hands are soaking wet
all the cameras and reporters
piling up on one another
just to get a look at you
they all want an interview
Then I make my move
push them out of my way
but I still just don't know what to say
Here's my bright idea
Mmmmm
I'll just disappear
Woah
Here's my bright idea
Bamb bamb bamb bamb
I'll just disappear
I'll just fly away from here
Here's my bright idea
Here's my bright idea
Here's my bright
Here's my bright
Here's my bright idea
Woah
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
NO. no. this is not right. orson r awesome. i bet ur just some emo kid. my goodness. i know orson and they r really nice. this is a really beautiful touching song.