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.
I turn on the tap and run some water
Flick a little switch on the wall
I'm hoping you remember what I taught ya
Hoping you remember me at all
(Chorus)
I'm strong but I feel like a mouse when you're gone
Yes, and I'm, weak, but I'll take on the world when you're here
With me, with me
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Won't you please face it and come home
When I think about your sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
I can see you've got a real taste
for that champagne, but it's all gone
So come home
The kettle's on
I've got a little something on my mind
To keep it to myself isn't really very kind
Pouring out my heart isn't usually my style
But you gave me an inch so I'm gonna take a mile
You see
(Chorus)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Won't you please face it and come home
When I think about your sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Won't you please face it and come home
When I think about your sweet face
I can't wait for you to come
Flick a little switch on the wall
I'm hoping you remember what I taught ya
Hoping you remember me at all
(Chorus)
I'm strong but I feel like a mouse when you're gone
Yes, and I'm, weak, but I'll take on the world when you're here
With me, with me
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Won't you please face it and come home
When I think about your sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
I can see you've got a real taste
for that champagne, but it's all gone
So come home
The kettle's on
I've got a little something on my mind
To keep it to myself isn't really very kind
Pouring out my heart isn't usually my style
But you gave me an inch so I'm gonna take a mile
You see
(Chorus)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Won't you please face it and come home
When I think about your sweet face
I can't wait for you to come home
Can't you see you're in the wrong place
Won't you please face it and come home
When I think about your sweet face
I can't wait for you to come
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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”
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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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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
This song to me tells the story of a guy and girl who fell in love in a small town. then she moved on to a city and now he wants her to go home. "I can see you've got a real taste for that champagne but it's all gone, So come home... the kettle's on." Meaning she wanted to go to the city to see the lights and energy, but after a while he knows she'll get bored of it where "So come home... the kettle's on."