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.
We get our nerves of steel
When the balaclavas go on
We're just not used to ourselves
If it pays then it sells our hides
I wake for every meal
But I still set a place for you
We're looking out for you son
We fear the worst but it's done
The factory has treated you well
The coals burn colder
But in a part of the heart of the hearth
It still swells
When the balaclavas go on
We're just not used to ourselves
If it pays then it sells our hides
I wake for every meal
But I still set a place for you
We're looking out for you son
We fear the worst but it's done
The factory has treated you well
The coals burn colder
But in a part of the heart of the hearth
It still swells
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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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theyr even playing glastonbury and the carling weekend im so gunna see them at leeds fest
:/ they definitely deserve success, and their music is amazing, but i hope they will survive the idiots at mtv and other mainstream facets.
indierockess, i totally agree with you. i love tokyo police club & i would seriously hate to see their music as background music for some dumbass new tv shows on MTV.
This song must be about how one must work for a living in a brutal factory, but its not too bad; hence the factory has treated you well. Its about how a man must do what a man must do and although its hard, in the end its worth it.
on year ago today, april 22 2006, my friend said these exact words: "in a year, tokyo police club will be the biggest new band to come out of canada. they will even be playing coachella." i, of course, scoffed at her and was like "yeah, what next, will broken social scene fly?" ahh, if only i knew how right she was and how wrong i am. i stand corrected, e.