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.
Pressure
Pressure is all we've got
The less you know the more you strain to reach out to see in the balance there's nothing free
It took the best of them down with a single blow
Brace yourself for the challenge ahead,
Don't waste your breath on what you know
Brace yourself for the challenge ahead, you've got to pace yourself the last to go
I journeyed to the edge of all my tears and counted every night I fought alone/bartered
I pray that you could feel like I do, never to remain a martyr
The less you know, you're getting shadowed by vanity
Somehow rage becomes clarity
You'll find it deep in my family
It took the best of us down
I journeyed to the edge of all my tears and counted every night I fought alone/bartered
I pray that you could feel like I do, never to endure a heart of stone
All of your enemies are out to change you
The greatest weapon of etiquette
I traded serentiy, to realize the struggle of knowing what I could get
I took part in a dream where nobody told me where to go or who to be
It opened my eyes
Never will I know of peace again
It opened my eyes
Never will I know of peace again
It opened my eyes
Never will I know, never will I know
Never will I know, never will I know
It opened my eyes
Never will I know of peace again
Pressure is building to no end
Pressure is all we've got
Pressure is all we've got
This won't end in failure
Pressure is all we've got
The less you know the more you strain to reach out to see in the balance there's nothing free
It took the best of them down with a single blow
Brace yourself for the challenge ahead,
Don't waste your breath on what you know
Brace yourself for the challenge ahead, you've got to pace yourself the last to go
I journeyed to the edge of all my tears and counted every night I fought alone/bartered
I pray that you could feel like I do, never to remain a martyr
The less you know, you're getting shadowed by vanity
Somehow rage becomes clarity
You'll find it deep in my family
It took the best of us down
I journeyed to the edge of all my tears and counted every night I fought alone/bartered
I pray that you could feel like I do, never to endure a heart of stone
All of your enemies are out to change you
The greatest weapon of etiquette
I traded serentiy, to realize the struggle of knowing what I could get
I took part in a dream where nobody told me where to go or who to be
It opened my eyes
Never will I know of peace again
It opened my eyes
Never will I know of peace again
It opened my eyes
Never will I know, never will I know
Never will I know, never will I know
It opened my eyes
Never will I know of peace again
Pressure is building to no end
Pressure is all we've got
Pressure is all we've got
This won't end in failure
Lyrics submitted by Feegore
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Yo La Tengo
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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,
Just A Little Lovin'
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The best song on Nocturne I love this song!