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.
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
That I don't wanna stop
That I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
So many people telling me one way
So many people telling me to stay
Never had time to have my mind made up
Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop
That I don't wanna stop
That I don't wanna stop
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
I agree with Andromeda's comment. This song is not "self explanatory".
I talked with a psychologist friend of mine about some stuff and he described exactly what this song is about imho.
He calls it the "Only child syndrom". Lacking brothers & sisters makes you lack references and leans you to "go with the flow" with never knowing whether what you're doing is right or wrong.
I like to think this song is about this state of mind. Everyone in his life meets a lot of people, builds his own life in regard of what people tell him, show him, where people lead him. And one day, you just wake up realizing a lot of people have influenced your life in a way or another.
"So many people telling me one way" "So many people telling me to stay" is about these people influencing, not necesserily consciously your life by giving you advises or just being a ideal (model) for you.
"Never had time to have my mind made up" is about this feeling when you wake in your thirties, forties, and looking back at your life with the idea of "Wow, so many time passed, so many things I have done and I don't even know if it was a choice I did consciously or just a model I reproduced unconsciously."
"Caught in a motion that I don't wanna stop" here's the perfect analysis. You've been caught in this motion, going with the flow w/o even thinking about what you're doing in your own way.