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.
It's one of those times that I can't seem to find the words or thoughts.
These hazy eyes the perfect partner to my weary mind
It's not been a matter of days, in fact it's felt like an age,
since I last sat down or I saw a town that wasn't linked by shows
And fatigue's soon ignored as your feet hit the board,
or as the beat hits the floor, these are the moments we're living for.
The ones that constantly try to appease our 9-5s.
They're the ones that justify all the things that we forsake.
You are not your job and you are not the clothes you wear
You are the words that leave your mouth so speak up, speak up loud
For none of us want to sit in evaluations taking notes for hours.
We're all sick and tired of waiting. Let's set sail.
And fatigues soon ignored as your feet hit the board,
or the beat hits the floor, these are the moments that we live for.
the ones who constantly try, to appease our 9-5s
they are the ones that justify, all the things that we forsake.
Why do we look to the tide when we find that our minds are getting stale,
why does it bag me this place on the waves.
and are we looking for meaning, from demeaning,
the soul destroying task we do all the time on the shore.
And as i picture you on the television,
talking all the seller hook past all the people walking,
its about then that I realize that your the same as me,
So call me Ishmael, we are all striving for,
the thing that makes this grind worth surviving baby,
I won't wait long for one little moment,
where our dream's to feel alive.
And as i picture you on the television,
talking all the seller hook past all the people walking,
its about then that I realise that your the same as me,
So call me Ishmael, we are all striving for,
the thing that makes this grind worth surviving baby,
I won't wait long for one little moment,
where our dream's to feel alive
These hazy eyes the perfect partner to my weary mind
It's not been a matter of days, in fact it's felt like an age,
since I last sat down or I saw a town that wasn't linked by shows
And fatigue's soon ignored as your feet hit the board,
or as the beat hits the floor, these are the moments we're living for.
The ones that constantly try to appease our 9-5s.
They're the ones that justify all the things that we forsake.
You are not your job and you are not the clothes you wear
You are the words that leave your mouth so speak up, speak up loud
For none of us want to sit in evaluations taking notes for hours.
We're all sick and tired of waiting. Let's set sail.
And fatigues soon ignored as your feet hit the board,
or the beat hits the floor, these are the moments that we live for.
the ones who constantly try, to appease our 9-5s
they are the ones that justify, all the things that we forsake.
Why do we look to the tide when we find that our minds are getting stale,
why does it bag me this place on the waves.
and are we looking for meaning, from demeaning,
the soul destroying task we do all the time on the shore.
And as i picture you on the television,
talking all the seller hook past all the people walking,
its about then that I realize that your the same as me,
So call me Ishmael, we are all striving for,
the thing that makes this grind worth surviving baby,
I won't wait long for one little moment,
where our dream's to feel alive.
And as i picture you on the television,
talking all the seller hook past all the people walking,
its about then that I realise that your the same as me,
So call me Ishmael, we are all striving for,
the thing that makes this grind worth surviving baby,
I won't wait long for one little moment,
where our dream's to feel alive
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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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Call him Ishmael because he's chasing his dreams, like Ishmael chased the white whale. You have to follow your dreams, or get lost in the normality of day-to-day life. Otherwise he cannot see any point in living.
'for none of us want to sit, in evaluations taking notes for hours, we're all sick and tired of waiting, lets set sail.'
The sailing reference is also to Moby Dick. Ishmael set sail and followed the white whale, his impossible dream. I think he is saying, go and follow your dreams rather than staying quiet and waiting for something to happen.
'You are not your job, and you are not the clothes you wear, you are the words that leave your mouth so speak up, speak up loud,'
Here I think he is saying that if you do not voice your opinions, it is the same as not having any. People will judge you by other things, like your job rather than what you believe in, which is actually what defines who you are.
To me this song is not just about personal dreams but about everyone's desire to change something about the world we are living in. Hardly anyone ever tries to do anything to make these changes happen. You should call him Ishmael because he is trying to make a difference through his songs. I think he is saying the everyone has these dreams, everyone is the same as him and therefore everyone should be speaking up.