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.
This telepathic hangover
Gnaws the nipples off my neck
When you suck off those machine guns
Now tell me mister, what do you expect?
I crawled through 60,000 yards
Of carnival graveyards
Witches with obscene riches
Chasing my mirage, chasing my mirage
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
If I sang instead of screamed
When you crushed me with your Corvette
Would you trade your jet for a microphone
And record the opera of deathbeds?
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
Stare into the gruesome lights all night and never see a fucking thing
We count weddings on our fingertips and wonder why our love's so cheap
Vegas, you're my dream unicorn
Summer, dress so apocalyptic
Vegas, you're my dream unicorn
Summer, dress so apocalyptic
In glossy treetops teens clap while they kiss
In neon pastures pin-ups hook to your chest
Out on the streets at night the money's well spent
And pissed-off babies turn to pissed-off children
Gnaws the nipples off my neck
When you suck off those machine guns
Now tell me mister, what do you expect?
I crawled through 60,000 yards
Of carnival graveyards
Witches with obscene riches
Chasing my mirage, chasing my mirage
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
If I sang instead of screamed
When you crushed me with your Corvette
Would you trade your jet for a microphone
And record the opera of deathbeds?
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
I'm the unicorn with tar teeth chewing spandex nightmares
My spine's a limousine that drives all night but never goes anywhere
Stare into the gruesome lights all night and never see a fucking thing
We count weddings on our fingertips and wonder why our love's so cheap
Vegas, you're my dream unicorn
Summer, dress so apocalyptic
Vegas, you're my dream unicorn
Summer, dress so apocalyptic
In glossy treetops teens clap while they kiss
In neon pastures pin-ups hook to your chest
Out on the streets at night the money's well spent
And pissed-off babies turn to pissed-off children
Lyrics submitted by Hykinix
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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At first glance... and I could be completely wrong... this could be about Las Vegas. Obviously, I suppose, since he says "Vegas".
Either way, I could see that as being a theme throughout, a lot of the lyrics seem to describe some kind of spectacle that could easily be the Las Vegas strip, and a sense of hopelessness at being trapped within said spectacle.
...but there's probably more to it than that.