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.
There must be a forecast
That you won't let yourself see
So you keep watching as you're driftin'
Sail away from what you need
Why don't I just give you
Everything you'll take from me
'Cause nobody owns anything
If everyone is free
That's why
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we could carry on
God fearing people at the bottom of the sea
Walkin' without lanterns let a stone skip over thee
Hi ho we're weightless in the sea
Hi ho be gone and lets just dance
Waltz above the ocean
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
I've heard all of the stories
And in them I've put my trust
You gotta touch the bottom before you can come back up
And I know what you're heart is telling you
'Cause my hearts telling me the same thing too
That this ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
That you won't let yourself see
So you keep watching as you're driftin'
Sail away from what you need
Why don't I just give you
Everything you'll take from me
'Cause nobody owns anything
If everyone is free
That's why
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we could carry on
God fearing people at the bottom of the sea
Walkin' without lanterns let a stone skip over thee
Hi ho we're weightless in the sea
Hi ho be gone and lets just dance
Waltz above the ocean
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
I've heard all of the stories
And in them I've put my trust
You gotta touch the bottom before you can come back up
And I know what you're heart is telling you
'Cause my hearts telling me the same thing too
That this ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Matt Costa sings accompaniment and the verses "God fearing people..." and "I've heard all of the stories..."
I really like this song. mellow but important "message" (not really). the movie is very good too (a brokedown melody). it traces jack and his friends going around the world surfing.
I'm almost positive it's not Matt but Zach Gill singing the last verse.
agreed
For me it means that even though times get tough there is always one thing that you can cling to , to pull you through the bad times. In this instance it is music, but it could be a loved one, a dream, anything. I love this song, but I love EVERY Jack Johnson song. "You gotta touch the bottom before you can come back up" I love this line. It's so true... sometimes things spiral so out of control that the only way to make it is to hit rock bottom and then build everything back up again better than it was before. Learn from your mistakes but find that something or someone that will help you through your troubles.
the song is about surfing and wiping out...ill give you a verse to verse break down.
Verse 1 (Jack Johnson)- when you are surfing you pay attention to the forecast a lot to kind of give you an idea of how strong the rip current is and how high the waves are. but usually you go out anyways even if its flat and as you drift with the current you watch the horizon for wave peaks. And while your waiting your drifting from your personal life. and the second stanza of verse one talks about how people give each other tips and helps each other out and its pretty much like a whole community out in the line up where "nobody owns anything and everyone is free."
Chorus- This is the wipe out. The ship is you and the board. and the sound is guidance so "desperately i need a sound" is a prayer for help. the song is again a metaphor for help so that they can carry on surfing.
Verse 2 (Matt Costa)- Basically in this verse Mother Ocean plays the role of God. If you fear the ocean while your surfing you are going to wipe out and end up "at the bottom of the sea" no matter what you do. you shouldn't really be out in the line up if you arent confident enough to handle the waves that what the whole "Hi Ho" part is about telling the people who lack that confidence to leave before they get seriously hurt. and the whole dancing the waltz above the ocean is a metaphor for surfing so "...let's just dance/ waltz above the ocean" is saying forget them lets just continue surfing.
Verse 3 (Zach Gill)- The stories are surfing legends that people pass around and tell about wipe outs they have experienced and most surfers believe them. and when you do wipe out you have to touch the bottom so you can push off of it to get back to the surface. cause when your in the water after a wipe out you have no idea which way is up. so yo should try to reach the bottom so you can position yourself. and what your heart is telling is instinct which is to survive.
I do agree with koukla and i think the song is about surfing and in this case surfing (especially the wipe out) is a metaphor for getting through rough times.
I think your right about the song being about the pcean. But not totally.
Why don't I just give you Everything you'll take from me 'Cuz nobody owns anything And everyone is free
I dont think that verse is talking about the ocean though. I think it's partly how somebody doesnt want to have another relationship because they will just break their heart.
nope.. I'm pretty sure it's about the ocean.<br /> when you're out there surfing you just let go of a lot of thoughts and just chill. focus on what's around you.<br /> <br /> so he's sayin I'll give you (The ocean) all my sadness, thoughts, blah blah blah because you're gonna take it anyway.<br /> <br /> everyone can be free in the water and you definitley don't own it. it owns you.
bnormal320 owns you.<br /> (to someime5)<br /> haha just kidding!
I haven't read the other posts, but I have always thought that it was about how you have to let life happen to you, not everything can be expected and when something comes up you have to just go with it or else you'll end up really messed up since you've played it safe. and at the same time you need a sort of rock so things don't get too crazy
I kind of think it's about being carefree... maybe a little about faith, too?
I don't know if he's a Christian... but he's defintely referring to them. "Godfearing people" are Christians.
"Walkin' without lanterns let a stone skip over thee" Ever heard the one... 'Walk by faith and not by sight?'
This doesn't mean he's Christian, or that I'm saying that- I'm just saying that there is a definate reference to faith.
Faith in friends, family, God, what ever you want...
The last verse is sing by Zach Gill is singing the last verse, but the lead singer from O.A.R is singing the second verse.