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.
Born host to a tongue so sing a song about it
Held a breath for too long till we're half sick about it
Tell us what we did wrong, then you can blame us for it
Turn the clamp on our thumbs so we're down about it
And tell us all about it, we're so in doubt about it
How about some credit now
Credit is due for the damage that was done
We have wrought upon ourselves and others
With this blow and vicious gun
And although pratfalls can be fun, encores can be fatal
And then I hear you say
Thank God it's fatal, thank God it's fatal, not shy
Not shy and fatal, not shy and fatal, thank God
Thank God it's fatal, thank God it's fatal, not shy
Not shy and fatal, not shy and fatal
Wait just a second now
It's not all that bad, are we not having fun?
You make your mountains of handkerchiefs
Where the mascara always runs
So be careful when you're done you're bound to get post natal
Wait, did I just hear you say
Thank God it's fatal
No, we don't want to hear the sound of a draw
No, we don't want to hear the sound of a draw
And we don't want to hear the signs that you bore
You know the kind of sign you hang on a door
Saying, "We'll be back, we're a crack"
Now don't you think we might have heard all that before
Yeah, don't you think we might have heard all that before
Born host to a tongue so sing a song about it
Held our breath for too long till we're half sick about it
Tell us what we did wrong and you can blame us
Turn the clamp on our thumbs so we're down about it
Held a breath for too long till we're half sick about it
Tell us what we did wrong, then you can blame us for it
Turn the clamp on our thumbs so we're down about it
And tell us all about it, we're so in doubt about it
How about some credit now
Credit is due for the damage that was done
We have wrought upon ourselves and others
With this blow and vicious gun
And although pratfalls can be fun, encores can be fatal
And then I hear you say
Thank God it's fatal, thank God it's fatal, not shy
Not shy and fatal, not shy and fatal, thank God
Thank God it's fatal, thank God it's fatal, not shy
Not shy and fatal, not shy and fatal
Wait just a second now
It's not all that bad, are we not having fun?
You make your mountains of handkerchiefs
Where the mascara always runs
So be careful when you're done you're bound to get post natal
Wait, did I just hear you say
Thank God it's fatal
No, we don't want to hear the sound of a draw
No, we don't want to hear the sound of a draw
And we don't want to hear the signs that you bore
You know the kind of sign you hang on a door
Saying, "We'll be back, we're a crack"
Now don't you think we might have heard all that before
Yeah, don't you think we might have heard all that before
Born host to a tongue so sing a song about it
Held our breath for too long till we're half sick about it
Tell us what we did wrong and you can blame us
Turn the clamp on our thumbs so we're down about it
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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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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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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,
American Town
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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.
To me the song is clearly about his wife having a miscarage and hime being somewhat happy about it.
"Your bound to get post-natal" is what lead me to believe it's about a miscarage. Also "We don't want to see the signs that she bore..." "We don't want to hear the sound of a door..." a childs heart beat.
and then what made me think that he's happy about it is firstly the song name "Heretics" and him saying "It's not all that bad, are we not having fun?" and saying "Thank God it's fatal..." and also the expressions he uses, to me, they kind of give off an air of "so what", like the expression "turn the clamp on our thumbs we'll sew a doll about it" kind of saying, this bad thing has happened so what are you gonna do about it?
maybe i'm wrong but to me that's what he's talking about.