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.
The call of the wild, brings me to my window-sill, eyes to the dawn.
A tug on a heartstring by soft, unknown, fingers.
Leading me on, But there's only a streetlamp,
standing guard to my soul,
In the morning air.
A silent companion, waiting like me for the dawn...
Faint stirrings of life are heard 'cross the rooftops,
Breaking the spell,
Echoes of footsteps that call down the pavement,
With stories to tell,
And Chimney-smoke towers reaching out on the grey,
Of the morning light,
Passionate fingers, outstretched in welcome for the dawn...
The sound of the city,
Thunders around me,
Drags me along,
The babble of voices,
The roar of the traffic,
Drown me in their song,
I'm only a heartbeat keeping time with a pace,
Set by marching feet,
A pulse that beats stronger as the new day unfolds from the dawn...
Can you feel it pumping?
Can you feel it flowing round and round?
Can you feel it through your fingertips?
To your head it flows up through the ground...
Does it scare you?
When you feel the scenery closing in...
Adrift on the street,
I merge with confusion,
And I feel complete,
Swelling with the human tide,
Heart and mind electrified.
--I'm swaying like the ground beneath my feet,
We can stand and watch with pride,
or maybe scorn and cricise,
How people seem like rats at running pace,
But you and I are runners too,
There's nothing more that we can do,
But join the rats down at the starting gate,
But you and I are runners too,
There's nothing more that we can do but run.
The final strait lies round the bend,
But I don't want this race to end...!
A tug on a heartstring by soft, unknown, fingers.
Leading me on, But there's only a streetlamp,
standing guard to my soul,
In the morning air.
A silent companion, waiting like me for the dawn...
Faint stirrings of life are heard 'cross the rooftops,
Breaking the spell,
Echoes of footsteps that call down the pavement,
With stories to tell,
And Chimney-smoke towers reaching out on the grey,
Of the morning light,
Passionate fingers, outstretched in welcome for the dawn...
The sound of the city,
Thunders around me,
Drags me along,
The babble of voices,
The roar of the traffic,
Drown me in their song,
I'm only a heartbeat keeping time with a pace,
Set by marching feet,
A pulse that beats stronger as the new day unfolds from the dawn...
Can you feel it pumping?
Can you feel it flowing round and round?
Can you feel it through your fingertips?
To your head it flows up through the ground...
Does it scare you?
When you feel the scenery closing in...
Adrift on the street,
I merge with confusion,
And I feel complete,
Swelling with the human tide,
Heart and mind electrified.
--I'm swaying like the ground beneath my feet,
We can stand and watch with pride,
or maybe scorn and cricise,
How people seem like rats at running pace,
But you and I are runners too,
There's nothing more that we can do,
But join the rats down at the starting gate,
But you and I are runners too,
There's nothing more that we can do but run.
The final strait lies round the bend,
But I don't want this race to end...!
Lyrics submitted by woollymoore
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Light Up The Sky
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Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.