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.
I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth
But I was born to privilege just like every white everybody else
And now I am beginning to see that old argument's not so convincing
But hey hey no way, you know it wasn?t me
Because the system is set up so the system can take all the blame
Then you and I can breath deeply and feel a little less ashamed
Because the system took their land, it took their lives, yeah it took their pride
But hey hey no way, you know it wasn't me
Who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Tell me who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Yeah who we gonna blame for our mistakes
So we don't have to pay
I am heiress to the burden of manifest destiny
Because everything that I have was stolen from somebody else just for me
If we could just stomach the truth then maybe the truth would set us free
But hey hey no way, you know it wasn't me
Who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Tell me who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Yeah who we gonna blame for our mistakes
So we don't have to pay
I mean no disrespect to the people who like pawns secured the empire's land
But how can we look at cause and effect and still not understand
Let's get out of the business of pointing our fingers and throwing up our hands
Yeah way, yeah way you know it was me
But I was born to privilege just like every white everybody else
And now I am beginning to see that old argument's not so convincing
But hey hey no way, you know it wasn?t me
Because the system is set up so the system can take all the blame
Then you and I can breath deeply and feel a little less ashamed
Because the system took their land, it took their lives, yeah it took their pride
But hey hey no way, you know it wasn't me
Who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Tell me who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Yeah who we gonna blame for our mistakes
So we don't have to pay
I am heiress to the burden of manifest destiny
Because everything that I have was stolen from somebody else just for me
If we could just stomach the truth then maybe the truth would set us free
But hey hey no way, you know it wasn't me
Who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Tell me who we gonna blame for our mistakes
Yeah who we gonna blame for our mistakes
So we don't have to pay
I mean no disrespect to the people who like pawns secured the empire's land
But how can we look at cause and effect and still not understand
Let's get out of the business of pointing our fingers and throwing up our hands
Yeah way, yeah way you know it was me
Lyrics submitted by displacedfever
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@[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.
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Great version of a great song,
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“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.