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.
Government authorize education
(Don't mean a thing)
They'll teach you what they want you to think
(Don't mean a thing)
Saturation of stars and stripes
(Don't mean a thing)
The only freedom worth fighting for is for what you think
Why bother spending time
Reading up on things
Everybody's an authority
In a free land
In a free land
In a free la
(Don't mean a thing)
They'll teach you what they want you to think
(Don't mean a thing)
Saturation of stars and stripes
(Don't mean a thing)
The only freedom worth fighting for is for what you think
Why bother spending time
Reading up on things
Everybody's an authority
In a free land
In a free land
In a free la
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
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”
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This is one my favourite Hüsker Dü songs. I find the lyric "The only freedom worth fighting for is what you think" very profound.
I'm not sure how the verse and the chorus relate to each other.
The verse is clearly expressing cynicism about officially endorsed sources of information. "Stars and Stripes" is a good use of double entendre since it's both a newspaper for the US Armed Forces and politicians who surround their podiums with the American flag.
The chorus is what is the best part. I like to think of this chorus being more relevant than ever today and ahead of its time (like how "Divide and Conquer" was ahead of its time since it was written before the Internet became ubiquitous).
The world has changed a lot. In the past, the recognized authorities on subjects had to be qualified in their fields. eg doctors had to go through medical school before they could practice, journalists do a journalism degree and/or start working for a newspaper (etc) and build up their reputation etc. Let's not forget that things needed to be proven scientifically and recognised by a body of peers.
In the 80s, there was a huge self-published zine movement with people using their photocopies etc. In the 90s, absolutely anybody could publish their own opinions on a website or email. These days, there so many people who read unqualified and unproven information on the Internet and feel they are experts in something. eg Spending a couple of hours reading about the "harms" of vaccination and voila - they have done their "research" and will rant on about the alleged dangers of vaccinating children. There are also the frauds and crackpots on social media who claim they cured their cancer from healthy eating and coffee enemas eg Jessica Ainscough and Belle Gibson. Offline, there are people who played a little bit of roller derby and suddenly become coaches for a league and people look up to their from the little experience.
So to me, the chorus is cynicism at the everyday person who claims to be an expert without earning it. People go to them instead of those who spent time being formally educated and reading up on things.