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.
Water gray
Through the windows, up the stairs
Chilling rain
Like an ocean everywhere
Don't wanna reach for me, do you?
I mean nothin' to you
The little things give you away
And now there will be no mistakin'
The levees are breakin'
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet under water
I do
Hope decays
Generations disappear
Washed away
As a nation simply stares
Don't wanna reach for me, do you?
I mean nothin' to you
The little things give you away
But there will be no mistakin'
The levees are breakin'
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet under water
I do
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet under ground now
Now I
Now I do
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh, oh)
(Oh-oh)
(Oh-oh)
(Oh)
Little things give you away
Little things give you away
Little things give you away
Little things give you away
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
Through the windows, up the stairs
Chilling rain
Like an ocean everywhere
Don't wanna reach for me, do you?
I mean nothin' to you
The little things give you away
And now there will be no mistakin'
The levees are breakin'
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet under water
I do
Hope decays
Generations disappear
Washed away
As a nation simply stares
Don't wanna reach for me, do you?
I mean nothin' to you
The little things give you away
But there will be no mistakin'
The levees are breakin'
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet under water
I do
All you've ever wanted
Was someone to truly look up to you
And six feet under ground now
Now I
Now I do
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh, oh)
(Oh-oh)
(Oh-oh)
(Oh)
Little things give you away
Little things give you away
Little things give you away
Little things give you away
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
All you've ever wanted (little things give you away)
Was someone to truly look up to you (little things give you away)
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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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Like many people I think its about Katrina.
"Water grey, through the windows, up the stairs" Houses got flooded during the hurricane.
"Chilling rain, like an ocean, everywhere"
Fits with the hurricane/flooding theory.
"Don't wanna reach for me do you? I mean nothing to you, the little things give you away"
This is telling. LP has known liberal leanings, so this would be a commentary on the governments poor reaction time.
"And now there will be no mistaking, the levees are breaking."
Again, hurricane reference.
"All you ever wanted, was some one to truly look up to to you."
Could be talking about the government, or even Bush himself.
"Now six feet, under water, I do."
Bush surveyed the scene from his helicopter. This could be an Ironic statement from the point of view of a hurricane victim.
"Hope decays, generations disappear. Washed away, as a nation simply stares."
Another hurricane reference. And more on the poor reaction to the crisis.
"All you ever wanted, was some one to truly look up to you. And six feet under ground now I do."
More Irony. "six feet under ground" a reference to death. We failed to act in time.
So, those are my thoughts.