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.
She's in the corner dealing the cards
She looks around and round
And slowly puts her poker face on
She's such a tease, a tease
It's just about the one thing she knows
The only way to get the certain thing she already owns
You know she always gets them somehow by the way that she moves
It's how she's reaching the goal
The goal is finally scored
But she is never alone
She looks again at her watch
Watch her as she will pretend
That she is harmless and nice
...
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
She's baffled but she swears she's secure
The insecurity has gone and gotten the best of her
The best has yet to come
We know just how the story will end
We know about the drinks, the smokes, and half an hour boyfriends
You think they really love you
Loving in this case is the cure
The cure is never really present when you're speaking with her
It's really getting to her ...
And are you missing the note?
The note is C flat, but G sharp
She's sharper but she don't blow
She's sinking to the bottom
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
Staring at a form that bleeds
This scene is dark and dreary
Tears are overflowing to me
Me of the ordinary girl
But she always knew that she was
She wasn't ordinary
Special was the meaning of course
How they would describe her
...
The end is coming closer
Looking, and she's ready to go
Let's go take lots of pictures
Maybe some would sell in the end
Turn into something that will end up being quite ...
My god, does no one love you?
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
Oh, oh
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
She looks around and round
And slowly puts her poker face on
She's such a tease, a tease
It's just about the one thing she knows
The only way to get the certain thing she already owns
You know she always gets them somehow by the way that she moves
It's how she's reaching the goal
The goal is finally scored
But she is never alone
She looks again at her watch
Watch her as she will pretend
That she is harmless and nice
...
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
She's baffled but she swears she's secure
The insecurity has gone and gotten the best of her
The best has yet to come
We know just how the story will end
We know about the drinks, the smokes, and half an hour boyfriends
You think they really love you
Loving in this case is the cure
The cure is never really present when you're speaking with her
It's really getting to her ...
And are you missing the note?
The note is C flat, but G sharp
She's sharper but she don't blow
She's sinking to the bottom
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
No, no
Staring at a form that bleeds
This scene is dark and dreary
Tears are overflowing to me
Me of the ordinary girl
But she always knew that she was
She wasn't ordinary
Special was the meaning of course
How they would describe her
...
The end is coming closer
Looking, and she's ready to go
Let's go take lots of pictures
Maybe some would sell in the end
Turn into something that will end up being quite ...
My god, does no one love you?
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
Oh, oh
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
You're slow to learn
That you can't win with her
Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
sounds like he sings "half-an-hour boyfriends"