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.
Everybody's beautiful
When they're young
And I should know
I've had more than my share of fun
There's all this fascination
With the impossibly thin
With the surface of things
Airbrush Photoshop creation
In all that we are losing
Aren't we just confusing
Youth with beauty
Truth with duty?
There's something on the telly 'bout North Korea
Some war broke out, don't trust the media
I'd like to get a suntan
Some dude was shot in Pakistan
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
The track's got noddage
Track's got noddage
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
I was walking through the city
Past a phone shop and a homeless man
Was lying there, looked almost dead
And no one seemed to bother
I ran into a rock 'n' roll band
Two or three of them, maybe four
This one punk just nineteen years old
He gave me his persuasion
He stared at me with his one black eye
Looked down on me like I didn't have a life
And he was right
At least not the kinda life he'd been paradin'
Same sex union
Change the constitution
You can carry a gun
But you better not fall in love with someone
The President who fucked the world
For every future boy and girl
Is golfing in Aruba
With a suntan and scuba
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
Now everybody dies or fades away
A permutation white and gray
A synergy of light and dust
And skin cells constantly aging
You fell in love with the dream
To fuck forever endlessly
But you don't, that's okay
The rest is better anyway
Botox bungle, CNN
Infomercial count to ten
Change the channel, VCR
Somethin' on my radar
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
The track's got noddage
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
Don't want to talk about it
When they're young
And I should know
I've had more than my share of fun
There's all this fascination
With the impossibly thin
With the surface of things
Airbrush Photoshop creation
In all that we are losing
Aren't we just confusing
Youth with beauty
Truth with duty?
There's something on the telly 'bout North Korea
Some war broke out, don't trust the media
I'd like to get a suntan
Some dude was shot in Pakistan
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
The track's got noddage
Track's got noddage
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
I was walking through the city
Past a phone shop and a homeless man
Was lying there, looked almost dead
And no one seemed to bother
I ran into a rock 'n' roll band
Two or three of them, maybe four
This one punk just nineteen years old
He gave me his persuasion
He stared at me with his one black eye
Looked down on me like I didn't have a life
And he was right
At least not the kinda life he'd been paradin'
Same sex union
Change the constitution
You can carry a gun
But you better not fall in love with someone
The President who fucked the world
For every future boy and girl
Is golfing in Aruba
With a suntan and scuba
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
Moves my boddage
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
Now everybody dies or fades away
A permutation white and gray
A synergy of light and dust
And skin cells constantly aging
You fell in love with the dream
To fuck forever endlessly
But you don't, that's okay
The rest is better anyway
Botox bungle, CNN
Infomercial count to ten
Change the channel, VCR
Somethin' on my radar
The track's got noddage
Moves my boddage
The track's got noddage
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
They've got those bombs up in my face
Don't want to talk about it
They've got those bombs up in the planes
They've got those bombs up in the trains
Don't want to talk about it
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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”
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I thinks what darren talk about in this fuckin amazin song is about all the corruption !!! about politic and a lot of things that arent good :D
They got them bombs up in the planes They got them bombs up in the trains They got them bombs up in my face Don't want to talk about it