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.
Hey you know my friend Lisa
She's down from LA
We've been places like this
They're always the same
We'll loosen the rope just enough to Make you pay-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Say my memory is hazy
We're moving away
To rent a display home
Avoid all the grey
Two bees in a swarm
The honey's stuck us by the hair-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hold music, hold music
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
When we're sleeping in daily
There's ice on the road
I bought us a dragon
To lighten the load
He's keeping us warm
The blood keep flowing to your head-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hey I've never been stately
I'm legless at sea
My spirit has felt you since 1903
I'm trying to be normal
But there's evil in my head-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hold music, hold music
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
You're so dangerous
Everybody's gonna hide out back
It doesn't matter that you're serious
Move along sad face your cover's blown
C'mon there you are
And we're outta space and you're out of space
I said change the beat fast
Or your enemies will see you naked
Hold music hold music hold
Hold music hold music hold
Hold music hold music hold
When we were out drinking
I found you a home
Four million in prizes
You left me alone
When we were forlorn
I found some poison in your bed-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Though you may mistake me
I'll never be free
I'm stuck in the crossfire
Between you and he
Tattoos on his arms
He got a needle for a head-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hold music, hold music
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
She's down from LA
We've been places like this
They're always the same
We'll loosen the rope just enough to Make you pay-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Say my memory is hazy
We're moving away
To rent a display home
Avoid all the grey
Two bees in a swarm
The honey's stuck us by the hair-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hold music, hold music
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
When we're sleeping in daily
There's ice on the road
I bought us a dragon
To lighten the load
He's keeping us warm
The blood keep flowing to your head-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hey I've never been stately
I'm legless at sea
My spirit has felt you since 1903
I'm trying to be normal
But there's evil in my head-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hold music, hold music
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
You're so dangerous
Everybody's gonna hide out back
It doesn't matter that you're serious
Move along sad face your cover's blown
C'mon there you are
And we're outta space and you're out of space
I said change the beat fast
Or your enemies will see you naked
Hold music hold music hold
Hold music hold music hold
Hold music hold music hold
When we were out drinking
I found you a home
Four million in prizes
You left me alone
When we were forlorn
I found some poison in your bed-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Though you may mistake me
I'll never be free
I'm stuck in the crossfire
Between you and he
Tattoos on his arms
He got a needle for a head-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-hey-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Hold music, hold music
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby don't you dare lose it, dare lose it
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
Give it to me baby give it to me
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
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/
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
it sounds to me more like
"he's got a needle for the hay-ya-ya-hay-ya-ya-hay-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya"
perhaps he's perceivably cooler, because he knows more about elliott smith?
kind of a long shot.