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.
(Yo, you ever... go outside at night, look up into the sky, into the big, immense sky and think to yourself, that's a big sky! Like an inkwell...)
In a city that's been waiting to blow since big butts and teen spirit
Many make music, few can hear it, secluded in the upper left
Dominantly grey-shaded skies every other day, sorta like the bay
Just a little bit wetter, and cold in the winter
Proximity to water make the soul a little gentler
Out-of-towners don't be knowin' about the best-kept
Ain't nothing better than the summer in the Northwest
Microphone check 1-206,
Buddha smoke, buddha smoke, can I get a quick fix to lift
This eye to the level of needle in the sky
Lookin' over the sound against the shores of the suicide capital
Bust the magical dust, grammatically adjust the satellite
What makes Seattle tight? The fruits have been ripe in spite of all the bull,
And last second changes of plans like on hold
And prodigal sons, whose motto is "run whenever possible"
Watch Mr. Officer shoot before he aims
And claims self-defense in the name of the citizenry
SPD's spread the city like an STD
I'm rollin', Rainier bumpin', let's get free
While the people sleep, I must speak 'til they wake
Now let me push my pen to create
Beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
Of beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
They paved rock candy and put up a parking lot
It was a spot for 'em and it was hot up in it
The cops lit it up when the thugs fisticuffs
Then the mayor was quick to up and pin it on hip hop
Shows got dropped on the cinder block crush
What's left of the scene rose up from the dust
It must have been many times over-frustrated
To watch the downfall of those who could've made it while
Some waited for the next Mixalot to blow
Others made moves said "shit we ought to grow" but
Time moves slow when the clock's overweight
Meaning those who wait as opposed to create
But those who make bread do not break the mold
I was only 19 but my rhymes were bold
When the things got for real I got up in the fold
And put up into practice all that I was told
Wickedia then came up and showed love
We called ourselves "Phase" and ironically it was
Became the last kid still writing at 9-5
B-town ciphers with tale and justify
Moved to the city, started posing as a journalist
To get press passes and ask kids for burgers, to prove instead
Put down the pen, picked up the mic
Came in for competitor's heads
And when I got down severin' several losers
Started getting down with hella producers
They welcomed me into the big house
But they didn't feel the city so they moved back south
And other dudes weren't even worth it to work with
And if I see one, there's about to be a murder worth a jaw
You get two double zero one, the struggle just begun to bear fruit
At the end of a troubling youth, Sabzi got me
To speak over beats like the key to unlock me, and I'll be damned
Ten years to the summer I began, I'm still up in the lab
And while the people sleep I must speak 'til they wake
Now let me push this pen to create
While the people sleep I must speak 'til they wake
Now let me push this pen to create
Beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
Of beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody...
In a city that's been waiting to blow since big butts and teen spirit
Many make music, few can hear it, secluded in the upper left
Dominantly grey-shaded skies every other day, sorta like the bay
Just a little bit wetter, and cold in the winter
Proximity to water make the soul a little gentler
Out-of-towners don't be knowin' about the best-kept
Ain't nothing better than the summer in the Northwest
Microphone check 1-206,
Buddha smoke, buddha smoke, can I get a quick fix to lift
This eye to the level of needle in the sky
Lookin' over the sound against the shores of the suicide capital
Bust the magical dust, grammatically adjust the satellite
What makes Seattle tight? The fruits have been ripe in spite of all the bull,
And last second changes of plans like on hold
And prodigal sons, whose motto is "run whenever possible"
Watch Mr. Officer shoot before he aims
And claims self-defense in the name of the citizenry
SPD's spread the city like an STD
I'm rollin', Rainier bumpin', let's get free
While the people sleep, I must speak 'til they wake
Now let me push my pen to create
Beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
Of beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
They paved rock candy and put up a parking lot
It was a spot for 'em and it was hot up in it
The cops lit it up when the thugs fisticuffs
Then the mayor was quick to up and pin it on hip hop
Shows got dropped on the cinder block crush
What's left of the scene rose up from the dust
It must have been many times over-frustrated
To watch the downfall of those who could've made it while
Some waited for the next Mixalot to blow
Others made moves said "shit we ought to grow" but
Time moves slow when the clock's overweight
Meaning those who wait as opposed to create
But those who make bread do not break the mold
I was only 19 but my rhymes were bold
When the things got for real I got up in the fold
And put up into practice all that I was told
Wickedia then came up and showed love
We called ourselves "Phase" and ironically it was
Became the last kid still writing at 9-5
B-town ciphers with tale and justify
Moved to the city, started posing as a journalist
To get press passes and ask kids for burgers, to prove instead
Put down the pen, picked up the mic
Came in for competitor's heads
And when I got down severin' several losers
Started getting down with hella producers
They welcomed me into the big house
But they didn't feel the city so they moved back south
And other dudes weren't even worth it to work with
And if I see one, there's about to be a murder worth a jaw
You get two double zero one, the struggle just begun to bear fruit
At the end of a troubling youth, Sabzi got me
To speak over beats like the key to unlock me, and I'll be damned
Ten years to the summer I began, I'm still up in the lab
And while the people sleep I must speak 'til they wake
Now let me push this pen to create
While the people sleep I must speak 'til they wake
Now let me push this pen to create
Beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
Of beats, rhymes and life
Each time I write the fire ignites
I light the sky
There's an infinite inkwell high above the city
Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody...
Lyrics submitted by hellomagda
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Float On Remix lyrics:
Yo, you ever look up at the sky at night, man, and think to yourself I really wish someone would flip, like, a local rock track, on some beats, rhymes, and life. What up, y’all Ya better move when the beat drops We’re gonna take it back home with the rhythm of a beat box From the roofs to the treetops we been rockin’ since Footlocker 20 dollar Reeboks
In a city that’s been waiting to blow since big butts and team spirit Many make music , few hear it, secluded in the upper left dominantly grey-shaded sky Every other day, sorta like the bay Just a little bit wetter And cold in the winter Proximity to water make the soul a little gentler Out of towners don’t be knowin about the best-kepts Ain’t nothing better than the summer in the northwest Microphone check 1-206 Through the smoke, who da smoke, can I get a quick fix To lift this eye to the level of needle in the sky overlooking the sound against the shores of the suicide capital Bust the magical, dust grammatically, just the satellite What makes seattle tight? The fruits of this ripe in spite of all the bull, And last second changes of plans like audibles And prodigal sons, whose motto is run whenever possible Watch Mr officer shoot before he aims And claims self-defense in the name of the citizenry Spd’s spread the city like an STD I’m rollin’ rainier bumpin lets get free While the people sleep, I must speak till they wake Let me push my pen to create Beat, rhymes, and life Each time I write the fire ignites I light the sky There’s an infinite inkwell high above the city Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody Beat, rhymes, and life Each time I write the fire ignites I light the sky There’s an infinite inkwell high above the city Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody
They paved rock candy the young was done No place to go if you’re under 21 So Mark wrote an article, folks started gatherin’ All ages shows at the Paradox is happening Back then Sam was second in command He epitomized the definition of a fan Ran into Padre, Matt, and Butter Ben Benny Blanco, High Noon, and other Ben Homo was Jason, we made just enough fence from the last show just to fund the next one Brainstorm a mad crew, to make a brand new avenue for the battle with the youth to ensue Introduced to the truth of an organized mass, consequently started skippin’ more class Listen, passing out flyers on the Ave, and that’s when me and Sabzi hit the lab Devon had dreads, Sean had glasses, learn a couple lessons while building with black anger Put up into practice all that I was told back when the scene had both peace and soul Was all about the local compilations for fourteen fathoms swapping rotation Peace and Kareem was sneaking again, when I was 19 Pete hit the scene from within
Backstage creeping with a pad and a pen, then Larry dropped his philosophy in print Shed a little light , (?) slept on instead, moved to the Beacon, south side represent You are now witnessing a city on the verge, connected by the energy of these three words You are now witnessing a city on the verge, connected by the energy of three words
Beats, rhymes and life Each time I write the fire ignites I light the sky There’s an infinite inkwell high above the city Dip the pen steadily, sing the melody (repeat x2)’ Float on, Float on Float on, Float on