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.
Defensive coaches, as you write here, did you notice
the romances they don't hold us, they're a weight on my shoulders.
And distraction it favours all the things over-rated.
As you write here, did you notice your romances, they don't hold us.
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do....
Maybe don't beat me up cos i got no sleep today,
You said you were sleepwalking, but what the f*** is that anyway?
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It still feels a little of the time (theres no writing)
That you've been good to know (I'm sleepwalking)
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do....
You used to call me up, then i'd forget what to say
You said 'This messanger's sleepwalking and i thought
maybe you'd come my way'
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It still feels a little of the time (theres no writing)
That you've been good to know (I'm sleepwalking)
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It needs no reason or rhyme (there's no writing)
But i'm here and good to go
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do.
... do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do...
And if we all died alone, in the mess of these games we play
with some history of sleepwalking, said, what the f*** is that anyway?
Theres no fighting, and no talking, theres no writing, i'm sleepwalking
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It needs no reason or rhyme (theres no writing)
That im here and good to go (I'm walking)
Defensive coaches, as you write here, did you notice
that romances don't hold us, they're a weight on my shoulders.
And distraction it favours all the things over-rated.
As you write here, did you notice that romances, they don't hold us.
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do-do do do do do
do.... do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do do do do do do do.
the romances they don't hold us, they're a weight on my shoulders.
And distraction it favours all the things over-rated.
As you write here, did you notice your romances, they don't hold us.
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do....
Maybe don't beat me up cos i got no sleep today,
You said you were sleepwalking, but what the f*** is that anyway?
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It still feels a little of the time (theres no writing)
That you've been good to know (I'm sleepwalking)
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do....
You used to call me up, then i'd forget what to say
You said 'This messanger's sleepwalking and i thought
maybe you'd come my way'
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It still feels a little of the time (theres no writing)
That you've been good to know (I'm sleepwalking)
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It needs no reason or rhyme (there's no writing)
But i'm here and good to go
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do.
... do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do...
And if we all died alone, in the mess of these games we play
with some history of sleepwalking, said, what the f*** is that anyway?
Theres no fighting, and no talking, theres no writing, i'm sleepwalking
It still feels a little of the time (theres no fighting)
Like i've been letting go (and no talking)
It needs no reason or rhyme (theres no writing)
That im here and good to go (I'm walking)
Defensive coaches, as you write here, did you notice
that romances don't hold us, they're a weight on my shoulders.
And distraction it favours all the things over-rated.
As you write here, did you notice that romances, they don't hold us.
Do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do-do do do do do
do.... do-do do-do do-do-do do do do da do do do do do do do.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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.
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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’s a song about being trapped and looking for a way out.