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.
Will it make it out the day we want it to
or are the tracks in the mail again?
Can you tell the truth? or do you want to keep on playing games?
Dont push the blame on someone else
you did it, I get it, you think it's funny
is this what you wanted to happen?
Do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into?
contemplate the consequences
if you could only just comprehend that I am serious
dont think, don't breathe, just get ready to go
black shirt, blue jeans, and you're off to the show
try to play it off like it's not you
try to play the game but we are through
dont push the blame on someone else
you did it, i get it, you think it's funny
is this what you wanted to happen?
do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into?
and it all falls down
right on me
but I cant take the blame for your indecision
and within one hour
the tables turn
just to be thrown back at me
these dice are loaded, cant you see
you put up a good fight
but nobody fucks with us and gets away with it
with every song I write, I speak your name in vain
but nobody fucks with us and gets away with it
or are the tracks in the mail again?
Can you tell the truth? or do you want to keep on playing games?
Dont push the blame on someone else
you did it, I get it, you think it's funny
is this what you wanted to happen?
Do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into?
contemplate the consequences
if you could only just comprehend that I am serious
dont think, don't breathe, just get ready to go
black shirt, blue jeans, and you're off to the show
try to play it off like it's not you
try to play the game but we are through
dont push the blame on someone else
you did it, i get it, you think it's funny
is this what you wanted to happen?
do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into?
and it all falls down
right on me
but I cant take the blame for your indecision
and within one hour
the tables turn
just to be thrown back at me
these dice are loaded, cant you see
you put up a good fight
but nobody fucks with us and gets away with it
with every song I write, I speak your name in vain
but nobody fucks with us and gets away with it
Lyrics submitted by himynameismarq
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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.
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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,
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