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.
Time after time
You will forgive me
Like an animal in your care
But give it time
You will outlive me
And take the bow back you put in my hair
Made a parade of myself in the street outside your house
For the New York photographer there
I fell for crime and I fell for beauty
I fell for you because you're the one that cared
And when I die
You can put on costumes
In the style of the clothes I wore
And sing the songs your lover taught you
When you were too young to know that this was what they were for.
La la la la. La la la la. lalala [x2]
Like some dead relative
You will remember me most by my funeral
And all the beautiful toasts you made
Take back the spade
We've both been filling up our days like we were filling in a grave
You let me hang, hang, hang around
You put your ribbons in my hair
It's in this language that I found
I am an animal in your care
An animal in your care
An animal in your care
An animal in your care
It's in this language that I've found
I am an animal in your care
You will forgive me
Like an animal in your care
But give it time
You will outlive me
And take the bow back you put in my hair
Made a parade of myself in the street outside your house
For the New York photographer there
I fell for crime and I fell for beauty
I fell for you because you're the one that cared
And when I die
You can put on costumes
In the style of the clothes I wore
And sing the songs your lover taught you
When you were too young to know that this was what they were for.
La la la la. La la la la. lalala [x2]
Like some dead relative
You will remember me most by my funeral
And all the beautiful toasts you made
Take back the spade
We've both been filling up our days like we were filling in a grave
You let me hang, hang, hang around
You put your ribbons in my hair
It's in this language that I found
I am an animal in your care
An animal in your care
An animal in your care
An animal in your care
It's in this language that I've found
I am an animal in your care
Lyrics submitted by omegadaxer
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
"You put your ribbons in my hair" -- reminds me of "If you ride over there they'll put bows in your hair" from "The Men Are Called Horsemen There" (Sunset Rubdown). That song seems to be about sexuality, or lack thereof, and this one definitely alludes to emasculation, with the narrator being only a pet to the subject of the song. Great tune.
Jeez, Krug's a little more Bowie than that. Where exactly is the sexuality? It's more than likely he's using the word "pet" in a social respect, some kind of sycophant or tag-along or something, him and his girlfriend broke up. No lyrical pretentiousness to worry about, as always with Wolf Parade.
I think in "And sing the songs your lover taught you" there's "mother", not "lover". It would be reasonable because later on he sings "you were too young to know".
It's mother all right & I also thinks it's brains instead of days for the filling up bit.
I have to play this song at my funeral because it sums up some of my best friendships, thanks again Spencer.
i keep singing "bad boys whatcha gonna do?..."
Definitely. a relationship. and a fight between the couple. and in they end up breaking up. Then in the after math they realize how much they really loved each other. And how much they depended on each other... I think.
the lyrics of this song creep down into my soul
Seems like it's about an old musician, that you always thought would be around, dying. Perfect examples are like Bowie and Prince. The songs your mother taught you; you get older and listen again with a different ear. Shit like that.