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.
I'll keep my faith alive
Cause this is paradise or parricide
I can't believe this sight
Streets full of blank faces and junky eyes
The streets won't sleep tonight
A lullaby for the half-alive
The city swings and whines
To the double crime of drugs and hard times
[Chorus]
Lion city sirens sing the night away, night away
Lion city sirens sing the night away
The city feels like a cage
Feels like a powder keg
That's almost set to explode
Lion city's begun to rot
It's a matter of time until the roaring stops
The scene from the ground up
From the painted walls to the rooftops
My city's closed and locked
While the hop of the beat crack our sidewalks
The haves and the have-nots
Paint the backdrops of drugs and gunshots
lion city sirens sing the night away, night away
Lion city sirens sing the night away
There?s an overdose on me
And he does the cocaine shake
Cause the lion city sirens sing the night away
The city seems like it's trapped
Between its future and its past
Life or death of a city not coming back
The city feels like a cage
Feels like a powder keg
And now it's gonna explode
[Chorus]
There's an overdose on me
And it's wearing out good things
Cause lion city sirens sing the night away
Sing the night away
Sing the night away
And I won't be long
Cause this is paradise or parricide
I can't believe this sight
Streets full of blank faces and junky eyes
The streets won't sleep tonight
A lullaby for the half-alive
The city swings and whines
To the double crime of drugs and hard times
[Chorus]
Lion city sirens sing the night away, night away
Lion city sirens sing the night away
The city feels like a cage
Feels like a powder keg
That's almost set to explode
Lion city's begun to rot
It's a matter of time until the roaring stops
The scene from the ground up
From the painted walls to the rooftops
My city's closed and locked
While the hop of the beat crack our sidewalks
The haves and the have-nots
Paint the backdrops of drugs and gunshots
lion city sirens sing the night away, night away
Lion city sirens sing the night away
There?s an overdose on me
And he does the cocaine shake
Cause the lion city sirens sing the night away
The city seems like it's trapped
Between its future and its past
Life or death of a city not coming back
The city feels like a cage
Feels like a powder keg
And now it's gonna explode
[Chorus]
There's an overdose on me
And it's wearing out good things
Cause lion city sirens sing the night away
Sing the night away
Sing the night away
And I won't be long
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Just Pure Greatness can't wait for this album it's going to RULE!!!! But does any one know what GNV/FLA mean as thats the new album title
Just Pure Greatness can't wait for this album it's going to RULE!!!! But does any one know what GNV/FLA mean as thats the new album title
GNV=Gainesville; FLA=Florida
yay I knew Less Than Jake could do better than their last album!
Awesome song. So glad to hear my favorite band making a song that sounds like they're back to their roots. Really reminds me of stuff from Losing Streak, and Loser, Kings...
To me the song is about people and the things they do to get by. How people have to do things that may not be...shall we say, socially acceptable in order to sort of "get out" of their surroundings. Like, you may be stuck feeling one way, and you wish you could feel the same way you did when you were younger.
Either way, can't wait for the new album. Going to see LTJ them Monday in Baltimore (third time now) hopefully they'll be selling the album there.
Yup, GNV FLA Mean Gainsville Florida. Oh man, the show Monday night ROCKED! First official night of the Shout It Loud 2 tour! Goldfinger rocked the house too! And I'm SO glad they had GNV/FLA for sale! Got it for $10! They opened the show with this song and people LOVED it! I know I did. This album is SO much better than IWTOC. I like that album too...but this one is better.
Singapore's nickname is "The Lion City"
Born, raised, and still live in Florida.
The only city I can guess that would be the "Lion City" and relevant to Gainesville or Florida is St. Augustine, FL. Lions guard a bridge there, and I've heard from a few people that it has occasionally been referred to as the "Lion City" because of it, but it's better known for other things, so it doesn't really come up.