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.
Oh, can you take care of her?
Oh, maybe you can spare her
Several moments of your consideration
Leading up to the final destination
Oh, the earth is calling out
I wanna learn what it's all about
But everything I read's
'Global warming', 'going green'
I don't know what all this means
But it seems to be saying
Wake up, America
We're all in this together
It's our home so let's take care of it
You know that you want to
You know that you got to
Wake up, America
Tomorrow become the new day
And everything you do matters
Yeah, everything you do matters in some way
Stand up and I'll try if you will
Wake up, it's not a fire drill
All she needs is a little attention
Can you give her just a little attention?
Oh, it's easy to look away
But it's getting harder day by day
Everything I read's
'Global warming', 'going green'
I don't know what all this means
But it seems to be saying
C'mon, wake up, America
We're all in this together
It's our home so let's take care of it
You know that you want to
You know that you got to (wake up, whoa)
Wake up, America
Tomorrow become the new day
And everything you do matters
Yeah, everything you do matters in some way
I know that you don't wanna hear it
Especially coming from someone so young
But in the backseat, yeah
They wanna hear it (they wanna hear it)
So come on, turn it up
Come on, turn it up
So come on, turn it up
Wake up, America (wake up)
We're all in this together
It's our home so let's take care of it (it's our home)
You know that you want to (wake up)
You know that you got to (whoa)
Wake up, America
Tomorrow become the new day
And everything you do matters
Yeah, everything you do matters in some way
Oh, maybe you can spare her
Several moments of your consideration
Leading up to the final destination
Oh, the earth is calling out
I wanna learn what it's all about
But everything I read's
'Global warming', 'going green'
I don't know what all this means
But it seems to be saying
Wake up, America
We're all in this together
It's our home so let's take care of it
You know that you want to
You know that you got to
Wake up, America
Tomorrow become the new day
And everything you do matters
Yeah, everything you do matters in some way
Stand up and I'll try if you will
Wake up, it's not a fire drill
All she needs is a little attention
Can you give her just a little attention?
Oh, it's easy to look away
But it's getting harder day by day
Everything I read's
'Global warming', 'going green'
I don't know what all this means
But it seems to be saying
C'mon, wake up, America
We're all in this together
It's our home so let's take care of it
You know that you want to
You know that you got to (wake up, whoa)
Wake up, America
Tomorrow become the new day
And everything you do matters
Yeah, everything you do matters in some way
I know that you don't wanna hear it
Especially coming from someone so young
But in the backseat, yeah
They wanna hear it (they wanna hear it)
So come on, turn it up
Come on, turn it up
So come on, turn it up
Wake up, America (wake up)
We're all in this together
It's our home so let's take care of it (it's our home)
You know that you want to (wake up)
You know that you got to (whoa)
Wake up, America
Tomorrow become the new day
And everything you do matters
Yeah, everything you do matters in some way
Lyrics submitted by dontwasteyoursong
Wake Up America Lyrics as written by Tim James Miley Cyrus
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
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“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.
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