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 look what just came rolling down
this morning's face
Some shining tears from sleepy eyes
won't go to waste
I've got a loose side frame
been filling up with grain
In red with one wax pencil
We mark the time and date
I'm gonna turn this truck around
When we run out of space
You say "Why can't you say more hopeful things
and skies that go from gray to blue"
I know my voice is like a broken saw
I know my voice is like a tightening screw
If I could write a song of sweetness and light for you
Well honey that's just the first thing that I would do
That I would do
There is a temperature where even we
must take the armor off
A point at which the carapace
can just dissolve
And while the river rises
cool and clear around our knees
We'll watch while clouds that covered us
are broken by the breeze
You say "Why can't you say more hopeful things
and skies that go from gray to blue"
I know my voice is like a broken saw
I know my voice is like a sickly shrew
If I could write a song of sweetness and light for you
Oh honey that's just the first thing that I would do
That I would do
Oh yeah I would do
this morning's face
Some shining tears from sleepy eyes
won't go to waste
I've got a loose side frame
been filling up with grain
In red with one wax pencil
We mark the time and date
I'm gonna turn this truck around
When we run out of space
You say "Why can't you say more hopeful things
and skies that go from gray to blue"
I know my voice is like a broken saw
I know my voice is like a tightening screw
If I could write a song of sweetness and light for you
Well honey that's just the first thing that I would do
That I would do
There is a temperature where even we
must take the armor off
A point at which the carapace
can just dissolve
And while the river rises
cool and clear around our knees
We'll watch while clouds that covered us
are broken by the breeze
You say "Why can't you say more hopeful things
and skies that go from gray to blue"
I know my voice is like a broken saw
I know my voice is like a sickly shrew
If I could write a song of sweetness and light for you
Oh honey that's just the first thing that I would do
That I would do
Oh yeah I would do
Lyrics submitted by jtn191
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Yo La Tengo
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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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Page
Ed Sheeran
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I think he actually says "lucite" not "loose side". And it's filling up with "rain" not "grain", as rain is referenced in the first verse:
Oh look what just came rolling down this morning's face Some shining tears from sleepy eyes won't go to waste
I'm not sure what this song is about. A guy who collects rain? The song sounds cool...it sounds like something you'd hear on "Dexter".