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.
Eric, Ren and Jenson were activists
Heads loaded with theories, their hearts were filled with passion
They had the same left-wing politics
Liked the same music, they were part of the protest movement
Anna presented herself as a feminist
Studied the way they talked and dressed
Fashioned herself an anarchist
Eric fell in love with Anna
After meeting at a CrimethInc conference
He didn't know it, but Anna was an FBI informant
Eric fell in love with an FBI informant
Shared his dreams of revolution
Now he's sitting in solitary confinement
Be careful what you think, be careful what you say
Might be used against you in court one day
Well, Anna thinks she's a hawk
She's just a fucking snitch
The headline called them "The Believers"
And comparisons were made to a terrorist organization
Well, Anna had the car and Anna paid the rent
Anna helped find the recipe to make the explosives
She encouraged her friends to follow through with their plan
They were gonna build a bomb and blow up the Nimbus dam
Their conversations were being recorded
They didn't know it, but Anna was an FBI informant
Eric fell in love with an FBI informant
Shared his dreams of revolution
Now he's sitting in solitary confinement
Be careful what you think, be careful what you say
Might be used against you in court one day
Well, Anna thinks she's a hawk
She's just a fucking snitch
Black Suburbans and AR-15 rifles
Agents made the arrests in a K-Mart parking lot
Caught with the supplies for the bomb in hands
The three were charged with conspiracy against the government
Ren and Jenson traded testimony in exchange for leniency
Eric was sentenced to twenty years in a penitentiary
Eric, Ren and Jenson were activists
They didn't know it, but Anna was an FBI informant
Eric fell in love with an FBI informant
Shared his dreams of revolution
Now he's sitting in solitary confinement
Be careful what you think, be careful what you say
Might be used against you in court one day
Well, Anna thinks she's a hawk
She's just a fucking snitch
Heads loaded with theories, their hearts were filled with passion
They had the same left-wing politics
Liked the same music, they were part of the protest movement
Anna presented herself as a feminist
Studied the way they talked and dressed
Fashioned herself an anarchist
Eric fell in love with Anna
After meeting at a CrimethInc conference
He didn't know it, but Anna was an FBI informant
Eric fell in love with an FBI informant
Shared his dreams of revolution
Now he's sitting in solitary confinement
Be careful what you think, be careful what you say
Might be used against you in court one day
Well, Anna thinks she's a hawk
She's just a fucking snitch
The headline called them "The Believers"
And comparisons were made to a terrorist organization
Well, Anna had the car and Anna paid the rent
Anna helped find the recipe to make the explosives
She encouraged her friends to follow through with their plan
They were gonna build a bomb and blow up the Nimbus dam
Their conversations were being recorded
They didn't know it, but Anna was an FBI informant
Eric fell in love with an FBI informant
Shared his dreams of revolution
Now he's sitting in solitary confinement
Be careful what you think, be careful what you say
Might be used against you in court one day
Well, Anna thinks she's a hawk
She's just a fucking snitch
Black Suburbans and AR-15 rifles
Agents made the arrests in a K-Mart parking lot
Caught with the supplies for the bomb in hands
The three were charged with conspiracy against the government
Ren and Jenson traded testimony in exchange for leniency
Eric was sentenced to twenty years in a penitentiary
Eric, Ren and Jenson were activists
They didn't know it, but Anna was an FBI informant
Eric fell in love with an FBI informant
Shared his dreams of revolution
Now he's sitting in solitary confinement
Be careful what you think, be careful what you say
Might be used against you in court one day
Well, Anna thinks she's a hawk
She's just a fucking snitch
Lyrics submitted by ghoststories
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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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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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.
Damn!