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.
Have not the strongest
And closest ties been bound so long
I've called upon them
They remind me where I'm from
With deep conviction
I am connected cross the miles
With out them nothing worth relying on
It's been so long since I could say
I've needed anything stronger
We can't be wrong when we have ties that bind us
If I rely and I know the strength
In those who taught me of the
Power in the ties that bind
When I turn inward
And look for strength within my self
And demonstrations of courage
Are the result
If inspiration is wholly shared
Then more is the gain
Then I will follow
The selfless actions displayed
We are made powerful
And closest ties been bound so long
I've called upon them
They remind me where I'm from
With deep conviction
I am connected cross the miles
With out them nothing worth relying on
It's been so long since I could say
I've needed anything stronger
We can't be wrong when we have ties that bind us
If I rely and I know the strength
In those who taught me of the
Power in the ties that bind
When I turn inward
And look for strength within my self
And demonstrations of courage
Are the result
If inspiration is wholly shared
Then more is the gain
Then I will follow
The selfless actions displayed
We are made powerful
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Light Up The Sky
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Fast Car
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
The lyrics are about finding strenght in deep and lasting bounds ("We can't be wrong when we have ties that bind us"). In the specific case of this song the power sought is the one to accomplish altruistic deeds ("if inspiration is wholly shared/then more is the gain/then I will follow/the selfless actions displayed").
As for the title, Chiron was a honorable satyr who had taught heros like Aquiles. Prometheus, who had stolen both the fire and the arts from the gods in order to deliver them to men, was sentenced to be tied up for eternity having his liver eaten by a hawk in every morning just to be regrown in the evening. Chiron, gave up his immortality so that Zeus could free Prometheus.
Te inner strength found in our connections to do what is noble, even if it means self sacrificing.
great song i ma so siked for the new atr album!
Its got that lyrical theme that many atr has inner strength etc bad ass as usual
good point. However, Look at all the one's Phil has written (Focus shall not fail, The air that I breath, etc)
its mainly a declaration, and inspiration of self-determination. Finding something, a purpose to make decisions in this day and age are a constant reminder of whats needed to keep going.
and wow, Mike and Oli are giving most of the leading guitarist these days a run for their money. just listen to the riffs. they've got so much power. you just just feel as though the music's become your very blood, coursing and burning through your veins like wildfire. it goes to the whole album. Geez guys now you're just showing off. hard works pays ATR!
i agree oli and mike are giving these metal bands hard shit to compete against.. their giving them a run for their money. great song! love the new stuff
Idk if it means anything in relation to the song, but I think it's worth noting that in the Shakespeare play, "Titus Andronicus", there is a character named Chiron, who is the literal embodiment of rape.
nope. just look at the lyrics. like most songs, they're just a variation of poems. I think Phil has taken that to heart. if you look it up, chiron is actually referred to a centuar that embodied healing arts and hope. he also was rumored to have tutored achilles
wow,HeavyMetal,you really did your homework :P :)))
aw,and i agree with you :P
Heavy Metal's research is very accurate, however I was reading Dante's Inferno the other day and an additional account by Dante in the seventh or eighth circle where Alexander the Great is in boiling blood, Chiron, the warchief of the centaurs stands guard, ready to shoot him and anyone else who tries to get out of the blood. I thought that take of it was pretty sweet.
Lolz, if you guys just read wikipedia you can get all of that research!