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.
Nighttime fades into day
And a big mistake you didn't know you made
See if you can take it back
You thought this is what it seemed
Fate doesn't care about plans
You never knew life was a rubber band
The harder that you pull the more it snaps back the more it hurts
[Chorus]
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
Don't confuse bad for rebirth
You'll mess around feeling like love is a curse
But you gotta make a change before you lose control
Am not saying I know what and what not to do
You're all torn up from inside out
And I've had mistakes in my bed once or twice
And put in my closet till I finally come to it
And I've realized I always knew what I had to
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
The time is upon us
Be who you want to be
Be who you want to be
Keep moving forward don't live in the corner
Be who you want to be
Judges will judge you and the quacks in the corner
Keep giving them there save
I'll be who I want to be
And to think what you want to need
[Chorus]
And to think they almost got me
And to think they almost got me too
And a big mistake you didn't know you made
See if you can take it back
You thought this is what it seemed
Fate doesn't care about plans
You never knew life was a rubber band
The harder that you pull the more it snaps back the more it hurts
[Chorus]
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
Don't confuse bad for rebirth
You'll mess around feeling like love is a curse
But you gotta make a change before you lose control
Am not saying I know what and what not to do
You're all torn up from inside out
And I've had mistakes in my bed once or twice
And put in my closet till I finally come to it
And I've realized I always knew what I had to
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
The time is upon us
Be who you want to be
Be who you want to be
Keep moving forward don't live in the corner
Be who you want to be
Judges will judge you and the quacks in the corner
Keep giving them there save
I'll be who I want to be
And to think what you want to need
[Chorus]
And to think they almost got me
And to think they almost got me too
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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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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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here's what i got... "night time fades into day, and a big mistake you didn't know you made, see if you can take it back, you thought this was what it seemed, fate doesn't care about plans, you never knew that life was a rubber band, the harder that you pull, the more it snaps back, the more it hurts.
sweetness, did you believe in this? they got you good, they got you. no matter what transpires, your will can take you higher now, so don't take out frustration on your body, that junk will make you sorry, i'm taking my last stand, and to think they almost got me too.
don't confuse bath for rebirth, mess around feeling like love is a curse, but you gotta' make a change before you lose control, i'm not saying i know what and what not to do, we're all torn up from inside out, and i've had mistakes in my bed once or twice, but i put it in my close 'til i finally came to, and i realized that i always knew what i had to do.
sweetness, did you believe in this? they got you good, they got you. no matter what transpires, your will can take you higher now, so don't take out frustration on your body, that junk will make you sorry, i'm taking my last stand, and to think they almost got me too.
time is upon us, be who you want to be, keep moving forward, don't live in the corner, be who you want to be, judges will judge in the classrooms and the courtrooms if you keep giving them their say, i'll be who i want to be, so think what you want of me.
sweetness, did you believe in this? they got you good, they got you. no matter what transpires, your will can take you higher now, so don't take out frustration on your body, that junk will make you sorry, i'm taking my last stand, and to think they almost got me too."
anyways, this is definitley my favorite song on the new record. obviously it's about being yourself and not letting peer pressure affect your actions.
** you thought that this was what it seemed [first verse]
** but i put it in my closet 'til i finally came to [second verse]
I don't think its about Eternal, but he uses the nickname Sweetness which he only uses in Montauk. I feel like maybe there's a connection but I'm probably just hoping.
Montauk is about Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind, so either they're making a direct connection, or just like the nickname 'Sweetness' very much.
don't confuse bath for rebirth? what's that mean? ahhaa.
'don't confuse bath for rebirth"<br /> <br /> I think it's kinda critizicing baptism, and saying that it doesn't really make you a new person like some religions teach...<br /> <br /> ...or it's a general statment about how we do things that make us dirty and cleaning up our acts doesn't really change the past and fix the bad things we've done...<br /> <br /> anyways Bayside is the best band in the world and this song owns.
this is essentially my new favorite bayside song. I've listened to them for years and this song is just amazing.
It's actually
"Judges will judge in the classrooms and the courts. If we keep giving them their say-I'll be who I want to be."
taken Straight from the album's booklet.
It's actually
"Judges will judge in the classrooms and the courts. If we keep giving them their say-I'll be who I want to be."
taken Straight from the album's booklet.
Without feeling like going through analyzing line by line this song is about overcoming heroin addiction. The chorus pretty much speaks for itself and multiple other lines can support this interpretation.