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.
march. 1945 unwanted from his first breath. a mother's blessing born, a father's burden worn. the bright shine of the sunrise along the tile floor to the open door. with blood on the sheets she lay on the mattress. staring aimlessly. numb, dark and decayed on the bathroom floor of their rundown apartment. scraping fingers on tile just to feel something. unwanted by a bastard father. unwanted, but through the hazel eyes of his mother. she's praying for god to save her.
"please save me." but when she needs him most, he doesn't answer. another rosary, another unanswered plea. "please take us away, please let us be safe. let everyone that sees me forget my face."
but all she gets is the drunk with his fists and that old devil look in his eye. him and jack, that gambling debt, that old devil look in his eye. and without warning he raises his hand to her and says,
"your god can't hear you, not down here. no one will save you because no one cares." and with her newborn boy, they would cry until the early morning light. it was the first of many, many sleepless nights.
"please save me." but when she needs him most, he doesn't answer. another rosary, another unanswered plea. "please take us away, please let us be safe. let everyone that sees me forget my face."
but all she gets is the drunk with his fists and that old devil look in his eye. him and jack, that gambling debt, that old devil look in his eye. and without warning he raises his hand to her and says,
"your god can't hear you, not down here. no one will save you because no one cares." and with her newborn boy, they would cry until the early morning light. it was the first of many, many sleepless nights.
Lyrics submitted by dividenconquer, edited by bobyhopkns
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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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wow. i thought the song was powerful before i really listened to the lyrics; they beautifully match the intensity and drive of the music.