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.
Lonely little love dog that
No one knows the name of
I know why you cry out
Desperate and devout
Timid little tether
Your eyes set on the ether
Your moon in a bella luna and
Howling hallelujah
Nameless you above me
Come lay me low and love me
This lonely little love dog
That no one knows the name of
Curse me out in free verse
Wrap me up and reverse this
Patience is a virtue
Until it's silence burns you
And something slow
Has started in me as
Shameless as an ocean
Mirrored in devotion
Something slow
Has sparked up in me
As dog cries for a master
Sparks are whirling faster
Lonely little love dog
That no one knows the ways of
Where the land is low is
Where the bones'll show through
Lonely little love dog
That no one knows the days of
Where the land is low is
Where the water flows to
And holds you
No one knows the name of
I know why you cry out
Desperate and devout
Timid little tether
Your eyes set on the ether
Your moon in a bella luna and
Howling hallelujah
Nameless you above me
Come lay me low and love me
This lonely little love dog
That no one knows the name of
Curse me out in free verse
Wrap me up and reverse this
Patience is a virtue
Until it's silence burns you
And something slow
Has started in me as
Shameless as an ocean
Mirrored in devotion
Something slow
Has sparked up in me
As dog cries for a master
Sparks are whirling faster
Lonely little love dog
That no one knows the ways of
Where the land is low is
Where the bones'll show through
Lonely little love dog
That no one knows the days of
Where the land is low is
Where the water flows to
And holds you
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
I think this song is about searching and longing for God. Someone on this site brought up many lyric similarities between the TVOTR song Staring at the Sun, and the Rumi poem No Room for Form (as it was translated by Coleman Barks). This intrigued me, so I began researching Rumi, and two things happened: I discovered his wonderful poetry, and learned that someone in TVOTR is definitely a fan... :)
Rumi often uses the word Love instead of God, and refers to God as "The Lover". There is an entire chapter entitled Love Dogs in a book of Rumi poetry by Coleman Barks: "The Sufis feel that dogs are our teachers with their faithfulness."
Here is a piece of Rumi's poem Love Dogs:
"Why did you stop praying?" "Because I've never heard anything back."
"This longing you express is the return message."
The grief you cry out from draws you towards union.
Your pure sadness that wants help is the secret cup.
Listen to the moan of a dog for it's master. That whining is the connection.
There are love dogs no one knows the names of.
Give your life to be one of them.
Ok, now, that being said - Here's what I hear with I listen to this beautiful song:
Lonely little love dog that No one knows the name of I know why you cry out Desperate and devout
Love dog - someone who longs for the connection with and to feel god's love: I know why you yearn so, why you remain so devout.
Timid little teether Your eyes set on the ether Your moon in a bella luna and Howling hallelujah
ether = heavens, you look up at the heavens, and howl hallelujah, I think the moon reference is imagery that plays into the dog metaphor. Howling at the moon, etc'. Bella Luna actually literally means: Beautiful moon, also: Full moon. You howl you hallelujahs at the full moon.
Nameless you above me Come lay me low and love me This lonely little love dog That no one knows the name of
The speaker is asking to feel god's love. Even though he's just a lonely little loyal "nobody" - a love dog, drowned in anonymity.
Curse me out in free verse - I agree with a previous poster: reference to the bible? Wrap me up and reverse this - take me into your light, and reverse the curse - love me Patience is a virtue Until it's silence burns you - This again reminds me of the Rumi poem where "the silence IS the answer"
And something slow Has started in me as - I am finding faith Shameless as an ocean - against all odds Mirrored in devotion - I mirror my inner faith with my devotion to you
Something slow Has sparked up in me - repetition - still discussing finding faith As dog cries for a master - As I long for you, God Sparks are whirling faster - my faith burns stronger (could also be a reference to Sufism, twirling dervishes, etc...)
Lonely little love dog That no one knows the ways of Where the land is low is - When times are rough Where the bones'll show through - suffering
Lonely little love dog That no one knows the days of Where the land is low is - When times are rough Where the water flows to - that's when faith finds you And holds you - and comforts you