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.
The tv screen becomes my eye
It's the legal monster of a future time
There's no opinion that ain't my own
No thought that isn't mine...
completely
I said 21 years is a long long time
To be in this prison when there ain't no crime
So go on jailer won't you bring the key
I want to break down the door
Can you hear me?
You know the damage gets done so fast
It's all the truths that just don't last
I got creeps in drag crawling round my door
Disguised as priests they quote the law
Selling bibles for a secret fee
They say it's all done for me
I'm such a lucky man
You know the damage gets done so fast
It's all the truths that just don't last
It's another lie they want to uphold
Another day till we all grow old and break down
So I get bored with a TV mind
No place to go no future's mine
NF banners flying in the wind
Like free lobotomies
I don't recommend one
So open your mouth and you get done
The police state keeps you on the run
Scream injustice better scream it loud
Get punched down in the crowd
And what can ya do?
You know the damage gets done so fast
It's all the truths that just don't last
It's another lie they want to uphold
Another day till we all grow old and break down
You know that damage gets done so fast, listen one time. You know that justice that'll never last. I said I'll break down and another day when my life grows old. We'll never listen. Another day when we'll never get told about what's going on. And that's just when I wanna break out, I wanna get out get out of here now. You know I just want to smash that door. Wanna take my time and I don't wanna see no small TV. Don't wanna see you. I don't wanna listen to a thing that they say. I wanna crash out, I wanna smash, I wanna smash it all. I said I got to take it away. I can't stand it no more. Because I just want to break out. I said I can't take any more. Because it's too much to handle. I said no more. A crime against the state. That's another shame...
It's the legal monster of a future time
There's no opinion that ain't my own
No thought that isn't mine...
completely
I said 21 years is a long long time
To be in this prison when there ain't no crime
So go on jailer won't you bring the key
I want to break down the door
Can you hear me?
You know the damage gets done so fast
It's all the truths that just don't last
I got creeps in drag crawling round my door
Disguised as priests they quote the law
Selling bibles for a secret fee
They say it's all done for me
I'm such a lucky man
You know the damage gets done so fast
It's all the truths that just don't last
It's another lie they want to uphold
Another day till we all grow old and break down
So I get bored with a TV mind
No place to go no future's mine
NF banners flying in the wind
Like free lobotomies
I don't recommend one
So open your mouth and you get done
The police state keeps you on the run
Scream injustice better scream it loud
Get punched down in the crowd
And what can ya do?
You know the damage gets done so fast
It's all the truths that just don't last
It's another lie they want to uphold
Another day till we all grow old and break down
You know that damage gets done so fast, listen one time. You know that justice that'll never last. I said I'll break down and another day when my life grows old. We'll never listen. Another day when we'll never get told about what's going on. And that's just when I wanna break out, I wanna get out get out of here now. You know I just want to smash that door. Wanna take my time and I don't wanna see no small TV. Don't wanna see you. I don't wanna listen to a thing that they say. I wanna crash out, I wanna smash, I wanna smash it all. I said I got to take it away. I can't stand it no more. Because I just want to break out. I said I can't take any more. Because it's too much to handle. I said no more. A crime against the state. That's another shame...
Lyrics submitted by RedStripedd
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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.
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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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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
The correct title is "Know Your Product"
Check the cover of the single en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Your_Product
@eucalypt oops, got it wrong, sorry