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.
Countdown unless you're juvenile, let's go
God bless you're missed somewhere
We're sick for the big sun
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you did like you've been told
True, and everlasting, that's what you want
True
True and everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Sister let go, you're borderline withdrawn
Down and lit from the bottom, there's a misfit
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone though and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
Your lonesome will
Is this knowledge?
As forgiven as you know somewhere
Your face will remain on
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you didn't ride, let's go
Could an everlasting, that's what you want
Could, could, an everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?
Down and lit
It doesn't matter that you killed us
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome
God bless you're missed somewhere
We're sick for the big sun
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you did like you've been told
True, and everlasting, that's what you want
True
True and everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Sister let go, you're borderline withdrawn
Down and lit from the bottom, there's a misfit
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone though and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
Your lonesome will
Is this knowledge?
As forgiven as you know somewhere
Your face will remain on
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you didn't ride, let's go
Could an everlasting, that's what you want
Could, could, an everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?
Down and lit
It doesn't matter that you killed us
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome
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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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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/
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 the "countdown" is to die. Its like a song about a person who is growing up, already past the prime of their life and is counting down to death.
the first line, its saying unless you're before the prime, you're not dying. and the song is basically reviewing over your life, and preparing to die, because the best of your life gone. my favorite line is "do you remember when 21 years was old" its saying remember when 21 was all grown up, when we were in high school, looking foward to growing up, and now past 21 you realize that its still young and the real phase growing up isnt as great as people may think. or simply remember when we were younger than 21 and we thought it was old, and now at (age) we wish we could go back to 21.
And to me the song is just filled with metaphors and ambiguity, and is up to interpretation
by the way, from the phoenix website these are the real lyrics
Countdown unless you’re juvenile let’s go God bless your miss somewhere We’re sick for the big sun It doesn’t matter what you did and if you did it like you been told
True and everlasting that’s what you want True and everlasting that’s what you want
Don’t say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you’re borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks better than it looks Better than it looks better than it looks
We’re sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick We’re sick for the big sun We rumble and trip trip trip trip trip trip I realize that too
Hear the lonesome bell, Is this knowledge ? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You’re fixed to an atom It doesn’t matter what you did and if you did it right let’s go
Cruel and everlasting that’s what you want Cruel and everlasting that’s what you want
Don’t say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less ? Better than it looks better than it looks Better than it looks better than it looks
We’re sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick We’re sick for the big sun We rumble and trip trip trip trip trip trip I realize that too
True and everlasting, It didn’t last that long… We’re the lonesome, we’re the lonesome yell True and everlasting, It didn’t last that long…